Outgoing Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde wanted Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan to participate in the mediation in the Ayodhya dispute, and had asked senior advocate Vikas Singh to find out from the actor if he would be interested.
Speaking at the virtual farewell function of Justice Bobde, who retired on Friday as CJI, Singh, in his capacity as president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, revealed that Bobde had been keen on involving the actor in the court-mandated mediation process.
“Justice Bobde knew that I was well-acquainted with the family of Shah Rukh Khan. He asked me whether Shah Rukh Khan would be interested in participating in the mediation plan,” Singh said.
“Shah Rukh Khan was more than willing to take part in the mediation. He even suggested that the foundation stone of the temple be laid by representatives of the Muslim community, and vice versa for the mosque. Unfortunately, the mediation process did not move forward,” the SCBA president said. He also recalled that Bobde had expressed his keenness in the open court when the Ayodhya matter was being heard for the issue to be resolved through mediation. Later, the court had set up a mechanism involving eminent religious leaders and citizens to try and work out a mediated resolution, but the attempt had failed.
Addressing the function, Bobde spoke about the challenges posed before the judiciary by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the court adapted to the new circumstances by going online. “I am proud to say that our performance during the COVID-19 pandemic was amongst the best. The Supreme Court did not fail to sit a single day because of COVID-19. Not only that, the number of working days in this last year have been more than any time before in the history of Supreme Court,” he said.
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He said initially it was difficult to imagine virtual hearing for a court proceeding, but everyone got used to it. Bobde noted that in a certain class of cases, online hearings are here to stay, but added that this has given rise to a new kind of inequality, where access to justice depends on access to technology.
Bobde, a strong advocate of use of Artificial Intelligence in streamlining the functioning of the courts, said, “We decided to move towards Artificial Intelligence because I think it is futile to ignore it. I remember a time many years ago when computers were introduced and people started communicating through e-mail. People wondered why should one switch to e-mail. When something like this is introduced, it catches on like wildfire. The post offices closed down. I think Artificial Intelligence is in the same category. If we don't adopt it and become familiar with it, we will find ourselves at great disadvantage.”
Earlier in the day, as he bid farewell to the court after his final hearing as CJI, Bobde, who had taken over as the head of the court on November 18, 2019, said he leaves with the satisfaction that he did his best. “I leave this court with happiness, goodwill with very fond memories of wonderful arguments, excellent presentation, good behaviour, commitment to the cause of justice from not only bar but all connected with it. I demit office after 22 years as a judge. It has been my richest experience in the Supreme Court. Camaraderie with my brother judges has been wonderful,” he said.
Talking about going online, Bobde said, in lighter vein, “The advantage was that hearings were homely as I could see hills behind lawyers, sculptures and paintings behind lawyers, including guns and pistols. The painting behind S.G. Mehta has been removed now.”
