Supreme Court Directs AoR To Appear Before It With Tickets Of His Travel After Noting His Absence Upon Finding Incorrect Statements In Pleadings

The Supreme Court, while hearing a matter, directed Advocate on Record (AOR) P. Soma Sundaram to be physically present before the Court on April 1, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with tickets of his travel, after noticing "incorrect statements" in the petition synopsis and his absence in the Court.

The Bench of Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma noted that during the first session of the hearing, Senior Advocate R. Nedumaran appeared for the petitioner.

The Bench inquired about the presence of AOR P. Soma Sundaram, to which Senior Counsel responded that the AOR was in a remote village in Tamil Nadu and unavailable. The Court then directed him to appear virtually by 2:00 p.m.

"Today, when the matter was called out in the first session, Mr. R.Nedumaran, learned senior counsel, appeared for the petitioner. Since, while going through the synopsis, we had found that there were certain incorrect statements made therein, We asked Mr. R.Nedumaran about the presence of Mr. P. Soma Sundaram, the Advocate on Record appearing for the petitioner. He stated that the learned AOR, Mr. P. Soma Sundaram, is not in the town at present and he is in remote village of Tamil Nadu. We asked him to make his presence available through virtual mode at 02:00 p.m.," the Bench stated.

However, in the afternoon session, Advocate P.V. Yogeshwaran informed the Court that he had attempted to contact P. Soma Sundaram, but the latter was unreachable due to connectivity issues in the remote village.

Senior Advocate S. Nagamuthu, who was present in the Court, assured the Court that the AOR would be available by April 1, 2025.

"Mr. S. Nagamuthu, learned senior counsel, who is also present in the Court and had earlier appeared in the group matter with which, the present special leave petition is sought to be tagged, assures this Court that the learned AOR shall be available before this Court on 01.04.2025," the Bench noted.

Taking note of the situation, the Court directed P. Soma Sundaram to be physically present on April 1, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., along with his travel tickets as proof of his visit to Tamil Nadu. The matter has been listed for hearing before the same Bench on the scheduled date.

"Advocate on Record, Mr. P. Soma Sundaram, shall remain physically present before this Court on 01.04.2025 at 10:30 a.m. along with all the tickets of his travel to Tamil Nadu and back, as it is stated at the Bar that he is at present in the remote village of Tamil Nadu and therefore, not in a position to enter his appearance. List the matter on 01.04.2025 at 10:30 a.m. before this combination of Bench," the Court ordered.

Cause Title: N. Eswaranathan v. State [Special Leave Petition (Criminal) Diary No(s). 55057/2024]

Appearance:-

Petitioner: Senior Advocates R.Nedumaran, S. Nagamuthu, Advcoates P. Soma Sundaram (AOR), P.V. Yogeshwaran

Respondent: ASG Archana Pathak Dave, Advocate Mukesh Kumar Maroria (AOR)

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