Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud issued a stern reprimand to Advocate Mathew J Nedumpara on Friday for raising concerns via email about the Supreme Court’s allocation of time to Constitution bench cases, suggesting that it was neglecting issues that affect the general populace.
In an apparent display of frustration, CJI Chandrachud admonished Advocate Nedumpara, asserting, “Your understanding of Constitution bench matters appears to be lacking. These cases involve the interpretation of the Constitution itself. Take, for example, the case we heard the day before yesterday, which questioned whether an individual holding a Light Motor Vehicle license should be permitted to operate a transport vehicle.”
“This decision has ramifications for hundreds of thousands of drivers. It is a misconception to assume that we select trivial Constitution bench cases that hold no relevance to the lives of ordinary citizens. In the Article 370 case, we listened to the voices of the nation; we heard perspectives from the Kashmir Valley, both in favor and against. While you might perceive the Article 370 petition as irrelevant, I do not believe the government or the petitioners share that sentiment,” the CJI emphasized, urging Nedumpara to dispel the notion that the Supreme Court exclusively handles superficial Constitution bench cases devoid of impact on the lives of the common people.
In response, Nedumpara conveyed to the bench, “I do not oppose the court’s consideration of matters pertaining to fundamental rights of citizens. My concern lies in the court addressing matters of public interest without involving the public.”
The CJI retorted, “Even in that regard, your assessment is flawed. In the Article 370 case, we actively engaged with the nation’s sentiments.”
