NEW DELHI: Supreme Court’s order Sunday finding prima facie breach of its Oct 9 order against complete shutdown of Metro and train services and issuing notice to Union home secretary, Delhi Police commissioner and Delhi Metro chief altered over the course of a day senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal’s views on the apex court.On Saturday, Sibal had told reporters “if we go to courts, I do not know whether we will ever get relief. The people of this country have decided that this govt has to go. If anyone can save the Constitution at this juncture, it is Supreme Court.”He added, “I am tired of repeatedly approaching the SC. It’s in my mind that there is no purpose in going there. I have not much expectations from SC. Whatever is to happen will happen. I only pray the country’s democracy remains intact… The tribunals (in West Bengal) have allowed appeals of 93% voters whose names were deleted illegally. SC has come to know this. But we did not get any relief”.On Sunday, he was leading a 100-strong team of lawyers in SC to question the detentions of protesters and alleged violations of court’s Oct 9 order against shutdown of Metro and rail services. The emotionally charged arguments saw pro-protester lawyers paint a picture of injustice and violation of fundamental rights on Saturday, compare it to an “undeclared emergency” and shout down a senior advocate who said lawyers must confine their activities to courts and not hit the streets, and that freedom of speech came with reasonable restrictions.
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At an appropriate juncture, Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, “Our purpose is to instil people’s faith in the system, and in that process your (lawyer’s) confidence is most vital for our fight against injustice.” The court also passed a slew of directives, including normalising Metro, train and internet services and traffic in the city and allowing lawyers and journalists to carry out professional work.Soon after the SC order, Sibal said, “We are deeply grateful to the Supreme Court for passing an order that restores the faith of the Indian people, as well as the faith of professionals, in the justice system of this country.”Within an hour of SC passing the order, a senior advocate entered into an argument with cops over removal of barricades, citing the SC ruling. The order was yet to be made public and police personnel didn’t know about it.