Senior Advocate Indira Jaising on Thursday took strong exception to Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta's comment directed at her in Supreme Court. .Jaising was making submissions before the bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh in a case filed by Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi—mothers of Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi who had died by suicide after alleged caste-based discrimination in college campus.The PIL was filed seeking action against systemic caste bias, institutional apathy and regulatory non-compliance in higher education institutions..During the hearing today, Jaising registered protest that SG Mehta had been interrupting her arguments. "I don't appreciate the interruption. Let me finish," Jaising told SG Mehta at one point. Later, Justice Kant sought SG Mehta's response to a query made by the Court."What is the position, Mr. Solicitor General?" the Court asked.When Mehta stood up to reply, he chose to begin by saying,"With her (Jaising's) permission..."Jaising responded strongly to Mehta's comment which she deemed to be a snide remark at her."Will you (Court) ask him to stop this kind of male chauvinist attitude in the court! I have never seen him to do this to a male advocate. I can show you many male advocates who have intervened much more than I do and today I have not intervened at all milord. I beg the protection of the Court. I have had enough of this, please do what you wish!" Jaising also started moving with the intention to leave the courtroom. "My learned junior is here. You can do what you wish. Let Mr. Mehta have the floor," she said. .However, the Court urged her to remain in Court. "Madam Indira ... we have permitted you to argue uninterruptedly. Please see the intervention we are making ... we did not permit anyone to interrupt you. There is no question..."Visibly angry with SG Mehta's conduct, Jaising said,"What is this attitude? 'With her permission'. Is this the way to talk in Court? It is not the first time I am hearing this."Justice Kant then said,"Normally, tempers in my court are never high..."Without answering Jaising's complaints, Mehta instead responded to the Court's comment. "Very difficult to be a judge, milords," he said. .However, Jaising said that Mehta cannot talk to her like this. Justice Kant then tried to calm down the senior counsel.Eventually, Jaising resumed the arguments and also apologized for raising her voice in the courtroom. "Before he [Mehta] begins, I submit by apology for speaking in a high tone. But please protect women in this court from male chauvinist remarks." Defending himself, Mehta said,"This is unwarranted .. there is nothing like man and woman (in court)."However, Jaising said,"It is to do with it, Mr Mehta... whether you like it or not."At this, the Court said,"In our court, we can assure, there are learned counsels only without gender. We will not allow this kind of..."The counsel then resumed their arguments in the case. .[Read Live Coverage]
