Mohit Saraf can continue to practice without the Luthra name, lawyers for Rajiv Luthra suggest to Delhi High Court

Lawyers today argued before the Delhi High Court on behalf of Mohit Saraf that any stay on the order of the Single Judge Bench staying his removal from L&L Partners would be the "greatest injustice".."It will be the greatest injustice...here is a man who was kept out totally and you say keep him out for two more months...my control gets affected. I will be like iPhone 7 in the regime of iPhone 12", Senior Advocate Parag P Tripathi, appearing for Saraf, argued..Seeking access to the firm in terms of the Single Judge's order, Senior Counsel for Saraf argued that an attempt was being made to make him "irrelevant"..Rajiv Luthra's appeal against the order passed by the Single Judge was listed for hearing today before a Division Bench of Justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Sanjeev Narula..As interim relief in the appeal, Luthra had prayed that the Single Judge's order be stayed for the time being and that status quo be continued..Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rajiv Luthra, today remarked,"I'm sure the Court can decide (the appeal) in a time bound period. Is it worth it to have him back and disturb the status quo? It will create mayhem and destruction.".He suggested that in the meantime, Saraf could continue to practice without using the firm's name."Mohit Saraf can continue to practice without the Luthra name. He can take one or two persons with him...".To this, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh replied on behalf of Saraf,"If they give me Rs 40 crore-50 crore...we can part ways...whoever wants to come with me can come...".Singhvi and Advocate Haripriya Padmanabhan also contended that no access to the firm's professional email address and records could be given back to Saraf.."It will be like an outsider having access. Tomorrow if the removal is upheld... clients will not be happy with all the information going out...", Padmanabhan submitted..In response to Saraf's accusation that the revenue of the firm was declining, Singhvi informed the Court that last quarter's revenue was Rs 53 crore, as opposed to Rs 40 crore last year. He added that four new partners and 40 new associates joined the firm..As far as the physical access to the firm is concerned, the parties continued to be at loggerheads..Senior Counsel for Saraf pointed out that since Luthra has been in Kasauli for the last few months, he could be permitted to attend office for the purpose of work.."I'm a hands on person. I have to be in Delhi. I have a place in Kasauli...but I can't live there like Mr Luthra", Senior Advocate Singh said..After hearing the parties for an hour, the Court said that it would pass orders and upload the same on the website.."We will release the order...it is not something that we can pass without discussing...", Justice Endlaw stated..On January 18, the Single Judge stayed the termination of Saraf from the firm's partnership pending the conclusion of arbitration proceedings between him and Luthra.Luthra subsequently filed an appeal before the High Court and prayed that status quo be maintained pending the disposal of the appeal..Yesterday, the Court urged the counsel for both parties to come up with an interim arrangement for the firm, pending the disposal of the appeal.