When the new Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court, Justice B Sudershan Reddy, arrived here today to take oath, he was accompanied by a contingent of around 80 ‘‘family members.’’Last week, the Registrar General of the Guwahati HC received an official letter from E Umamaheswara Rao, Registrar (Protocol) of Andhra Pradesh High Court, requesting, among other facilities, the arrangement of ‘‘air-conditioned State cars’’ for the contingent.‘‘I am directed to inform you that Hon’ble Sri Justice B Sudershan Reddy, Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, and now Chief Justice-designate, Guwahati High Court, accompanied by Madam and other family members (in all 80), will be reaching Guwahati on 03-12-2005 at 12:00 noon by Kingfisher flight IT-431 for taking over reins of office as the Chief Justice, High Court of Guwahati,’’ Rao’s letter said.When contacted by a local television channel in Guwahati, Justice Reddy said: ‘‘I have not asked for any special privileges.’’Rao’s letter, apart from requesting ‘‘State Guest status’’ for the chief justice-designate, ‘‘madam and family members (in all 80), will be reaching Guwahati on 03-12-2005 at 12:00 noon by Kingfisher flight IT-431 for taking over reins of office as the Chief Justice, High Court of Guwahati,’’ Rao’s letter said.When contacted by a local television channel in Guwahati, Justice Reddy said: ‘‘I have not asked for any special privileges.’’Rao’s letter, apart from requesting ‘‘State Guest status’’ for the chief justice-designate, ‘‘madam and family members of His Lordship’’ also asked for arranging ‘‘requisite number of air-conditioned State cars’’ for them.When the flight carrying the guests landed at Guwahati today, there were around 15 cars and two deluxe buses with ‘On Guwahati High Court Duty’ stickers outside the airport.When contacted in Hyderabad, Rao told The Indian Express that protocol demands all family members of the Chief Justice designate get State Guest status. ‘‘There are six judges of AP High Court who are accompanying Justice Reddy. They should also get State Guest status. So also the Registrar General of AP HC and the Law Secretary of the government of AP,’’ said Rao. He added that barring these persons, the others travelling with Justice Reddy were travelling on their own. ‘‘There are about 40 advocates accompanying Justice Reddy. They have gone to Guwahati out of affection for Justice Reddy at their own expense,’’ he said.
