False Narratives, Misconceptions About Judges Must Be Refuted: Chief Justice

Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana today said that false narratives and misconceptions created in minds of the people that judges supposedly lead an easy life need to be refuted by educating the public about the work put in by them with limited resources.

The CJI said the most obvious sacrifice to become a judge is monetary but one must be moved by the spirit of public duty to take such a decision.

Justice Ramana, who was speaking at a farewell function of Justice RF Nariman organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), said that it is important for judges to stay in touch with society and not be completely secluded.

However, he said the undeniable fact is that "our engagement with society undergoes a drastic change when we become a judge".

"I would like to flag the amount of work we put in as Judges, day in and day out. There exists a misconception in the minds of the people that Judges stay in big bungalows, work only 10 am to 4 pm, and enjoy their holidays. Such a narrative is untrue," the CJI said.

He said it is not easy to prepare for more than 100 cases every week, listen to novel arguments, do independent research, and author judgments, while also dealing with the various administrative duties of a Judge, particularly of a senior judge.

"We either burn the midnight oil, or wake up before sunrise, or sometimes even both, to fulfill our judicial duties. We continue to work even during Court holidays, do research and author pending judgements. Therefore, when false narratives are created about the supposed easy life led by Judges, it is difficult to swallow," CJI said.

"We cannot defend ourselves. It is the duty of the Bar to refute these false narratives and to educate the public about the work put in by Judges with the limited resources given to them," Justice Ramana said.

"There are a number of sacrifices one must make when one decides to become a Judge, the most obvious to become a judge is monetary, especially when one has a roaring practice, but one must be moved by the spirit of public duty to take such a decision," he said.

"Honestly, if Brother Nariman had continued to be a lawyer rather than becoming a Judge, he could have led a more luxurious and relaxed life. That he managed to balance all his duties and produce the quality of work he did, is a testament to his work ethic and his capabilities," the CJI said.

Justice Ramana said at the tender age of 12 years, while other children were probably busy playing cricket or something else, Justice Nariman became an ordained priest of the Parsi faith.

"This extraordinary grooming explains the evolution of his work ethic, commitment, focus and brilliance," he said, adding, "I feel like I am losing one of the lions that guarded the institution. Our loss will be a huge gain elsewhere."

Justice Nariman said he was leaving the institution with mixed feelings.

"Now I won't have files waiting for me when I wake up at 6 in the morning. Although I'll still wake up early, I will follow a routine like ordinary citizens," he said.

Sharing his experience, Justice Nariman said when he was at the Bar he had no idea how it would be like at the bench.

"This side (as a judge) is much more difficult than a lawyer. You have to read much much more. I enjoyed writing judgements and at the end, it worked out well," he said.

Attorney General KK Venugopal said Justice Nariman is a jurist par excellence, expert in constitutional law, commercial and tax law and also a religious scholar.

KK Venugopal said Justice Nariman is one of the finest legal minds and one of the finest judges which the top court has had.

"Justice Nariman is a constitutional czar par excellence", he said.

Justice Nariman, during his early years as a lawyer, had been a junior of KK Venugopal.

"I cannot let Justice Nariman leave the Supreme Court without saying a few words. It was a great honour for me to practice before him. He was a junior in my chamber and he was a star among all my juniors," the AG said.

SCBA President and senior advocate Vikas Singh said his retirement evokes mixed feelings in him.

It's my privilege that I am hosting this event of his retirement but also it's our loss that we are losing a brilliant judge today. Justice Nariman's one-day salary as a lawyer is more than what he earned in these seven years as a Supreme Court judge. That is what he sacrificed, he said.

The senior advocate requested the Collegium that all the judges Justice Nariman wanted to be elevated to the top court should be cleared and that will be the most befitting tribute.

"I urge CJI Ramana that a quota for woman judges be introduced and that is the way to have more women judges in the Supreme Court," he said.

SCBA Vice President Pradeep Rai, secretary Ardhendumauli Kumar Prasad also spoke on the occasion.

Top court judges Justice UU Lalit, SK Kaul, V Ramasubramanian, AM Khanwilkar, BR Gawai, Navin Sinha and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta were also present on the occasion.

Justice Nariman, who became a top court judge on July 7, 2014, disposed of over 13,500 cases and delivered historic verdicts including the declaration of privacy as a fundamental right, setting aside of IT Act provision empowering arrests, decriminalising consensual gay sex, and permitting women of all ages to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple.

Justice Nariman, born on August 13, 1956, became a senior lawyer in 1993 and Solicitor General of India on July 27, 2011, before being elevated as the judge of the top court on July 7, 2014.

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