Today, On 23rd February, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant sternly rebuked Advocate Mathews Nedumpara for reckless submissions while mentioning a petition challenging the collegium system. Warning him of strict action, CJI said, “Be careful… you have seen me in Chandigarh and Delhi.”
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant admonished Advocate Mathews Nedumpara for making reckless statements, cautioning that strict action would be taken if he continued to misbehave.
During a mentioning session, Nedumpara sought to present a petition challenging the collegium system of judicial appointments and advocating for the reinstatement of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
The CJI pointed out that no such petition was registered with the Registry.
In response, Nedumpara commented that while Constitution Benches were being convened for issues involving business magnates like “Ambani and Adani,” matters affecting ordinary citizens were being overlooked.
This remark seemingly irritated the Bench.
A visibly displeased CJI responded sternly,
“Mr. Nedumpara, be careful with what you submit in my court. You have seen me in Chandigarh, in Delhi… I am warning you, be careful. Don’t think you will be able to continue misbehaving as you have been doing with other benches. I am warning you.”
This incident occurred in light of previous attempts by Nedumpara to challenge the collegium system.
In 2024, the Supreme Court Registry declined to register his new writ petition, stating that the issue had already been resolved in the NJAC judgment, making another petition on the same matter untenable.
In a similar incident last year, former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna also reprimanded Nedumpara for attempting to list the matter, telling him,
“Don’t make a political speech in the Court.”
The Supreme Court had upheld the collegium system in its 2015 ruling, which invalidated the NJAC Act, thereby reaffirming judicial primacy in appointments.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Sr Adv Mathews Nedumpara