CJI BR Gavai raps Centre for seeking adjournment in Tribunal Reforms Act case; says 'trying to avoid his bench'

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai strongly disapproved of the central government's request for adjournment of a slew of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.

The CJI verbally observed that the government was trying to avoid the bench headed by him since he was to retire shortly. CJI Gavai will demit office on November 24. The matter is slated for hearing on Friday. The request for adjournment was made by an additional solicitor general via mentioning before a bench headed by the CJI.

The ASG submitted that attorney general R Venkataramani has an international arbitration scheduled for Friday and hence sought an accommodation. The CJI then called out the AG for seeking the adjournment just days before CJI Gavai retires from the court. He said the court wanted to hear the matter on Friday and write judgment over the weekend.


"We have accommodated you twice already. How many more? If you want it after November 24, tell us then. Very unfair to the court. Every time you seek accommodation for international arbitration. You have a battery of lawyers and then you file midnight applications seeking reference to larger benches!" the CJI orally remarked.

"We did not take any other cases tomorrow. We thought we would hear tomorrow and write judgment over the weekend," he said.

The CJI ultimately agreed to accommodate the AG on Monday. "We will hear the learned AG on Monday. If he does not come, we will close the matter on Monday," the CJI remarked.