"I am from a refugee family, not from the elite": What Presidential candidates said on eve of SCBA elections

Six lawyers in the race for the post of President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) took the stage today for a debate on why they should be elected to the office. .The lawyers who are contesting for the post of SCBA President are Senior Advocates Adish C Aggarwala (incumbent President), Kapil Sibal, Priya Hingorani and Pradeep Kumar Rai and Advocates Neeraj Srivastava and Tripurari Ray..Aggarwala kicked off the debate with a speech delivered in Hindi, in which he assured that the SCBA's administration would remain democratic. "Pichli baar aap ne jitaya tha. Jab main power mein ata hu toh kranti aa jata hain. Sibal Saab has rahe he, unko toh laya gya hain. Mere jeetne k baad hi application lagaya gya ki rule change kia jaye. Hamari EC Adish Aggarwala ki nahi hain but vahan chalti hain majority ki, Adish last mein vichar daalte hain. Maine kahan ni free car stickers ko jab mere treasurer ne kahan ki paise lagenge. Toh sab ke vaade ram bharose rakho," he said. (Loose translation: Last time you all helped me win. Whenever I come to power, there comes revolution. Sibal sir is laughing because he has been brought here. After my victory, an application was filed to change the rule. Our Executive Committee (EC) is not solely of Adish Aggarwala but of the majority. Adish gives his point of view at the end. I said I won't charge for the free car stickers when my Treasurer said money would be spent. So, leave everyone's promises at the mercy of God).Whenever I come to power, there comes revolution.Adish Aggarwala.Hingorani went next, and spoke about the need to have a President who is apolitical, hands-on and could focus on the needs of the SCBA. "I have stood by the Bar and it also stood together during the pandemic. I am grateful to all who contributed during that time. Lot of issues have come up in the last three months...Issues cannot be addressed by one person, but the EC and the general body. Unfortunately, we haven't had a general body meeting for long to discuss and put plans in action. We should have one every three months. We need a hands-on President who is apolitical and has time. That's my USP. I am here for all of you, like (I have been) in the last 35 years. We should not be holding elections in this heat, but in winter months when it is comfortable for everyone else. I wish all the candidates the best for being brave and cordial," she said. .We need a hands-on President who is apolitical and has time. That's my USP.Priya Hingorani.Rai assured the voters that he would uphold the Constitution and prevent any misuse of the SCBA for political gains."I have never been part of any political party. SCBA is a family to me. I am committed to prevent its misuse for personal and political gain. My aim is to uphold the Constitution. The Chief Justice of India has agreed for plan of 9-storey chamber building. We will restart construction of that in ITO plot. We all know canteen is not in good shape. I already have a fool-proof plan. I had talked to Railway Ministry. They have agreed to run the canteen but unfortunately, it could not happen, but it has to. Waiver of chamber rent, I had requested CJI Ramana and he had approved. Our library is world class," Rai said..SCBA is a family to me. I am committed to prevent its misuse for personal and political gain.Pradeep Rai.Ray said that he was concerned about elitism within the Bar."Disturbing trend that Court and Registry had to be involved in this election. Should not be repeated, we hope. We might as well say goodbye to the Bar then. Bar always has responsibility to check what is going on in the Bench, whether judgments are according to the Constitution. Last 35 years, the judgments have never been critically analysed and no results have been passed. Constitution appears to be a weak law. Anyone can approach (the Supreme Court) under (Article) 32. Article 370, I will give as example - but what is the fundamental right dilated, is the question. I would say that not even a single (right) was violated. Some amendments, some action can be violative of basic structure. But unless there is rights violation, 32 is not maintainable. Winning or losing is not the issue as far as I am concerned. I am concerned by elitism and how it has taken away right of equal treatment for those in the Bar without connections in high places," he said..I am concerned by elitism and how it has taken away right of equal treatment for those in the Bar without connections in high places.Tripurari Ray.Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal stressed on the duty of lawyers to stand up for citizens and the Constitution, adding that he recognises lawyers for this role that they play and not their political affiliations. He underlined that he is not seeking to be elected to the post for money, but to address concerns regarding degradation of the legal profession."I came to this Court with no senior back in the day. So those who say I do not understand young people's problems...By dint of hard work we rose. What is the fundamental duty of a lawyer? We are here to protect the rule of law and the Constitution. It involves that I recognised each one of you, not by your affiliation, political or otherwise, but the black coat that you wear. The black means he will stand up for each citizen and the Constitution, he will stand up before the Court if it does not cherish Constitutional values. We are not here to make money. We do a lot of of pro bono wrork because we know not many will represent the poor and marginalised. I have done that many times. I need this office for what? Money? No. I have come after 21 years because I can see the degradation before my own eyes - how the legal fraternity is being treated and the Registry is not following the law."He also reminded the audience about how his family had come to India as refugees during the partition of 1947 - a response to criticisms about him being from an elite background and inaccessible."I am from a refugee family, not from the elite and we shall continue to represent those who need a voice. You ask anybody - during my earlier tenures did I ever talk about politics in the courtroom? Never. Because I believe it should be kept outside the courtroom. People say I want you to be accessible. Was I not accessible when I was President three times? Give me examples in the last 50 years that I ever closed the door for any member of the Bar. Did I ever not work for a politician who did not belong to my party? We are here for the country," Sibal said. .I am from a refugee family, not from the elite and we shall continue to represent those who need a voice. You ask anybody - during my earlier tenures did I ever talk about politics in the courtroom? Never.Kapil Sibal.The final speaker for the evening was Advocate Neeraj Srivastava, who promised voters that he would work for the welfare of the Bar, including the resolution of differences between the Bar and the Bench. "I endorse everything that was said. Main sabhi se kehna chahta hu ki jo kuch bhi Bar and Bench mein differences aye hain, main voh kam karunga. Bar ki welfare ke liye kaam karne ka vaada karta hu," he said.(Translation: I want to assure everyone that I will strive to reduce the differences between the Bar and Bench. I promise to do whatever is necessary for the welfare of the Bar).I promise to do whatever is necessary for the welfare of the Bar.Neeraj Srivastava.The debate was moderated by Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora. The SCBA elections are scheduled to take place tomorrow (May 16). As the debate today drew to a close, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta appealed to all lawyers to ensure that the Supreme Court's functioning is not impeded while the election process is on. "Model Code of Conduct is still in place. You should not bow and do namaskar in the corridors, because we know what you are doing. Tomorrow no one will impede the working of the Court. Elections tomorrow from 10 AM till 5 PM in library 1. We request everybody not to take photos in the library," he said. .[Read live coverage of debate today]