NEW DELHI: Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president and senior lawyer Vikas Singh has sent a letter to Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, expressing serious concerns over the Supreme Court’s recent decision to transform the old Judges’ Library into a public museum.
Chief Justice Chandrachud inaugurated the National Judicial Museum and Archive on Thursday within the Supreme Court premises, where the Judges’ Library once stood. The event was attended by Supreme Court judges and several lawyers.
In his letter, Singh stated that the Judges’ Library, situated in a high-security zone, is unsuitable for public access. He emphasized that this decision disregards the growing needs of the SCBA, which has seen a substantial increase in its membership. Singh argued that converting the library into a museum denies SCBA members access to essential facilities.
He underlined that the Bar is a key stakeholder in the institution, which is publicly funded and serves as a pillar of democracy. Therefore, he believes it is the Supreme Court’s duty to address the needs of all its stakeholders.
Singh conveyed his “deep pain and anguish” over what he described as an oversight of the legal fraternity’s infrastructural needs. He urged the CJI to address the Bar’s requirements, such as a dedicated cafeteria, nearby workstations, restrooms, and a well-equipped library.
The lack of accessible and adequate facilities causes daily inconvenience for advocates waiting to present cases. Singh urged the CJI to reconsider the court’s infrastructure decisions to support the Bar’s essential role in the judicial process.
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RESOLUTION BY CIRCULATION
The MAJORITY OF THE Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association, as an equal stakeholder in the administration of justice strongly objects and is deeply concerned that, despite the unanimous resolution passed by the SCBA Executive Committee on 24/10/2024, whereby the SCBA EC requested that since the former judges’ library was being moved to the Additional Building complex and the current cafeteria was insufficient to meet the needs of the bar’s members, the vacant space be given to the Supreme Court Bar Association to establish a library and cafe/lounge for Bar members in place of the proposed Supreme Court Museum in the High-Security Zone of the Supreme Court’s grounds, it has come to our attention that even though our aforesaid demand is still pending consideration, now a function for the inauguration of the Museum is being organized on 07.11.2024 at 10 am at the proposed vacant space.
Therefore, the Supreme Court Bar Association resolves to boycott the said function and further reiterates its demand for allocation of the Vacant Space to the SCBA to set up a Library and cafe/lounge for Bar members and that further all major decisions concerning the Bar and Supreme Court Complex be taken in consultation with the SUPREME COURT BAR ASSOCIATION
MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO ADHERE TO THE BOYCOTT.
SCBA EC members who are in support of this Resolution
Ms. Rachna Srivastava Sr. Adv. Vice President,
DR SANDEEP SINGH
JT SECRETARY
Ms. Sasmita Tripathi
Treasurer,
Mr. Susheel Kumar Tomar Joint Treasurer,
Mr. Arijit Prasad Sr. Adv.,
Mr. Jayant Bhushan Sr. Adv.,
Mr. Sanjay M Nuli Sr. Adv.,
Mrs. Sonia Mathur Sr. Adv.,
Ms. Shobha Gupta Sr. Adv.
Mr. Vikas Bansal,
Mrs. Nandini Gupta,
Mr. Mukesh Kumar Singh,
Mr. Ashish Kumar Sinha,
Mr. Shashank Shekhar,
Mr Anil Nishani
Ms. Yogamaya M. G.
Ms. RACHANA GANDHI
View Letter
