Terming as “unfortunate” the outburst by Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph against the holding of Chief Justices’ Conference on Good Friday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Hl Dattu broke his silence on the issue on Sunday and said that the agenda for the biennial meeting was set long ago in December last year. The conference was meant to be an “inhouse discussion” between the CJI and Chief Justices of all 24 High Courts and not a “celebration,” Justice Dattu said, giving possible indications that unless required, the meeting did not require mandatory presence of all Supreme Court judges at the two-day event.
Trying to bury the controversy, the CJI told reporters at a post-event media briefing, “It (letter by Justice Joseph) is unfortunate… I am the head of the family. If any member questions me, it will remain within the family. We will settle it ourselves.” He said while all Supreme Court judges are invited, the attendance of top three apex court judges is mandatory. “These are inhouse meetings because as head of institution, once in two years, I have to request Chief Justices of all High Courts to discuss problems we are facing while administering justice delivery system and to find solutions to problems they are facing and could face in future.”
The advance notice for the meeting, last held on April 7, 2013, was conveyed to Chief Justices sometime in November last year. “In December last year, after discussing with 24 Chief Justices, I had settled a few items on the agenda that could be taken up at the inhouse summit and Sunday’s meeting with Chief Ministers.” Justice Joseph, who conveyed his inability to attend the event, in his letter to CJI and Prime Minister wrote: “Irrespective of religion, Diwali, Holi, Dussehra, Eid, Bakrid, Christmas, Easter etc. are great days of festival celebrations in the neighbourhood. Your good self would kindly appreciate that no important programmes are held during these sacred and auspicious days, even though we have holidays during that period as well.”