"Members Of Bar Treated As Complete Strangers," SCBA Writes To CJI Expressing Concern Towards Restriction On Use Of Auditorium, Parking Spaces, Chambers Etc

The Supreme Court Bar Association has written to the Chief Justice of India expressing concern towards the conditions imposed on the bar members with regard to the use of auditorium, particularly the upcoming event for Justice Vineet Saran's retirement.Referring to the conditions imposed in communication dated 7th May, 2022 regarding use of the auditorium, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, President of SCBA has stated that the members of the Bar are being treated as complete strangers to the institution while the Registry staff including Class-lII & Class-IV staff are treated as the owners.The Association has therefore rejected the SOP and has instead decided to hold the farewell in the Supreme Court lawns till such time ' they are not given the auditorium with the due respect that the Bar deserves'With regard to restriction in the SOP directing utilisation of only 50% seats, the letter has pointed out that even as per DDMA guidelines, there is no restriction of seating in an auditorium or cinema hall and 100% seating capacity is permitted.The Association has further stated that despite there being a canteen with open area around it and another large room right next to the auditorium, the SOP has stated that the snacks be served in the E-Block in a room half the size.It has been pointed out that the place earmarked for the snacks is not even contiguous from the Block in which the auditorium is situated and the walk to it is through a narrow bridge over a water body making it.Mr Singh has in the letter also expressed concern towards the 'ongoing insult to the members of the Bar who have been wanting to access the new campus' .He has stated that his car was also stopped while going to the new building by the security guard in spite of it having a valid sticker authorizing it to enter the Supreme Court.Through the letter, the Association has also opposed the SOP issued by the Supreme Court with regard to the proximity cards."The SOP providing for special passes for members having valid stickers is not acceptable. The stickers issued by the Security of the Supreme Court which our members are required to possess to enter the main building should be sufficient to enter the new campus," the letter has stated.The letter has further stated that the members of the Bar have a harrowing time everyday in parking their cars in the Supreme Court, but for some unknown reason at the behest of one Registrar, Mr. Avni Pal Singh, the said parking is not available to the members of the Bar causing daily inconvenience to the members of the Bar.It has been stated that there is already a tunnel made as a walk- way for lawyers to park their cars in the new building and walk to the Supreme Court but neither the parking is being allowed nor the walk-way is functional.Chambers Lying Unused & Unalloted:According to the letter, the chambers which are lying ready for more than three years is lying unused and unallotted on some pretext or the other in spite of the fact that the decision to make the chambers of a particular size was taken without discussing with the members of the Bar and engaging with the Bar thereafter has only created confusion.Mr Singh has pointed out that he had categorically written for making single allotment of chambers and starting construction of cubicles as soon as possible, but till date no action has been taken on the same.

"Members Of Bar Treated As Complete Strangers," SCBA Writes To CJI Expressing Concern Towards Restriction On Use Of Auditorium, Parking Spaces, Chambers Etc

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