Controversy over conference on Good Friday "unfortunate": CJI

Chief Justice of India H L Dattu today called as "unfortunate" the controversy over his colleague Kurian Joseph's objection to the holding of judges' conference on Good Friday but said it's a "family" matter and that he will settle it.
Justice Dattu also said that while all Supreme Court judges are invited for the conference the presence of only the top three is mandatory.
Seeking to downplay the controversy, Justice Dattu said the two-day event on Friday and Saturday was actually not a 'conference' but a meeting where judges discuss among themselves issues and problems related to the judiciary.
When asked about the issues raised by Justice Joseph, he termed it as "unfortunate".

"I am the head of the family...If one member questions me, we will settle it ourselves," he told reporters in an informal interaction after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the joint conference of Chief Justice of High Courts and Chief Ministers.
The CJI said as judges do not get time to interact with each other, such meetings are held periodically where important issues are discussed.

He said while all Supreme Court judges are invited, the attendance of top three apex court judges -- the CJI and two senior-most judges in this case Justice T S Thakur and Justice A R Dave -- is mandatory.

The last such event was organised on April 7, 2013.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Justice Joseph had said: "Irrespective of the religion, Diwali, Holi, Dussehra, Eid, Bakrid, Christmas, Easter etc. Are great days of festival celebrations in the neighbourhood. Your good self would kindly appreciate that no important programmes are held during sacred and auspicious days of Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Eid, Bakrid etc., though we have holidays during that period as well."
"I regret my inability to attend the event as the Conference coincides with the Good Friday ceremonies. Good Friday is a day of great religious significance to us, marking the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ," he had said.

Justice Joseph yesterday said he only wanted to raise the "serious concern" about secularism in India.
When contacted by PTI in Kochi yesterday, Justice Joseph, who was attending religious services with family members at his ancestral home in nearby Kaladi, said he was sad as a section of media was treating the issue "wrongly" missing the core issue.
"I only wanted to raise the serious concern--the future of secularism in this great country-- (which required consideration of appropriate authorities). Nothing personal between me or anybody (on this issue). But I am sad that it has been projected wrongly by a section of media, missing the core issue," he said.