The Bar and the Bench in Madras, whose relationship is never far from being strained, may be heading for another collision very soon..According to The Hindu, Chief Justice Kaul is keen on replicating the Advocate-on-Record system followed in the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice has asked the court’s judges to examine the changes required for this system to be introduced in the High Court..Under the current AoR system, which incidentally has been challenged before the Supreme Court, only those who clear the AoR examination are entitled to file appearances in the apex court..However, it is unclear as to whether Chief Justice Kaul has exactly this system in mind; it is possible that he is contemplating the introduction of rules on who can or cannot argue in the High Court. What is clear though is that the Chief Justice Kaul will face massive opposition from the Madras Bar..The Chief Justice has already been targeted by certain groups of lawyers, with one news report describing how slogans were raised against him in the High Court, asking him to go “back to Kashmir”.Another report claims that a group of lawyers “laid siege” to Chief Justice Kaul’s official residence, seeking anticipatory bail for two lawyers..The fact of the matter is that Chief Justice Kaul is here to stay. The Supreme Court’s hearings on the NJAC appeals effectively act as an embargo on any transfers and or elevations in the higher judiciary..As for the proposed system, it will be interesting to see what the judges of the Madras High Court come up with.
The Bar and the Bench in Madras, whose relationship is never far from being strained, may be heading for another collision very soon..According to The Hindu, Chief Justice Kaul is keen on replicating the Advocate-on-Record system followed in the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice has asked the court’s judges to examine the changes required for this system to be introduced in the High Court..Under the current AoR system, which incidentally has been challenged before the Supreme Court, only those who clear the AoR examination are entitled to file appearances in the apex court..However, it is unclear as to whether Chief Justice Kaul has exactly this system in mind; it is possible that he is contemplating the introduction of rules on who can or cannot argue in the High Court. What is clear though is that the Chief Justice Kaul will face massive opposition from the Madras Bar..The Chief Justice has already been targeted by certain groups of lawyers, with one news report describing how slogans were raised against him in the High Court, asking him to go “back to Kashmir”.Another report claims that a group of lawyers “laid siege” to Chief Justice Kaul’s official residence, seeking anticipatory bail for two lawyers..The fact of the matter is that Chief Justice Kaul is here to stay. The Supreme Court’s hearings on the NJAC appeals effectively act as an embargo on any transfers and or elevations in the higher judiciary..As for the proposed system, it will be interesting to see what the judges of the Madras High Court come up with.
