Stop Calling Me My Lord, Your Lordship — Supreme Court Judge Tells Senior Advocate

Lawyers often address judges as "My Lord" or "Your Lordships" during arguments. Those who criticise the practise sometimes refer to it as a colonial-era remnant and a symbol of slavery.

Supreme Court.

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A Supreme Court justice has expressed dissatisfaction with attorneys frequently addressing him as "My Lord" and "Your Lordships" during legal proceedings, news agency PTI reported. During the hearing of a routine issue on Wednesday, Justice P S Narasimha, who was sitting on the bench alongside senior presiding judge Justice A S Bopanna, instructed a senior advocate: “How many times you will say 'My Lords'? If you stop saying this, then I will give you half of my salary."

Lawyers often address judges as "My Lord" or "Your Lordships" during arguments. Those who criticise the practise sometimes refer to it as a colonial-era remnant and a symbol of slavery.

"Why don't you use 'Sir' instead?" Justice Narasimha suggested, adding that if he didn't, he'd start counting how many times the senior counsel said "My Lords."

The Bar Council of India approved a resolution in 2006 stating that no counsel shall address judges as "My Lord" or "Your Lordship," however this was not implemented in practise.

In 2014, the then-Chief Justice of India, H.L. Dattu, stated that addressing judges as "Your Lordship" was not required. The comment came while the Supreme Court was hearing a PIL filed by counsel Shiv Sagar Tiwari, who said that using such terminology was not only a legacy of the colonial age, but also a symptom of "slavery."

“When did we say it is compulsory? You can only call us in a dignified manner…” Justice Dattu was quoted as saying during the hearing. “How can this negative prayer be accepted by us? Don’t address us as ‘lordship’. We don’t say anything. We only say address us respectfully.”