It seems safe to presume that anything related to Sebi Sahara dispute in the Supreme Court will turn out to be remarkably dramatic..What would otherwise have passed off as an uneventful order by the apex court turned out to be a drama of the rarest kind as Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan engaged in a lengthy and excited dialogue with the Bench after the pronouncement of an order concerned with interim applications filed by the Sahara group..Sahara had sought permission for the sale of certain properties to raise money and also a forty day parole for Subrata Roy and other jailed directors to facilitate negotiations with prospective buyers..While allowing sale and mortgage of certain overseas property including the hotels owned by the Sahara Group in London and New York, the Bench led by Justice TS Thakur and comprising Justices AK Sikri and Anil R Dave, turned down the request for parole..After the order was pronounced, Subrata Roy’s lawyer Rajeev Dhavan stood his ground and remarked:.“My lordship, I am deeply astonished! Even my learned friend [Arvind Datar] had agreed to a three-hour window for negotiations which has not been granted.”.The Court, then, told Dhavan that as and when the directors have to carry out negotiations, a request can be made to the court and the court will consider their request and arrange facilities for the same in Delhi. “They can be brought to a guest house in Delhi and negotiations can be held from 10 am to 4 pm. Video conferencing facilities can also be arranged”, offered Justice Thakur..Dhavan was, however, in no mood to let go and he proceeded to criticize the “peremptory” orders of the Supreme Court. Justice Thakur then said that,.“We are not sitting in appeal over the earlier orders. We are here to ensure that the earlier orders are carried out so as to enable you to deposit money.”.Even while thanking the Bench for giving him audience after passing the order, Dhavan held on to his claim of “being deeply astonished and pained” to which Justice Thakur replied that,.“Your astonishment had started with the earlier Bench and it continues….shall we leave now Dr. Dhavan?”.This did not go down well with Dhavan who immediately shot back saying that,.“Your Lordship is making fun of me. Don’t do that..don’t do that.”.The Court has also recalled Senior Advocate Fali Nariman’s appointment as amicus curiae in the case on the ground that Nariman had earlier appeared for Sahara in the main matter. It has now requested Senior Advocate Shekhar Naphade to assist the court in the case.Image Courtesy:Justice TS ThakurRajeev Dhavan
It seems safe to presume that anything related to Sebi Sahara dispute in the Supreme Court will turn out to be remarkably dramatic..What would otherwise have passed off as an uneventful order by the apex court turned out to be a drama of the rarest kind as Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan engaged in a lengthy and excited dialogue with the Bench after the pronouncement of an order concerned with interim applications filed by the Sahara group..Sahara had sought permission for the sale of certain properties to raise money and also a forty day parole for Subrata Roy and other jailed directors to facilitate negotiations with prospective buyers..While allowing sale and mortgage of certain overseas property including the hotels owned by the Sahara Group in London and New York, the Bench led by Justice TS Thakur and comprising Justices AK Sikri and Anil R Dave, turned down the request for parole..After the order was pronounced, Subrata Roy’s lawyer Rajeev Dhavan stood his ground and remarked:.“My lordship, I am deeply astonished! Even my learned friend [Arvind Datar] had agreed to a three-hour window for negotiations which has not been granted.”.The Court, then, told Dhavan that as and when the directors have to carry out negotiations, a request can be made to the court and the court will consider their request and arrange facilities for the same in Delhi. “They can be brought to a guest house in Delhi and negotiations can be held from 10 am to 4 pm. Video conferencing facilities can also be arranged”, offered Justice Thakur..Dhavan was, however, in no mood to let go and he proceeded to criticize the “peremptory” orders of the Supreme Court. Justice Thakur then said that,.“We are not sitting in appeal over the earlier orders. We are here to ensure that the earlier orders are carried out so as to enable you to deposit money.”.Even while thanking the Bench for giving him audience after passing the order, Dhavan held on to his claim of “being deeply astonished and pained” to which Justice Thakur replied that,.“Your astonishment had started with the earlier Bench and it continues….shall we leave now Dr. Dhavan?”.This did not go down well with Dhavan who immediately shot back saying that,.“Your Lordship is making fun of me. Don’t do that..don’t do that.”.The Court has also recalled Senior Advocate Fali Nariman’s appointment as amicus curiae in the case on the ground that Nariman had earlier appeared for Sahara in the main matter. It has now requested Senior Advocate Shekhar Naphade to assist the court in the case.Image Courtesy:Justice TS ThakurRajeev Dhavan
