It is not often that you see judges, and that too senior judges, making public apologies. Only in very rare and dire circumstances would something like that happen.
However, a Gujarat High Court senior judge today did apologise to his junior colleague for losing his cool and snapping at them during a hearing of a case a few days ago.
What Did The Judge Say?
Justice Vaishnav on Wednesday, 25th October made a public apology to Justice Mauna Bhatt after his verbal spat with her went viral the other day.
In open court among other advocates and staff members, he stated “What happened on Monday, shouldn’t have happened. I was wrong. I am sorry for that. We begin a new session. It shouldn’t have happened. It’s just that, I don’t know…I was wrong.”
Why Did He Apologise?
Justice Vaishnav was apologising in relation to something that happened on Monday and the video to which went viral.
The incident happened on Monday, 23rd of October when Justice Vaishnav and puisne judge Justice Mauna Bhatt were overseeing a case hearing. As per reports, Justice Vaishnav got worked up after Justice Bhatt showed disagreement with the verdict that Justice Vaishnav was making.
The YouTube channel of the Gujarat High Court live-streams the hearings of all of its benches on a daily basis and it is during the live-streamed video that the judges had their disagreement.
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In the video, Justice Vaishnav was passing an order on an ongoing tax matter when Justice Bhatt leaned over to whisper her opinion, apparently, she did not agree with him on the verdict, to him.
Justice Vaishnav is then seen reacting very strongly and telling her “You differ yaar. You have differed in one matter, (so) differ here also.”
Justice Bhatt responded to this saying “It isn’t a matter of differing..”
To this, Justice Vaishnav snapped back at her saying “Then do not murmur, you pass a separate order then. We are not taking more matters” and left the courtroom abruptly.
Although the original video itself was pulled down, however, social media had already gotten the clips which were then posted online making what happened go viral.
The clip was not received well by the public who criticised the senior judge for not behaving appropriately.
X user @CiteCase commented on the incident saying “In a division bench, both judges have equal powers. But in most cases, the ‘junior’ judge agrees mechanically with what a ‘senior’ judge decides.
This, in fact, defeats the purpose for which a division bench is set up. What happened in Gujarat HC is unfortunate. Judges shouldn’t be carried away like this.
True, they also have emotions, but they should express it through their orders and not by upsetting the decorum of the Court they themselves preside.”
Another use @courtinglaw wrote “This is not heated exchange. This is a deplorable and irresponsible demonstration of chauvinism on bench. He was chiding her like a bully. So much for Judicial propriety and decorum.”
User @ashish_nujs also commented that “How appropriate is it for a senior high court judge to use the word “yaar” for a lady judge on the bench? And chauvinistically chide her in open court for registering disagreement on facts or law? Judicial decorum and propriety can go bungee jumping! Should be held to account!”
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Live Law
Find the blogger: @chirali_08
This post is tagged under: Gujarat HC Judge, Gujarat HC, Justice Biren Vaishnav, Justice Mauna Bhatt, Mauna Bhatt Biren Vaishnav, Gujarat High Court, Gujarat High Court viral video, Gujarat High Court senior judge, judge viral video
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