In a heated exchange during a Supreme Court hearing on NEET-UG petitions, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Tuesday had to call upon the security to stop senior advocate Mathews Nedumpara from making repeated interruptions in the court proceedings. The confrontation unfolded when Nedumpara interrupted senior advocate Narender Hooda, who was representing one of the petitioners. Chief Justice Chandrachud initially requested Nedumpara to speak after Hooda had finished his argument. However, Nedumpara insisted, claiming his seniority among the lawyers present.
"I can answer your question. I am the senior-most from all the lawyers here. I am the amicus," Nedumpara asserted.
"No. I have not appointed any amicus," responded the Chief Justice.
When Nedumpara continued to interject, CJI Chandrachud firmly instructed him to sit down, stating, "I don’t want you to answer the question. Sit down otherwise I will have you removed from the court."
Nedumpara retorted, "If you don’t respect me, I myself will leave."
The Chief Justice emphasised the need for orderly proceedings, particularly while Hooda was presenting his arguments. Despite this, Nedumpara attempted to continue, prompting CJI Chandrachud to instruct his staff, "Please call the security and have Mr. Nedumpara removed from the court."
Expressing his discontent, Nedumpara remarked, "I am leaving. This is unfair."
The Chief Justice reiterated his stance, warning, "Mr Mathews, I will be constrained to issue something that is very unpleasant. You will not interrupt any other lawyer. I am in charge of the procedure in this court. I have seen the judiciary for the last 24 years and I will not allow any lawyer to dictate the procedure of my court."
Nedumpara again stressed his seniority and responded, "I have seen the judiciary since 1979!"
Nedumpara Tells CJI-Led Supreme Court Bench: 'I Forgive Your Lordships For The Humiliation Meted Out To Me'
The Solicitor General interjected, labelling Nedumpara's behaviour as "contemptuous," to which Nedumpara, while leaving the court, declared, "I am leaving!"
The CJI at this moment told Nedumpara that he could just leave without saying that.
After a brief exit, Nedumpara returned to the court to conclude his arguments. After making his submissions, he said, "I forgive Your Lordships for the humiliation meted out to me, for you do not know what you have done. I forgive you."
In his submissions, Nedumpara urged the top court to consider the May 4 test as a preliminary examination and suggested a "mains" re-test for those who qualified the exam, citing allegations of a paper leak. He criticised the government for what he perceived as its unfair treatment of the court by deferring the decision on the cancellation to the judiciary.
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Nedumpara while making this argument said that he, despite being a BJP supporter, does not agree with the government's stand in this case.
The government should have made the call on cancellation and not passed the buck to the court, Nedumpara argued and urged the court to cancel the exam.
Not The First Time Nedumpara Faced Heat From CJI Chandrachud
Earlier, while hearing the review petition moved against the Supreme Court verdict in the Electoral Bonds case, Nedumpara had to face heat from CJI. He intervened in the hearing.
CJI Chandrachud had to warn Nedumpara to not shout in the court and move an application in the court and follow the laid down procedure.
"Don't shout at me! This is not a hyper-corner discussion this is the court. Move an application and we will hear you," CJI said.
The court had also warned him of a contempt of court case and told him that he was obstructing the procedure of justice.