What does the Bar expect from 2025 batch of Supreme Court judges? SCBA President Vikas Singh explains

The Supreme Court of India welcomed to its Bench seven new judges in 2025 - Justices K Vinod Chandran, Joymalya Bagchi, NV Anjaria, Vijay Bishnoi, Atul Chandurkar, Alok Aradhe and Vipul Pancholi. .The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Wednesday organised an event to felicitate the new judges.In his address at the event, SCBA President Vikas Singh spoke of the impact that the new judges have had on the judiciary and more importantly, he laid out what the Bar expects from the judges going forward. Justice Chandran, Singh said, has a reputation for being a strict, disciplined, by-the-book judge. However, his recent judgments, criticising meagre awards in motor accident compensation cases and intervening in the arrest of a lawyer by the police, reveal the depth of his humanity. The Bar expects to see this balance between rigour and empathy continue, Singh said. "Justice Chandran, we know you will bring discipline to the text of this court. Our expectation is that you will continue to balance that rigour with empathy. You showed it to that accident victim. We look to you to show that in the rush of disposal, the human element of justice, is never lost to the book," Singh said.To Justice Bagchi, Singh said that his background in teaching and academia has continued to shine through his judgments, especially in a case where the Court dealt with equal pay for academicians. The Bar expects Justice Bagchi to be guardian of the intellectual and civil liberties of this nation in his 10-year-long tenure in office."We look to you to protect the dignity of the common citizen, whether a teacher or a daughter, against the might of the State. We await your leadership," Singh said. The SCBA President then spoke of Justice Anjaria's ecocentric philosophy, reflected in his judgments recognising that animals have an intrinsic right to safe habitat and that conservation of wildlife is necessary for human sustenance."Justice Anjaria, this Court is the final custodian of the environment. We look forward to a tenure where development is weighed carefully against nature," he said. Justice Bishnoi, Singh said has proven himself to be a modern judge with traditional heart. He said that the Bar expects him to continue to be a voice for modernising the law. "Your defining moment was the judgement declaring that a daughter remains a daughter, when you struck down the archaic rule, to ensure married daughters could see compassionate appointment. Our specific expectation is that you continue to be a voice for modernising of our social laws. We look to you to use your pen to erase the patriarchal vices that still linger in our statute book," Singh explained..Singh then spoke about Justice Chandurkar's expertise in civil matters, and highlighted his judgment in the Fact Check Units matter in which he ruled that the State cannot be the sole arbiter of truth."The bar admires the judge who is with a spine. Our expectation is that you will be the constitutional anchor of this Court. We look to you to apply your deep knowledge of civil law to the government's problems while standing fearless. When the Constitution demands protection against over executive excess, we welcome your courage," Singh added..Singh highlighted Justice Aradhe's experience as a teacher to judges, having trained judicial officers and revised legal textbooks."The Bar expects the Court to be a place of academic clarity. We look forward to judgements that are as precise as the textbook you have edited. We expect you to further do the economic integration of India through your commercial rulings and to bring scholarly rigour to the interpretation of statutes," Singh said.Singh applauded Justice Pancholi for his intolerance for "administrative absurdity" and "tax terrorism". He said that the Bar expects Justice Pancholi to ensure that the advancement of technology doesn't lead to mechanical justice."We look up to you to be the guardian of the reasonable opportunity, ensuring that citizens also heard before being judged," Singh said..The SCBA President also made two requests to all the judges - that passovers be granted as a matter of right to any advocate who makes a genuine request, and that junior lawyers be encouraged to make submissions in court. .Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.