Judge's Job Entails Long Work Hours, Call Of Duty Trumps Personal Exingencies: Justice P. Somarajan Bids Farewell To Kerala High Court
The High Court of Kerala held a full-bench reference on Friday on the occasion of the retirement of Justice P. Somarajan. Acting Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, Advocate General Shri. Gopalakrishna Kurup and Kerala High Advocate Association President Adv. Yeshwanth Shenoy remembered the service rendered by Justice Somarajan.Justice Somarajan stated that he had a record rate of disposal...
The High Court of Kerala held a full-bench reference on Friday on the occasion of the retirement of Justice P. Somarajan. Acting Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, Advocate General Shri. Gopalakrishna Kurup and Kerala High Advocate Association President Adv. Yeshwanth Shenoy remembered the service rendered by Justice Somarajan.
Justice Somarajan stated that he had a record rate of disposal of second appeals in India. He said that he had achieved the record of disposal of second civil appeals in a short span of 1 year and 3 months apart from the disposals of First Appeals, Criminal Appeals and Revisions.
Justice Somarajan reflected on having disposed of almost all cases older than 5 years relating to the offence of murder while he was sitting in a division bench along with Justice A. M. Shafeeque. He added that he had disposed of almost all civil appeals including second appeals older than 10 years going up to 65 years.
Justice Somarajan even remembered disposing of a case which was filed on the day he was born. He added that he had also disposed of cases which were older than him, in terms of their date of institution.
Justice Somarajan served as a High Court judge for more than 7 years. He was appointed as an Additional Judge in 2016 and was made a permanent Judge in 2018. Before that, he was working in the District Judiciary. He joined the District Judiciary as a District & Sessions Judge in 2001. The judge also has a 13-years of experience as a practising lawyer.
Finally, he thanked his family for their love and understanding in overlooking his shortcomings as a husband and father. He concluded:
“A Judges job entails long hours of work, cut away from normal familial relationships. The call of duty invariably trumps personal exigencies.”