Sr Advocate Dhavan quits court practice

Senior advocate and constitution expert Dr Rajeev Dhavan has decided to quit court practice.

In a terse two-line letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Dhavan cited "humiliating end" to the case of 'Delhi government Versus Lieutenant Governor' for his decision to give up practice.

"You are entitled to take back the senior gown conferred on me, though I would like to keep it for memory and services rendered," Dhavan wrote, in an undated letter to Chief Justice Dipak Misra.

The CJI, for his part, declined to make any comment, in his informal interactions with reporters on Monday.

Dhavan, known for acerbic and incisive arguments, has invariably got entangled with war of words with several judges.

On last occasions in Ayodhya case hearing, he, along with other senior advocates - Kapil Sibal and Dushyant Dave, threatened to walk out if the court decided to start hearing on the batch of civil appeals.

Dhavan had told the CJI that he would not be able to finish the hearing during his tenure till October, next year.

In Delhi Versus Lieutenant Governor case hearing, he had insisted for putting forth oral arguments even though the five-judge Constitution bench wrapped up the proceedings and reserved the judgement.

Representing the Delhi government, Dhavan, in fact, went on to say that he would not mind losing the case. His assertion, however, was countered by another senior counsel Indira Jaising, also appearing for the AAP government in Delhi.

"Unfortunately, a small group of senior advocates feel they can raise their voice but it would not be tolerated...raising voice shows inadequacy of arguments, and incompetence and that they are not fit to be seniors," the CJI-led had said a day after, taking exception to submissions by Dhavan and other counsel.

The court had termed behaviour of a small band of lawyers as "atrocious".