'It's Like Separating Umbilical Cord For Baby To See The World Beyond Mother's Womb': Justice Chakradhari Singh Bids Farewell To Patna HC

Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, K Vinodchandran, extending heartfelt wishes for Justice Sharan's future endeavors, described him as a guiding radar and anchor during his tenure, ensuring a steadfast direction for the court. He expressed confidence in the continued success of the Orissa High Court under Justice Sharan's stewardship.

Chief Justice Vinodchandran, said, “The loss of the Patna High Court would be the gain of the High Court of Orissa. We would be keenly watching you brother, do us proud and our prayers and best wishes are always with you. To conclude, let me assert despite the farewell accorded, we do not part and we remain brothers for life.”

During his parting speech, Justice Sharan reflected on his more than 33-year journey within the institution, expressing his astonishment at the swift passage of time.

Justice Sharan said, “Time flies, is an idiom. Today I can best understand its true meaning when I'm sitting in front of you on the occasion after having spent more than 33 years in this institution as if only a few months ago when I had joined the Bar, young, good looking advocate.”

"Sitting on this side of the Bar, ready to listen to your goodbyes, I feel flabbergasted when I think that a huge chunk of the life in the units of time just slipped in between. Time moves slowly but passes quickly,” he added.

In a heartfelt address, Justice Sharan conveyed his deep gratitude for the overwhelming praise and appreciation bestowed upon him by both the legal fraternity and his fellow judges. “I have neither such command or language nor vocabulary to summon the expressions to respond to your kind words. They'll however keep reverberating and resonating in my mind and ears for all times to come.”

Despite the outward praise, Justice Sharan revealed that he is his own harshest critic, acknowledging his own inadequacies and deficiencies as a judge and as a person. He shared that he often reflects on his actions, cursing himself or vowing to correct any shortcomings when he notices them, even though it may be a challenging task.

He said, “I must let you know my dear friends, that everytime I talk in the Court Proceedings in a loud voice expressing my anguish I reprimanded myself later in solitude. This is how I tender my unconditional, unqualified apologies to all of you today to begin with.”

Addressing the lawyers, he encouraged them not to limit their activities to livelihood pursuits but to be socially active and extend helping hands to the needy, deprived, and marginalized sections of society. He reminded them of the pivotal role they play as one of the strongest bodies in Indian society, capable of bringing about reforms.

“This is the exalted position which all of you occupy under the Constitution. I am here because I was there. The Advocates Act, simply regulates the legal profession,” he added.

In concluding his farewell speech, Justice Sharan poignantly stated, “My leaving of this institution is not severance of my ties with the institution. It is like separation of umbilical cord for the baby to see the world beyond the mother's womb.”

He ended his speech by reciting the first line of Mahatma Gandhi's favorite bhajan, written by Narsingh Mehta, “Vaishnava Jana To, Tene Kahiye Je, Peed Paraayi Jaane Re; Para Duhkhe Upakāra Kare To Ye, Mana Abhimāna Na Āne Re”