SHOCKER in SC: Rajeev Dhavan rips apart book submitted in Ayodhya case

The Ayodhya case has entered its 40th and final day of proceedings with tensions flaring. In a distasteful move, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan who is representing the Muslim group in the case tore a book inside the courtroom. The book in question ‘Ayodhya Revisited’ was submitted to the bench by senior advocate Vikas Singh to supplement his arguments. Dhavan objected to the submission and tore the pages of the book. The bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi condemning the incident stated that if the behaviour continues, they would halt the proceedings and walk out. 

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'Loud objections are not in the decorum of the court'

The bench further condemning Dhavans action stated, loud objections are not in the decorum of the court and further commenting on the senior lawyer’s behaviour said, they could just read the submissions instead of hearing arguments by the lawyers. The case has been marred by many instances of unprofessional behaviour with the Supreme Court warning them time and again to maintain decorum inside the courtroom.

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The heated exchanges in the Supreme Court

On Tuesday too, the Supreme Court (SC) saw heated exchanges between the lawyers representing Hindu and Muslim parties during the proceedings in the politically sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case. Dhavan representing Muslim parties got up and intervened when Parasaran was submitting that, a "historical wrong" was committed by Mughal emperor Babur after his conquest of India more than 433 years ago by constructing a mosque at the birthplace of Lord Ram and it needed to be corrected. "This is entirely a new argument. All this could have been argued by them in other lawsuits as well. I am entitled to give reply in rejoinder arguments," Dhavan told the bench, also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer. Parasaran, along with another senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, objected that there were a lot of interruptions from the other side and the court should set the things right as this is the case of public right. 

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