Dear Members,

There is no great and no small,
To the soul that maketh all,
And where it cometh, all things are,
And it cometh every where.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

1.  In the tradition of this office, Shri K.M. Munshi being the first Secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association, it is time to place on record various achievements and shortfalls during the  year  for  the consideration  of you all. I am aware that a few will have time and feel the enthusiasm to read  this  all, for  members  of  our  association  had  little time to read  the  notices,  even  though  they  were  made prominent by changing their colours. Interestingly those who complained about lack of activities had no knowledge and never participated in any one of them and there were many many activities this time.

2.  The report is heavily loaded with major achievements, some of which had  never  been  hereto before  undertaken,  both  on  infrastructural  and  academic side.  Some of these if  maintained  with additions,  will  certainly  help  in  bringing  about  a  better,  harmonious,  cohesive  and  strong   bar, contributing  its worth in national development. These activities and achievements would not have been possible,  but  for  the  relentless  and  selfless  working of  all  the  members  of  the  executive,  more particularly,  some  of the younger members, whose enthusiasm, energy and interests were at,  time difficult to understand and appreciate.  

3. SCBA  still continues to be an unregistered body, extending various services to 3212  members, consisting  of Senior Advocates, Advocate on records, other advocates and some non  active  members. The  problem  of welfare scheme for the members will have to be resolved on a national or  state  level. Though  there  is  no  comparison, but it is interesting to know the figures and  realise  the  strength  of cohesive powers of Bar in contemporary situation. The reserved retirement fund with the American Bar Association is to the tune of 4.5 Trillion US Dollars; nobody eats ones capital.

4.  Non  availability  of sufficient chambers is one of the greatest problems for the members  of  the Bar and results in use of libraries, corridors and lounge for the purpose of holding conferences with  the clients. The construction of the chambers is going on at full speed, thanks to the Chief Justice of  India. But,  I feel that provisioning of 130 single allotee chambers will be wholly insufficient for the  members (more  adding  every  year)  and  active  steps  will have  to  be  undertaken  for  construction  of  more chambers.

5.   Finances of the Association are in a bad shape. Almost 70 % of the money are spent on the staff. Some planned budgeting will have to be worked out. The staff members are the only permanent  feature of  the  association  and contribute their very best to keep all the members of the executive  busy.  I  am sure  that  if  they  had been less active, lot of pressures would have  been  off.  I  have  special appreciation  for  them,  their co-operation and the way they are able to control the  functioning  of  the association.

6. The year started with cleaning, polishing, repairs and furnishing, provisioning of new  curtains and upholstery in library and lounge.

7. Farewell  parties  were  held in honor of Honble Mr.Justice  P.B.Sawant,  Honble  Mr.Justice R.M. Sahai,  Honble  Mr.Justice  N. Venkatachala and Honble Mr.Justice  K. Jaychandra  Reddy.  We will always cherish our profound remembrances with them.  

8. A Computer and a TV were donated by Shri Kapil Sibal, President. The computer  has  helped us in developing the database of all the members and library books. But as new technology replaces the old existing system, the inertia of status quo sets up resistance and, therefore, full use of the  computer could not be made.  

9. "Meet  a Law Man Series" was commenced, to help the young members to get  some  guidance from  the  living  legends,  to enable them to be better professionals.  The  series  was  inaugurated  by Honble  Chief  Justice of India with Shri F.S.Nariman, Senior Advocate giving the  keynote  address. The  second  series  was  addressed by Honble Justice Kuldeep  Singh  and  Shri  K.Parasaran,  Senior Advocate  and  the  third by Honble Mr.Justice J.S.Verma and Shri A.K.Sen,  Senior  Advocate.  The fourth to be delivered by Honble Mr.Justice M.M.Punchhi and Shri Soli J.Sohrabji could not be held.

10.  For  the  first time the Bar Association organised sports and games meet,  which  received  very enthusiast participants consisting of several family members of the bar members, young and old. All the major  games  like  badminton  carom, chess, cricket, squash, table tennis,  and  athletics  were  held. Prizes and certificates were given to winner and also to the participants.

11. Law Day functions was held on 26th November with all its gaiety and M.C. Shetalvad Lectures were held to help advocates taking advocate on record examination.

12. A cultural  programme  was  held at FICCI auditorium, which  was  very  well  attended  and received all round praise and applaud.  

13.  One  of the major achievements was the furnishing of the R.K.Garg Memorial  Library,  which though  have  costed  dearly to us, but is the most useful asset for the Association, subject  to  its  being maintained as a research library and books being available to the members when they are required.

14. Many  new  books  were  added  to  the  library,  valuing  about  Rs.2,60,800  and with  the establishment  of  R.K.Garg  Memorial  Library, it might be possible to stop  some  pilferage  of  books, which I consider to be the most degenerating act.

15.  This  was  a  sad  year, when we lost some of the most  esteemed  senior  advocates  and  other members  of  our association. We lost Shri M.C.Chakraborty, Shri Gobind  Mukhoty,  Dr.Y.S.Chitale, Shri  K.G.Bhagat,  Dr.Anand Prakash, Shri S.D.Bajaj and one of the  greatest  constitutional  authority Shri   H.M.Seervai.  We  also  lost  Shri  M.S.Bedi,  Shri  C.V.Rappai,  Shri  P.Keshava  Pillai,   Shri J.L.Mathubhai, Shri Krishna Prasad, Shri J.M.Sood, Shri J.M.Lal, Shri M.S.Gupta, Shri B.Reis,  Shri K.L.Mohindru, Shri Suresh A.Shroff, Shri C.P.Lal, Shri M.V.Goswami, Shri Shivjee Mathur and Shri B.B.Tawakley. Full court references and condolence meetings were held.

16.  Visits of President of Ghana Supreme Court Bar Association and of Mr. Vladimir   A. Tumanov, President of the Constitutional Court of Russia Federation and his delegates was a great occasion for  us all and helped in providing some international interaction.  

17. Twelve (12) new lockers were allotted to the members whose names were pending in the list since long.

18. There  were serious problems with the canteen and caterer. I hope the same gets  fully  resolved quickly.  With  the  starting of Canteen Plaza, which will not take much time now, as it is  at  the  final stage, I think we all will have better food facilities.

19.  The  maintenance  of office records and files will have to be looked  after  more  closely.  The auditor's report for the year ending March 31, 1996 is circulated along with this report.

20.Another  greatest achievement was opening of a Railway Reservation Counter in the  premises of  the  Supreme  Court.  This is helping and is will be a great help to all  the  advocates  and  litigants, particularly outstation.

21. We  had  committees  for just everything, after all that is the need  of  the  democratic  process. Everybody was every where and somebody was no where. I was informed at one stage that a committee was constituted to even write the secretarys report, I am thankful, I had the opportunity to pen it  down myself.  I  am aware that judicious self restrain (the tradition in which I have been nurtured for  last  20 yrs.)  is  the greatest virtue when you deal with reasonable, rational and similarly co-ordinating  people and it works perfectly, but I have yet to learn much more while dealing with the other kind.

 Forever speak the truth, follow the Dharma,
Strive constantly towards true learning and progress,
Forever on the righteous way to welfare.
Teach the world as diligently as you learn,
Behave this way every day, life long,
Conducting yourself thus, be creative and ascending.

Thanking You, 

Aruneshwar Gupta

Hony. Secretary, Supreme Court Bar Association - 1995-96

April 19,1996