Senior advocate Vikas Singh alleged before a Supreme Court bench of justices SJ Mukhopadhaya and NV Ramana that an ex-Supreme Court judge made a ruling on 11 February, which helped the judge’s sister in a similar case under the Bombay Rent Act, in which she allegedly cited her brother’s judgment, reported Times of India.

Singh claimed he had documentary evidence before the bench, which was hearing another Bombay Rent Act case, seeking that the February 11 precedent not be followed, which the court agreed with.

Opposing counsel, Anil Divan, moved for a review petition, after which Singh made his allegation and said he was surprised that Mukhopadhaya, whose integrity and fearlessness he respected, did not want to see the documentary evidence Singh claimed he had.

While senior advocate Kapil Sibal, present in court, expressed shock and said that he was “saddened” by Singh’s comments, Mukhopadhaya instead responded with stoicism, according to the TOI:

"If you want to scandalise the judge, we don’t bother. We have developed thick skin. Every day we read something or the other in the newspapers.

"It is torture to be a judge. One is better off on the other side, as a lawyer. We find it difficult to endure this torture. That is why recently six persons from Gujarat High Court refused to become judges. Clever persons are those who choose to remain lawyers. At least there is no retirement.”