CJI Kapadia speaks his mind, warns against frivolous PILs

"Huge cost will be imposed for filing frivolous PILs," Justice Kapadia, who was heading a three-judge Bench on the first day of his office as CJI, said during the hearing of one such (public interest litigation) PIL.

The fact that there would be no softening of stand on the issue became evident when some of the lawyers appearing in PIL matters did not press for relief after getting the slightest hint that the petitions were not going to be entertained.
However, his humanitarian approach was also clearly visible when on a matter of labour and trade union, he said that "whatsoever be the case, the workers should not lose their jobs".

The style of proceedings by Justice Kapadia in the CJI's court witnessed a remarkable departure from his predecessor Justice K G Balakrishnan.The CJI said he would not continue with practice of the oral mentioning of the matter at the start of the day which was prevalent till yesterday.

Justice Kapadia said the mentioning matter will come to the Bench through the department concerned where it has to be filed a day before and would be considered for listing only after the lunch break next day.

"No oral mentioning. You have to come through mentioning department," he said to the disappointment of several lawyers who were waiting to mention their matters.
No sooner the new CJI came for holding the court after he was sworn in, he was greeted by Attorney General G E Vahanvati and Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium (as a Chairman of Bar Council of India) and members of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
Accepting their wishes, Justice Kapadia said "I want a pro-active Bar and not a reactive Bar".

He completed his business of the day in little more than half-an-hour during which he heard 39 matters.Some of the family members of Justice Kapadia were present at the visitors' gallery of his court to watch the proceedings.