After being not allowed to speak before a Ceremonial Bench of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) which had assembled as a part of the Court's tradition to give a farewell to outgoing Justice Arun Mishra, the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has written to the CJI S A Bobde expressing his strong disappointment and condemnation..However, the Computer Cell of the Supreme Court has refuted the allegations. It says Dave was not disconnected deliberately and there were some technical glitches..In a letter to CJI, Dave states that he is personally saddened by the chain of events and will never again participate in any function being organised by the Supreme Court till his term as President SCBA is over in December..According to Dave, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that judges of the Supreme Court are afraid of the Bar.."Please do remember, Judges come and go but the Bar shall remain. We are the real strength of this great Institution because we are permanent", says Dave in a letter to the CJI..Dave emphasizes that the entire episode leaves much to be desired on the part of this great Institution.."The whole attempt was to prevent me from addressing on behalf of the SCBA and its EC , after having been invited and invitation having been accepted. This was clearly an affront to the Bar and to me personally", Dave states..Dave claims that he had joined through the link around 12.20 pm and it was confirmed by the technical team that Video and Audio were perfect. He added he had conversations with the Attorney General, the Solicitor General and the President Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association amongst others..After Attorney General KK Venugopal concluded his speech, Dave says he thought that he would be invited to say a few words..However, Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association President Shivaji Jadhav was invited to speak instead. At this point, Dave claims that he was disconnected from audio multiple times and that attempts to rejoin were fruitless. All this while, he watched Jadhav, CJI Bobde and Justice Mishra make their speeches..Dave also claims that he had sent a message to the Secretary-General on WhatsApp at 12.49 pm and again at 12.53 asking why he was kept on mute and why was he at all invited. Only at 1.02 Secretary-General responded saying he is instructing Registrar to look into it, by which time it was too late and so I messaged him informing that I had exited, Dave states in his letter..Dave quoted in his letter the message he wanted to read out during the farewell of Justice Mishra:."On behalf of the SCBA, the EC and Myself, I wish you Justice Mishra happiness and bliss in remainder of your long life which by all accounts will be as fruitful and rewarding as it has been. May I pray to Lord Mahabaleshwar to bless you with strength to introspect and stir up your Conscience".Bidding farewell to Justice Arun Mishra, the Attorney General K K Venugopal described him as an "iron judge". CJI S A Bobde, on his part, called Justice Mishra beacon of "light, courage and fortitude..Before parting with his judicial inning, Justice Mishra said he dealt with every case with his conscience.."Analyse every Judgment and don't colour it this way or that way. If I have hurt anybody then please pardon me, pardon me, pardon me", the retiring judge said.
