Sorabjee as 'Bhisma-Pitamah'

Last week, while hearing a petition regarding the unique identity or Aadhaar project, a bench of two judges, B S Chauhan and S A Bobde, engaged in a long debate over whether the states that have made the number mandatory for people to avail themselves of government schemes should be impleaded in the case. The defence advocates opposed the suggestion, arguing that several government agencies were involved already, so including the states would delay the judgement even further. But the judges were not convinced. Then they spotted Soli Sorabjee, who was representing one of the petitioners. Bobde threw the ball in the senior advocate's court and said they would go by whatever he decided. Sorabjee pointed out that he was not on the bench, so the matter was not for him to decide. But the judges insisted, calling him the "Bhisma-Pitamah" of Indian law. It is difficult to say whether Sorabjee was flustered or pleased by the comment, but he gave his opinion all the same, agreeing with the judges' suggestion of impleading states in the matter.