Responsibility of bar to maintain dignity of judiciary: SC

It is the responsibility of the Bar to ensure that "dignity of judiciary" is maintained, the Supreme Court said Thursday while hearing activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan's application seeking recusal of Justice Arun Mishra from adjudicating contempt plea filed against him by the Attorney General.

A bench comprising Justice Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha observed that though "fair criticism" has to be there, the judiciary and judges should not be denigrated.

"Independence of bar has to be maintained. At the same time, it is the responsibility of bar to ensure that dignity of judiciary should be maintained," the bench said.

"The judiciary stands on the solid pillar of the bar," it added.

The issue cropped up before the court when senior lawyer Dushyant Dave, appearing for the activist lawyer, said that Bhushan has filed an application seeking recusal of Justice Mishra from hearing the case.

He referred to some earlier orders passed by Justice Mishra, including the one in which the apex court had made observations about lawyers going to the media on sub-judice cases, and said this has given rise to an apprehension in Bhushan's mind.

"Judges think independently. It is a matter of common knowledge that in some matters, some judges may have strict views while other judges will have different views. This is the beauty of this institution," Justice Sinha observed.

"We are all from the bar. When a lawyer comes to argue a matter, he knows from his heart that which way the judge will go. Then, in that situation, should he seek recusal of a judge," the bench observed.

Dave said apprehension has to be seen from the mind of litigants and not from the mind of judges. "Please hear our application (seeking recusal). There are reasons in it."
To this, the bench told Dave, "Sorry, we are not with you. We should not express any opinion on this kind of application. If you want, we can pass reasoned order and then it will reflect many things. We are telling you."
However, the Attorney General opposed Bhushan's recusal application and said, "I have serious apprehensions about bona fide of this application."