Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud reprimanded a lawyer for interrupting a hearing on alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The CJI even called security to have him removed from the court.
Advocate Mathews Nedumpara, representing one of the petitioners, interrupted Narender Hooda, another petitioner’s lawyer, while he was addressing the bench.
When asked a question by the bench, Nedumpara jumped in to say he was the most senior lawyer present. “I can answer. I am the amicus,” he said.
The Chief Justice replied, “I have not appointed any amicus.” Unfazed, Nedumpara added, “If you don’t respect me, I will leave.”
This prompted a stern response from the Chief Justice. “Mr. Nedumpara, I am warning you. You will not speak to the gallery. I am in charge of the court. Please call security and have him removed from the court,” he ordered.
Nedumpara then said, “I am leaving. I am going.”
The Chief Justice retorted, “You do not have to announce it; you can just leave. I have seen judiciary for the last 24 years and will not allow lawyers to dictate procedure in this court.”
Nedumpara responded with “I have seen it since 1979.”
The Chief Justice warned Nedumpara that he might have to take drastic action. “I may have to issue a directive that is not fair. You will not interrupt any other lawyer,” he stated.
Nedumpara eventually left but later returned to the court. “I am sorry. I have not done anything wrong. I was unfairly treated,” he said, adding that he “forgives” the Chief Justice for “insulting” him, using the Biblical quote: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
This is not the first time the Chief Justice has slammed Mathews Nedumpara for his courtroom conduct. In March, during the hearing of the Electoral Bonds case, Nedumpara repeatedly interrupted, prompting the Chief Justice to say, “Don’t shout at me… This is not a Hyde Park corner meeting, you are in the court. You want to move an application, file an application. You have got my decision as Chief Justice, we are not hearing you. If you want to file an application, move it on the email. That’s the rule in this court.”
