NEW DELHI: It was poetry that stood out at the farewell function held for outgoing Chief Justice of India T S Thakur on Tuesday at the Supreme Court lawns as all those who spoke regaled the audience with delightful couplets as an acknowledgement of Justice Thakur’s love for verses.
The outgoing CJI and CJI-designate J S Khehar were seen at their witty best with Justice Thakur saying that “a crowd is here to welcome you” and Justice Khehar replying that “they are here to bid farewell to a terrible CJI”. As many veteran lawyers, judges and jurists attended the function, Supreme Court Justice Chelameshwar, the lone dissenting voice in the collegium, was conspicuous by his absence.
In his farewell speech, Justice Thakur again expressed concern over the lack of judges amid the growing pendency of cases and asked the judiciary to be ready for future challenges to ensure that the nation remained an inclusive society. Justice Thakur served for almost a year as CJI and it was during his tenure that the government locked horns with the judiciary over the appointment and elevation of judges.
He underlined the resurgence of India as an economic power, but said the nation couldn’t progress “unless the judiciary also gets ready to handle the challenges that the development and progress bring with them”.
Addressing the function, organised by Supreme Court Bar Association, he said there should not be a race among lawyers to become judges or senior counsel, suggesting that these designations should come “uninvited”.
The CJI expressed his fondness for advocacy. “One amendment I would like to happen in the Constitution is to let the retired judges practise. After all, we are lawyers at heart,” he said in lighter vein.
Justice Khehar shared some personal anecdotes, including one where Justice Thakur bought two Harris Tweed jackets because “he had nothing to do at a New York airport and couldn’t resist the discounts”.