"Lower Your Voice": Chief Justice's Stern Warning To Lawyer At Court

In a rare display of frustration, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud cautioned a lawyer today during a heated exchange over the listing of a petition. Justice Chandrachud reprimanded the advocate for his tone and warned against attempts to browbeat the court.

During the exchange, Justice Chandrachud, visibly upset, interrupted the lawyer, insisting on a more respectful and measured approach. "One second, lower your voice. You're arguing before the first court of the Supreme Court of India; lower your pitch, otherwise, I will have you removed from the Court," the CJI declared. 

He went on to question the advocate's usual practices, asking, "Where do you normally appear? Is this the way you shout at judges every time?"

The Chief Justice emphasised the importance of maintaining decorum in the courtroom, stating, "Please lower your pitch first. If you think you can browbeat us by raising your voice, you're mistaken. It has not happened in 23 years; it will not happen in the last year of my career."

The advocate, taken aback by the Chief Justice's stern warning, promptly apologised and proceeded with his submissions in a more courteous manner. 

Earlier this year, Justice Chandrachud reportedly "shouted at the top of his voice" at senior advocate Vikas Singh, who was urging the Supreme Court to push up a case related to land for Supreme Court lawyers.

The Chief Justice, furious, snapped: "Keep quiet. Leave this court right now. You cannot cower us down!"

Vikas Singh was pushing for a hearing on a petition by the Supreme Court Bar Association seeking that land allotted to the Supreme Court be used for a chamber block for lawyers. Lawyers had been struggling to have the case listed for the past six months, he said.

"You can't demand land like this. You tell us the day we are sitting idle for the whole day?" Justice Chandrachud remarked.