Mumbai

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Sunday expressed his displeasure over the absence of Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary, Director General of Police or the city police commissioner to receive him during his first visit to the state after being elevated to the top post.

Gavai, who took oath as CJI on May 14, was in Mumbai for a felicitation programme by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.

Hours after the CJI’s remarks, all three top officials were present when Gavai visited Chaityabhoomi, the cremation place of Dr BR Ambedkar, in Dadar to pay respect to the iconic social reformer and the chief architect of India’s Constitution.

Earlier, speaking at the Bar Council event, Gavai said he did not want to pinpoint small issues like the protocol lapse, but stressed that all three pillars of democracy are equal and must reciprocate and show and give respect to one another.

“If the Chief Secretary of the state, DGP or Mumbai police commissioner does not want to come there, when the CJI, who is from Maharashtra, has arrived for the first time, it's up to them to think about whether it is right or not,” CJI Gavai said.

It is a question of respect by other organs of the institution to the judiciary, he said, adding that he was not insisting on adherence to protocol.

“When a chief of an organ or institution is coming for the first time to the state, especially when he too belongs to the said state, whether the treatment they gave was right or not, they themselves should think,” Gavai said.

The CJI said that while he does not want to get into such minor matters, he felt the need to mention the same so that people know about it.

“If it were someone else in my place, then the provisions of Article 142 would be considered,” Gavai said in a lighter vein.

Article 142 of the Indian Constitution grants the Supreme Court the power to pass decrees or orders deemed necessary for doing complete justice in any case or matter pending before it.

It also allows the court to make orders for securing the attendance of individuals.

Later, the CJI visited Chaityabhoomi at Dadar in central Mumbai to pay tribute to Dr Ambedkar. Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti were all present.

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CJI Gavai, who is from Maharashtra, is the second Dalit after K G Balakrishnan to head the Indian judiciary.