SC judge offers half his salary if lawyers stop calling ‘My Lord’
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New Delhi: A Supreme Court judge expressed displeasure at lawyers addressing him ‘ My Lord’ and ‘Your Lordships’ during court procedures.
"How many times you will say 'My Lords'? If you stop saying this, then I will give you half of my salary," Justice PS Narasimha, who was sitting on the bench with senior presiding judge Justice AS Bopanna, told a senior lawyer during the hearing of a regular matter on Wednesday.
Lawyers, during arguments, invariably address judges as "My Lord" or "Your Lordships". Those opposed to the practice often call it a colonial-era relic and a sign of slavery.
"Why don't you use 'Sir' instead," Justice Narasimha said, adding otherwise, he will start counting as to how many times the senior lawyer uttered the expression "My Lords".
In 2006, the Bar Council of India had passed a resolution deciding no advocate will address judges as "My Lord" and "Your Lordship" but it was not followed in practice.
PTI with edits