CJs meet to go ahead on Good Friday

Chief Justice of India H.l. Dattu on Monday justified the holding of the all India Chief Justices conference on April 3, Good Friday. He said this was done to avoid disruption of work in the High Courts if the meet was to be held on working days. The CJI standing by the decision comes even as the Catholic Bishops Conference of India as also one of the judges of the apex court voicing concern over the conference being held on Good Friday, a holiday for Christians. On Monday senior advocate Lily Thomas drew the attention of the CJI that the conference was being held on a Good Friday. She said “this is not a religious day but a spiritual day of redemption. Christians all over India are concerned about the meet being held on this day.” The CJI retorted and told her “this is not the first time that such conferences are held on a national holiday.”

Replying to Justice Lily Thomas over holding a judges conference on Good Friday, Chief Justice of India H.I Dattu said: “In 2002 and 2004, it was held on Valmiki Day (which is a holiday for courts); in 2007 it was held on a Good Friday and in 2009 it was held on August 15, Independence Day. If I have to hold this conference on a working day, CJs of 25 High Courts will take one day holiday one day before and one day after and three full working days will be lost.”

The CJI said “keeping in mind the past practice senior judges of this court took such a decision to hold this year’s meet from April 3. Nobody has any grievance in the past when such conferences