[SCBA Elections 2024] Dividing the Bar by political leanings undermines a lawyer’s duty; Ministers must introduce government policies and projects.

[SCBA Elections 2024] Dividing the Bar by political leanings undermines a lawyer‘s duty; Ministers must introduce government policies and projects.

Surprisingly the legal fraternity witnessed another feather in their cap after Senior Advocate Mr. Kapil Sibal decided to join the election process of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

After being away from electoral politics for years, the veteran lawyer and ex-Minister is contesting now for the first time for this post. He was the speaker of the house with the Confederate States Bar Association first during the 2001-02 season and again in 1995–1996 and 1997–1998.

Debayan Roy who has been reporting for Bar & Bench took interview of Anil Mr. Sibal to understand the reasons for his joining the SLBA Presidential race, as to how he plans to deal with the matters of the Bar if he is elected and more.

Debayan Roy [DR]: Does it have any significance to you that you ran for the Presidential position this year?

DR: What do you think about impacts of today’s SCBA Presidents, how they played their roles and did they influence people?

KS: We acknowledge that the past alumni just like those who have previously served this prestigious Bar have contributed to the growth of the Bar.

DR: Last year division was seen in SCBA with President conducting his own personal campaign, writing letters to the Chief Justice of India related to some cases and the association body members decided to stay away from this situation. How is it going to be done?

KS: A good question about how you are. While you prepare e for your oral examinations, only the spelling or rather the ideas you voice out should be aligned with these principles. Why are we lawyers? Here the term rule of law denies governments while they come and go, and when challenged their decisions they can be challenged once out of parameters of the law.

The lawyers that have purposes are to proclaim and achieve the rule of law. In order to act as protector of the Constitution, the role of a lawyer is to ensure Human rights are respected. Freedom to criticize and argue are the main principles of a government that even the kings cannot go beyond this. Lawyers get involved in the regulation of this only when the authority goes too far and the laws are questioned.

If what you’d say is that the Bar is deeply divided since it is characterized by political leanings which in turn negate the essence of a lawyer, then you are not fulfilling your assignment as a law student. Some of the political dimensions may feel like a part of your personal beliefs, but as an attorney, you have to keep them in the political chambers. No, I’m not along with a political party, but ours never argues about it inside the court.

When we fight important legislation based our constitutional views, we may face the courts, and the tribunal would have no real effect on our ideological position. The brief is not the lawyer’s mandate, but rather relief for the poor and downtrodden to seek guidance and justice. If we consider as an example, I am thinking to help those who do not have privilege to be in the courtroom. I have already done that, because it does not matter where you come from if politics is lacking and this does not concern money. Supposing that I represent a minority, I am therefore doing it as a water matter of law.

DR: What changes do you think have contributed to The Bar recent development?

KS: Well, now with more and more members, the profession as a whole has gone through major vigilance. However, no one can deny court roads as path to the Supreme Court and practing directly at the court.

Most of them have been shelterless deprived of the luxuries of a chambers or a room to stay in Delhi. They have to spend money for a place to work and pay for clerks – all these expenses that not everyone can afford to have. Would the town have any spare beds in the hospital for patients if some of their family members contracted the illness? Those problems pollute the world not only of future generations but of ourselves now and the ones existed in the past. Young lawyers have hard time and there is no organization or institution endowed with the capacity of scrapping the problem.

DR: What will you do us individuals if you will be the president of law for this election?

KS: It is a arguments of what I want to accomplish. I am going to explain the stuff of the past I did. That was a lack of faucet, actually, which I brought in. We arranged a railway station for our employees so that they could easily buy air tickets. Prefecture and I installed these fixtures myself: the cafeteria below, the RK Garg library. Therefore, our sanction will be effective at the very moment we need it. We address all the problems, that is from medical insurance to housing, and so forth- barrier- Bench communication, prevention of rules, Bar issues, we have them all to deal with.

DR: Can you answer the question “and confident of the victory?”

KS: It is not an issue of concern whether or not my candidate will triumph or give up the crown. It doesn’t matter whether you end up in an official position or not, but what’s important is standing up for the values of “Constitution.” I sincerely hope the winner in whatever they do will stabilize the values on which we are gathered.