Days after the Gujarat High Court criticised the "utter disrespect" shown by the president of its Advocates' Association, a group of senior lawyers met Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal on Monday. The meeting emphasized the importance of maintaining the dignity and decorum of the judiciary.

On January 17, Chief Justice Agarwal had observed that Advocate Brijesh Trivedi, president of the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association, displayed "unethical" conduct and "utter disrespect" towards the institution. The comments came while hearing a 2011 public interest litigation (PIL), where Trivedi was accused of attempting to "browbeat the court" to secure an adjournment.

Chief Justice Agarwal remarked, “All senior members of the bar are as much officers of the court as judges. I strongly believe in deliberations between lawyers and judges. If there are difficulties, lawyers can always approach me. I am grateful that you all recognize the need to uphold the institution's dignity.”

During the January 17 hearing, the court declined Trivedi’s repeated requests to postpone the matter, citing prior adjournments based on leave notes from him and other lawyers. Following this, Trivedi allegedly made irrelevant submissions, leveled baseless allegations against the court’s functioning, and demanded the bench recuse itself. He then left the hearing abruptly without seeking the court's permission.

The court noted that Trivedi's behavior suggested an attempt to misuse his position as the elected president of the Bar to exert undue pressure. It described his actions as unethical and a deliberate effort to undermine the court’s authority.

When contacted, Trivedi declined to comment, stating the matter was sub-judice.

Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, representing the views of lawyers present in court, underscored the importance of fostering mutual respect between the bar and the bench. "The dignity and decorum of this august institution must be upheld at all costs. The administration of justice should not be maligned," he stated.

The Advocate General further expressed regret over the incident, stressing the need for preventive measures. "This institution, with a history spanning over 60 years, has never witnessed such an atmosphere. Lawyers should not undermine the court, and similarly, they should not be unnecessarily disparaged."

Chief Justice Agarwal acknowledged the concerns and reiterated the collective responsibility to protect the institution's integrity, emphasizing that all efforts should be made to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.