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A letter request has been addressed to Attorney General KK Venugoppal for initiating appropriate legal proceedings for challenging the directions/order passed by the High Court of Gujarat dated on February 15, whereby the Bench headed by the Chief Justice directed the police officer to distribute 100 cans of an aerated drink to the Bar.

The letter plea has been filed by a practicing lawyer before the Supreme Court and member of Supreme Court Bar Association Subhash Chandran K.R. where he states that, on February 15, a Gujarat cop was spotted drinking an aerated drink (Coca-Cola) during a virtual hearing after which the Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice asked the AGP Devnani to direct the concerned police officer to distribute 100 cans of the aerated drink (Coca-Cola) to members of the Bar Association.

“He should distribute 100 cans of ‘Coca-Cola’ to everybody in the Bar Association, otherwise we will ask the Chief Secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him. We will not leave him until he complies with this. It should reach by today evening,” the Bench had directed in the order.

Thereafter, the Bench also asked AGP Devnani to confirm virtually to the Court after he received the set of cans from the concerned police officer.

It has been submitted in the letter that, the action of the said police officer is highly contemptuous and needs to be dealt with in accordance with law.

At the same time, the nature of the order/ direction passed the High Court of Gujarat is not commendable in a modern society, states the letter.

The letter-petitioner has opened that the said order/direction violates the basic principles of judicial discipline.

“The personality and behavior of a judge should be such that no one in and outside the Court feels uncomfortable and every one comes to the Court with the hope that justice shall be properly delivered. The Hon’ble Court should have passed directions to uphold the majesty of law, rather than passing orders which would be considered by the general public as an act of naivety or immaturity on part of the judiciary,” the letter further mentions.

The letter states that, this may also lead to similar attempts by other courts/ benches or subordinate courts to catch the headlines, which may set out wrong precedent.

Hence, the letter requested the Attorney General to request the Supreme Court to issue appropriate guidelines for dealing with similar situations in future.