File photo of CJI B R Gavai
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Tuesday sought to give a "quietus" to a "trivial issue" related to absence of Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, flagged by him during his maiden visit to his home state of Maharashtra on Sunday, since "all concerned have already expressed regrets".
A press note stated the CJI desired the matter should not be blown out of proportion.
Justice Gavai is the first Buddhist and second Dalit to reach the post of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
While addressing a felicitation by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa on Sunday, May 18, Justice Gavai, citing lack of protocol, has said: “I do not usually believe in protocol…however, every organ of the Constitution must reciprocate and give respect to the other organ of the Constitution. When the son of this State, who has become the CJI comes to Maharashtra for the first time, if the State's Chief Secretary, Commissioner of Police etc., do not want to attend the event, that is best left on their wisdom.”
On May 19, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) slammed the MahaYuti-NDA dispensation and sought a clarification from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
On Tuesday, SC official said, "News items are being published in the media regarding protocol issues during the visit of the CJI to Maharashtra. All concerned have already expressed regrets. The CJI has expressed that a trivial issue should not be blown out of proportion. CJI has requested everyone that the matter be given a quietus."
Justice Gavai was on May 14 sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He is due to retire on November 23, 2025.