Chief Justice of India B R Gavai has requested everyone to stop discussing the alleged violation of protocol during his visit to Maharashtra, saying the matter is minor and should not be exaggerated.
NEW DELHI: During a recent court hearing, a lawyer raised concerns about a breach in protocol involving the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Br Gavai. The issue sparked strong remarks from Justice Suryakant, who addressed the matter in a calm yet firm manner, emphasising that it should not be unnecessarily sensationalised.
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The lawyer stated, “This is matter is pertaining to violation of the protocol for CJI Br Gavai.”
Responding to this, Justice Suryakant expressed his disapproval of such issues being unnecessarily hyped in public.
He said, “Why people trying to gain cheap popularity, CJI himself has said that these matters should not be now blown out of proposition.”
Justice Suryakant then elaborated that the concerned authorities had already admitted that a mistake had occurred and had expressed regret. He further added that the prestige of the Chief Justice should not be measured by such minor lapses.
He said, “The issue has been there was some lapse on the part the authorities were regretted has accepted it. Do we think the CJ status to be measured by this thing?”
Finally, Justice Suryakant gave instructions to defer the matter until after the lunch break.
He said, “Heavy exemption lagao ispe.. list this matter post lunch.”
Chief Justice of India B R Gavai has requested everyone to stop discussing the alleged violation of protocol during his visit to Maharashtra, saying the matter is minor and should not be exaggerated.
He asked that the issue be settled quietly, especially after all concerned officials expressed regret.
ALSO READ: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar Supports CJI Gavai Amid Maharashtra Protocol Row
The Supreme Court issued a public release on the matter stating,
“News items are being published in the media regarding protocol issues during the visit of Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India to Maharashtra. All concerned have already expressed regrets. Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India has expressed that a trivial issue should not be blown out of proportion. CJI has requested everyone that the matter be given a quietus.”
This controversy started during CJI Gavai’s first visit to his home state after becoming the Chief Justice of India. At a felicitation event held in his honour on May 18 by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, he openly expressed disappointment that senior officials from the state were not present.
CJI Gavai said,
“We say that there are three pillars of democracy, judiciary, legislature and executive, and that they are equal. Every organ of the Constitution must reciprocate and give its due respect to the other organs. A person from Maharashtra is coming to the state as Chief Justice of India for the first time. If Maharashtra’s chief secretary, the state’s director general of police or the Mumbai commissioner of police do not feel it necessary to come, it is for them to think about.”
He emphasised that the pillars of democracy—judiciary, legislature, and executive—must show mutual respect, and that the absence of top state officials at an event held in honour of the CJI from their own state was disappointing.
Supporting CJI Gavai’s remarks, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar also spoke up the next day at a book launch event. He clarified that CJI Gavai was not speaking for personal reasons but for the dignity of the position he holds.
Vice-President Dhankhar said,
“We must believe in protocol. The Chief Justice of the country and protocol is placed very high. When he indicated this, it was not personal. It was for the position he holds. And I am sure this will be kept in mind by one and all…I am really beholden to the present chief justice for inviting attention to the people in bureaucracy, adherence to protocol is fundamental.”
After CJI Gavai flagged the issue on Sunday, top Maharashtra officials — Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, and Mumbai Police Commissioner P Deven Bharti — were present during his visit to Chaitya Bhoomi, where he paid tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar. They reportedly expressed their regrets to the Chief Justice and accompanied him to the airport when he departed.
Chief Justice B R Gavai recently went to Maharashtra for the first time after becoming the Chief Justice of India. At an event organised to honour him, some top state officers did not show up. This made the CJI feel disappointed because he believed all branches of government should respect one another.
He said clearly, “We say that there are three pillars of democracy, judiciary, legislature and executive, and that they are equal. Every organ of the Constitution must reciprocate and give its due respect to the other organs. A person from Maharashtra is coming to the state as Chief Justice of India for the first time. If Maharashtra’s chief secretary, the state’s director general of police or the Mumbai commissioner of police do not feel it necessary to come, it is for them to think about.”
However, the CJI later called this a “small matter” and asked people not to talk about it too much.
The Supreme Court issued a statement that said,
“News items are being published in the media regarding protocol issues during the visit of Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India to Maharashtra. All concerned have already expressed regrets. Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India has expressed that a trivial issue should not be blown out of proportion. CJI has requested everyone that the matter be given a quietus.”
The Vice-President of India also supported the CJI. He said it was not about CJI Gavai as a person but about the position he holds.
He stated,
“We must believe in protocol. The Chief Justice of the country and protocol is placed very high. When he indicated this, it was not personal. It was for the position he holds. And I am sure this will be kept in mind by one and all…I am really beholden to the present chief justice for inviting attention to the people in bureaucracy, adherence to protocol is fundamental.”
Later, when the CJI visited Chaitya Bhoomi to pay his respects to Dr B R Ambedkar, Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary, the DGP, and the Mumbai Police Commissioner joined him. They are said to have apologised and stayed with him till he left for the airport.
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