Justice Arun Mishra apologises for 'contempt threat' to senior lawyer

Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra Thursday said he would "apologise a hundred times" with "folded hands" if anybody is hurt by his words, two days after he had warned a senior lawyer of contempt action while hearing land acquisition matter.

Justice Mishra's remarks came after a battery of senior lawyers led by Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, A M Singhvi, Dushyant Dave and Supreme Court Bar Association President Rakesh Khanna requested him to be patient in dealing with them during the course of judicial proceedings.

"If I have hurt anybody, I not only apologise but I will give 'dandavat' apology a hundred times," Justice Mishra said, adding, "If anybody has felt anything at any point of time, with folded hands, I am apologising".

He further said, "I am more associated with the bar. From me, you can take it that the bar is the mother of the bench. I respect the bar like anything. From the core of my heart, I am saying that please do not have that impression in your mind."
Regarding Sankaranarayanan, he said, "He is half of my age. He is a brilliant lawyer but he should not have shown arrogance to the five-judge bench."
"If you give respect, you will get respect in return," he said, adding, "When I rise from here (dias), I forget everything. I do not have any grudge against anyone."