'Just keep quiet': CJI asks advocate to leave court, calls security

The CJI told Nedumpara that he can't interrupt when Hooda is arguing.

The proceedings in the Supreme Court on NEET-UG 2024 on Tuesday saw a heated exchange of words between Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and an advocate. The CJI pulled up the lawyer for speaking out of turn and warned him that he will have him removed from the courtroom. Justice Chandrachud asserted he will not allow any lawyer to "dictate" the procedure of the court.

Mathews J Nedumpara was appearing for some of the petitioners. Nedumpara demanded that he be allowed to argue when senior advocate Narender Hooda, the lead counsel for the petitioners, was speaking.

Nedumpara was told that the bench would allow him to argue after Hooda made his submissions. The bench also comprised Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

"You please sit down. I will have to have you removed from the court," the CJI told Nedumpara. "I am warning you".

In response, Nedumpara said if the bench did not respect him, he would leave.

Nedumpara kept saying he was not allowed to speak in the court.

"Please call the security. We will ask him to be removed from the court," the CJI said. "You will not speak to the gallery. You will listen to me. I am in charge of my courtroom.”

The CJI told Nedumpara that he can't interrupt when Hooda is arguing.
"I will hear you. But I will hear you after Mr Hooda is done," he told Nedumpara.

Nedumpara alleged that whenever he wanted to speak, the bench prevented him while ignoring the fact that he was the most senior among the lawyers present in the courtroom.

"I am in charge of procedure in this court, and I have seen the judiciary for the last 24 years. I will not allow any lawyer to dictate the procedure of the court," Chandrachud said. Watch here. 

Nedumpara replied saying he had seen the judiciary since 1979.

Meanwhile, solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the Centre, called the lawyer's action "contemptuous".

However, Nedumpara returned to the courtroom after some time and apologised to the bench.

"I am sorry. I have not done anything wrong," he said but again claimed he was treated “unfairly”.

According to Nedumpara, the lawyer said if a leak of question paper had happened, there was no other option left but a re-test.