A judge of the Supreme Court of India expressed his displeasure at the traditional address of "My Lord" and "Your Lordships" used by lawyers during court proceedings.
Justice PS Narasimha, who was presiding with senior judge Justice AS Bopanna, made his views known during a regular case hearing on Wednesday.
In legal arguments, it's customary for lawyers to address judges as "My Lord" or "Your Lordships."
However, this practice has its critics who consider it a relic of the colonial era and a symbol of subservience.
"How many times you will say 'My Lords'? If you stop saying this, then I will give you half of my salary," Justice PS Narasimha said.
Justice Narasimha, unimpressed by the repetitive use of these formalities, suggested an alternative.
"How about addressing me as 'Sir' instead?" he proposed, promising otherwise that he would tally the number of times the senior lawyer used the term "My Lords".
The issue of addressing judges with such honorifics has long been a subject of debate.
In 2006, the Bar Council of India passed a resolution discouraging advocates from using "My Lord" and "Your Lordship" but it has yet to see widespread adoption in practice.
