Supreme Court Bar Association President Dr. Adish Aggarwala Calls for Legal Reforms and Speedy Justice

New Delhi (13/06/2023): Dr. Adish C Aggarwala, senior advocate and newly elected President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, on Monday, addressed the audience at his felicitation programme, emphasizing the importance of legal reforms to foster investor confidence and ensure a more efficient Indian legal system.

The event was chaired by Dr. Justice K.G Balakrishnan and attended by Union Law Minister Arjun Singh Meghwal a the chief guest.

In his address, Dr. Aggarwala expressed his confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted the importance of upholding principles of justice and equality. He commended the Prime Minister for instilling confidence among foreign investors to invest in India and bringing political stability to the country. However, Dr. Aggarwala noted that despite these positive developments, foreign investors still feel hesitant due to unresolved disputes.

Dr. Aggarwala stressed the significance of implementing changes in India’s legal system to instill confidence among the people. As the Chairman of the All India Bar Association and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, he pledged the full cooperation of the bar in supporting the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India, Dr. DY Chandrachud, in their commitment to delivering speedy justice.

He proposed several suggestions for improving the legal system, including basing judicial appointments and promotions solely on merit. Dr. Aggarwala advocated for the removal of judges who are deemed unsuitable for higher courts and suggested that their positions should be filled with more qualified individuals. Additionally, he called for the recording of all court proceedings and preserving the videos in the judicial files of relevant cases to enhance accountability and prevent the wastage of precious court time.

Addressing the issue of appointing chief justices from other states, Dr. Aggarwala argued that they may lack the necessary understanding of local factors, relying heavily on local judges for administrative decisions. He also expressed his opposition to appointing retired judges in commissions or tribunals. Furthermore, he advocated for increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 68, as well as the retirement age of high court judges.

In terms of post-retirement appointments, Dr. Aggarwala proposed a cooling period of two years before individuals could be appointed to any commission. He emphasized the vibrant nature of the bar and its readiness to support initiatives by the judiciary and executive branches.

Concluding his speech, Dr. Aggarwala made a heartfelt appeal for regular annual grants to the bar association to address financial and medical emergencies faced by its members who are actively practicing law.