Abhishek Manu Singhvi Upsets SCBA With Alleged Rude Letter

[shobha nagrani]

From Legally India:

"The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has resolved to strip the Supreme Court's library II of its title – Dr LM Singhvi library.

The association was apparently upset after the late senior advocate's son, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, wrote a letter to the SCBA underscoring his previous Rs 20 lakh contribution toward the library's renovation but making future contributions conditional to various demands, including not being asked for money from them again.

The library was named as Dr LM Singhvi library in 2009 when Singhvi had last contributed Rs 20 lakh toward its renovation, proposing that the library be named after his late father.

In May 2014 the SCBA again asked for contribution from him to renovate the library. According to the SCBA's claims, one of which Singhvi contests, the senior counsel then stipulated four conditions in a letter on 8 May:

1. A Resolution be passed by the Executive Committee that in future SCBA will not ask for any contribution in connection with Dr. LM Singhvi Library.

2. There should be an inaugural ceremony or dedication ceremony or whatever function after the renovation is done.

3. In the costly items which will be purchased out of Rs. 20 lakh, it may be inscribed on these items that "gifted by Dr. Abhishek Singhvi in memory of Late Dr. LM Singhvi".

4. SCBA and Dr. Singhvi will withdraw all the letters exchanged on this issue and the SCBA will withdraw the resolutions passed.

According to the SCBA notice, the SCBA then passed a resolution on 10 May, noting its "consternation" at "the insinuating tenor" of Singhvi's letter, adding that in 2009 the SCBA had not agreed that "it would be only a one-time payment or that Dr Abhishek Singh [sic] will not contribute for renovation etc. from time to time".

On 13 May SCBA president PH Parekh wrote to the SCBA that he had met with Singhvi to inform him that the deadline for making the Rs 20 lakh contribution was 14 May, and that Singhvi had repeated his conditions in response. Parekh had asked the SCBA for comment on Singhvi's conditions.

On 21 May, Parekh wrote to Singhvi informing him that the conditions were not acceptable to the SCBA. Singhvi replied on 22 May stating that Parekh had "erroneously" reproduced his third condition. He said that instead of the particular inscription that "gifted by Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi in memory of Late Dr LM Singhvi" on items he gifted to the library, he had only asked that his contribution be "suitably recognised by the Bar, [...] did not suggest any particular format".

The SCBA stated in its resolution that it could not accept any of Singhvi's conditions and that he ought to have either voluntarily contributed for the library's renovation or taken up the SCBA's offer to himself get the renovation done in case he did not want to make the contribution.

It added:

The Committee is of the unanimous view that the tone, tenor and language of the letter written by Dr. Abhishek Singhvi on 21st May ought not to have written by him. Even earlier correspondence is totally unacceptable to SCBA ...

The Executive Committee resolves that the Library no.II with immediate effect will not be described as Dr LM Singhvi library. All plates and plaques etc describing it as Dr LM Singhvi library will be removed. However, photograph of Dr LM Singhvi will continue to remain in library no.II in view of tremendous regard and respect the bar has for Dr LM Singhvi."

http://www.legallyindia.com/201407074846/Bar-Bench-Litigation/scba-strips-lm-singhvi-library-of-lsquo-lm-singhvi-rsquo

[brett_lee38]

I think SCBA has done the right thing 

[pawansingla]

Everywhere Ego issue. This issue could have been sorted amicably. One has to have patience and to set aside his personal ego.A simple issue has been made too complicated.God knows how we are going to mature.