'All Direct Appointees To SC Had A Very Interesting Career' : Justice Nariman During Justice Indu Malhotra's Farewell

Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Nariman delivered an interesting speech at the farewell function organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association for Justice Indu Malhotra.

"My dear Indu... I will only address you as such", Justice Nariman said while starting his speech.

Justice Nariman highlighted that Justice Malhotra, like him, was a direct appointee to the bench from the bar.

"All the direct appointees to this Court have had a very interesting career", Justice Nariman commented.

He said that he was the fifth direct appointee to the Supreme Court. Justice SM Sikri was first direct appointee from the bar. He was a great Chief Justice and delivered the judgment in Keshavananda Bharthi case, Justice Nariman recalled.

Justice Subimal Roy was the second direct appointee. Justices Kuldeep Singh and Santosh Hegde were the third and fourth direct appointees.

"Justice Santosh Hegde was a brilliant Judge. Justice Kuldeep Singh will be known as India's first Green Judge", Justice Nariman added.

Justices  UU Lalit and L Nageswara Rao were the sixth and seventh direct appointees. Justice Indu Malhotra was the eight direct appointee from the bar.

Justice Nariman quipped that he has a special connection with the number '5'.

"Not only am I the fifth direct appointee, I am also the 5th Judge from Parsi Community. The first case I argued was before a 5-judge bench. That too...listed as the 5th item. The first case I sat as a judge was also a 5-judge bench.I believe the number 5 has something to do with me", he said.

Justice Nariman recalled that he had memorable experiences interacting with Justice Malhotra as a counsel, senior counsel and as a judge.

"She is a master of arbitration laws along with other laws, and her book is an absolute delight", Justice Nariman said.

"This is a small phase of life which has come to end, and we will see a lot more of your work Indu, I am sure. We hope you are as fruitful in your next phase as you've been in this", he said in conclusion.

Justices Nariman and Indu Malhotra were part of landmark constitution bench judgments which decriminalized homosexuality and adultery.

In the Sabarimala case, Justice Malhotra was the lone dissenting voice, while Justice Nariman was part of the majority which batted for women entry at the Lord Ayyappa temple.

Justice Indu Malhotra, the first woman Judge to be elevated directly from the Bar and the seventh woman Judge to be appointed at the Supreme Court, is set to retire on March 13, 2021.

Appointed as a Supreme Court Judge on April 27, 2018, Justice Malhotra also holds the distinction of being the second woman to ever be designated a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court.