The story so far: Two letters written separately by lawyers, Dushyant Dave and Prashant Bhushan, addressed directly to the Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and the Supreme Court Registry, respectively, complaining of “irregularities” in the listing of cases have sharply divided the Bar.
What did the letters say?
Mr. Dave, in his open letter to the Chief Justice, said cases, some of them involving human rights and functioning of statutory and constitutional institutions, had been suddenly “taken away” from Benches hearing them and listed before other Benches. He said matters, instead of remaining with the presiding judge of the Bench which earlier issued notice (first coram) had followed the puisne judge (second coram) when the latter started heading a new Bench in “clear disregard” of rules, procedure and established conventions. The senior lawyer said the Chief Justice as the ‘master of the roster’ should look into the issue.
