LAHORE: The proposed establishment of a Supreme Court in India was referred to by Sir Patrick Spens, Chief Justice of India, addressing the members of the Lahore High Court Bar this afternoon [Jan 15].

His Lordship said that on his appointment as Chief Justice of India he was presented with a file containing views of officials and others on the establishment of a Supreme Court. Due to war conditions, his Lordship pointed out, the contacting of legal business had been difficult in London particularly in view of the fact that many young barristers had put on uniforms. The Privy Council was not satisfied with the work and therefore the proposal for setting up a Supreme Court in India was invoked again and his Lordship was entrusted to find whether India desired a change.

As regard recruitment, his Lordship said that he could give no guarantee but if he could say that he was the head of the Court and he was to consider a Bench of three judges to fall with the Hindu Law, the Mohammadan Law and Commercial Law, it seemed to be quite impossible to get a Bench to which judges were not recruited because of their professional knowledge....

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2019