Supreme Court Bids Adieu To Justice AS Bopanna

The Supreme Court today (May 17) bid adieu to Justice AS Bopanna who is retiring after serving a 5 years-long tenure as a Judge in the Apex Court. The Ceremonial bench held in honour of Justice Bopanna witnessed the string of appreciation for the warm personality and calm demeanour of the retiring justice. 

The CJI lauded Justice Bopanna for his humble attitude towards the lawyers and the ability to stay composed and understanding in the face of serious legal issues. The CJI referred to Justice Bopanna's unending dedication towards the Supreme Court and how even during his ailment he remained concerned about the pending Constitutional decisions. 

" Before he takes the final bow, he treats each of the matters with the same diligence as he did in the High Court. Every time I would call to ask how he was (when he was ill), he would talk about how the Constitutional bench judgement was pending.....he would never make a point with aggression, and would only say half a sentence which sums up the strategy for the case ....thank you so much for your association with the court and your friendship"

Expressing Justice Bopanna as a 'truly stellar judge of the Supreme Court', the CJI  remarked how his presence will be missed by the lawyers in Delhi while he plans to spend his retirement back in the hills of Coorg. 

"You have truly been a stellar judge of the Supreme Court, when I offered Justice Bopanna an assignment to the Tribunals, he looked at me and said to me go to the hills...I don't think the bar in Delhi will let you off so quickly"  

Calm, Serene & Humorous: The Bar's Heartfelt Goodbye 

Attorney General for India R Venkataramani thanked Justice Bopanna for his service to the judiciary.

The Solicitor General Mr Tushar Mehta expressed how Justice Bopanna's quick wit and humour would melt the tense courtroom debates. 

"Lordship had a very cool and calm demeanour, but there was a subtle sense of humour, that will always be missed. Even in the serious matters, your Lordship's subtle sense of humour was calming, I wish you a healthy life and second innings"  

Adding to the same, Senior Advocate Mr Sibal lauded the generous and integral conduct of Justice Bopanna in holding his Courts. Sibal related Justice Bopanna's generosity towards the cause of Justice to that of a serene ocean 

"You epitomize serenity, the serenity of the ocean and depth of generosity.....you never get swayed by what we do in the court...we believe that this is the court which will give us justice, what you did here will remain with us for many many years"

In his short expression of gratitude, Justice Bopanna thanked the bench and the bar for their kind words. 

" I quietly saw my wife who agreed with whatever was being said. I acknowledge. Thank you and goodbye to all. thank you so much, If I have been of some service to the Country that brings great satisfaction to me." 

Justice Bopanna was elevated from the position of Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court to a Supreme Court Judge on May 24, 2019. Justice Bopanna has been part of some noteworthy judgements pertaining to the Centre's 2016 Demonetisation Scheme; Freedom of Speech and Expression of MPs/MLAs ; OBC Reservations in NEET and the TATA-Mistry Case. 

Justice Bopanna was additionally part of a 3-judge bench which stayed the Bombay High Court's Judgement acquitting the accused under S.8 of POCSO Act,2012 on lack of 'skin-to-skin' contact with the victim. In 2020, the 3-judge bench which dismissed the plea of juvenility raised by a death row convict in the infamous Nirbhaya Case also had Justice Bopanna as part of the Coram. Recently, Justice Bopanna was part of two Constitutional Benches, dealing with Parliamentarian Immunity in Bribery Cases and Circumstantial Evidence in Bribery Cases.