Chief Justice DY Chandrachud Argues for Junior Lawyers’ Seating in Courtroom

The Chief Justice addressed Mr Mehta, acknowledging the young lawyers in the courtroom who had been standing with their laptops. The Chief Justice expressed concern and said that efforts would be made to accommodate them behind Mr Mehta immediately. The context of this discussion was a nine-judge constitution bench hearing a batch of appeals regarding the legislative power of states to regulate the sale and manufacture of industrial alcohol. This hearing was in response to a previous ruling by a seven-judge constitution bench in 1990.

In response to the Chief Justice’s comments, Mr Mehta mentioned that he had already requested unrelated lawyers in the courtroom to vacate their chairs for the young lawyers. The Chief Justice also instructed the court master to find stools for the young lawyers to sit on. Following lunch, a row of stools appeared in the courtroom, and it was noted that the Chief Justice had given instructions to make seating arrangements for the young lawyers. Additionally, he inspected the seating arrangement himself, ensuring that it did not block the view or hinder the Solicitor General.

Mr Mehta, in an interview with NDTV, praised the Chief Justice’s gesture, calling it unprecedented and something that all courts should follow. He also expressed the overwhelming gratitude of the young lawyers for the Chief Justice’s considerate actions.