'We Continue To Work Even During Court Holidays' : CJI Refutes 'False Narrative' About Easy Life Of Judges

We continue to work even during the Court holidays, do research and author pending judgments. Therefore, when false narratives are created about the supposed easy life led by Judges, it is difficult to swallow"

2. Justice Nariman's illustrious career needs no introduction. However, on this occasion, I might be forgiven for a brief recall of his background. He was born on August 13, 1956, to the legendary Fali S. Nariman and the late Mrs. Bapsi Nariman. It is often said that no other plant can flourish under a Banyan Tree. However, this was not the case when it comes to Brother Nariman. He has always charted his own path and excelled in his chosen field, becoming a mighty Banyan Tree in his own right.

3. Brother Nariman's excellence at law received recognition when he was made a senior counsel at the Supreme Court Bar at a young age of 37 years by the then Chief Justice of India, Justice Venkatachalaiah, in 1993.

4. He was also appointed the Solicitor General of India in July 2011 and held the position for one and a half years before his resignation. It was no surprise, therefore, when he was the fifth counsel to be elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India directly from the Bar on July 7, 2014.

5. The impact of certain people's contribution to the judicial institution cannot be measured. That is the reason why I am not going to elaborately discuss Brother Nariman's pronouncements. All of you already know his scholarship, acumen, knowledge and understanding. He has given around 350 judgments as a Judge of this Court and has disposed of nearly 13,565 cases. He has left an indelible mark on the jurisprudence of the country.

6. Apart from his contributions on the judicial side, Brother Nariman has also contributed significantly as a member of various Committees in the Supreme Court. Everyone here is aware that he was the force behind the creation of the Supreme Court Advocates Welfare Fund.

7. At this juncture, I would like to highlight a few things that are not known to the public at large. The first relates to the number of sacrifices one must make when one decides to become a Judge. The most obvious sacrifice is monetary, particularly when you are Brother Nariman with a roaring practice. One must be moved by a spirit of public duty to take such a decision.

8. The second aspect relates to the reduced role in society one must accept when becoming a Judge. I have already made my views clear on this issue. I am not one of those who believe that Judges must completely seclude themselves, as I think that it is important to stay in touch with society and the profession even as a Judge.However, the undeniable fact is that our engagement with s

9. The third point I would like to flag relates to 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 to 4 and enjoy their holidays. Such a narrative is untrue. 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 fulfil our judicial duties.

10. We continue to work even during the Court holidays, do research and author pending judgments. Therefore, when false narratives are created about the supposed easy life led by Judges, it is difficult to swallow.

11. 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. 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.

12. I hope the picture I have painted of being a Judge does not deter anyone from taking up a judgeship. The reward is in the feeling that we Judges get every day in Court- in upholding the law and the noble values enshrined in the charter that "We, The People of India", gave ourselves 71 years ago.

13. Brother Nariman's expertise in the law should not overshadow the fact that he is well versed in a variety of different topics.

14. I have already talked about the fact that he is a priest of the Parsi faith, and he has immense knowledge when it comes to religious matters. He published a book on the topic in 2016, while he was a sitting Judge of this Court and has given many lectures in this field. I heard him during the L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture in 2019, when he spoke about Reincarnation from a comparative religious perspective. I was very impressed with his oratory skills and his vast knowledge. I must also state that Brother Nariman is a great lover of western classical music and has lectured even on this topic.

15. It is rare to find those who stand by their principles. Brother Nariman is one of them. I mentioned during the reference earlier today, that with Brother Nariman's retirement, I feel like I am losing one of the lions that guarded the judicial institution. Our loss will be a huge gain elsewhere. I am sure; that gain will continue to be for the larger public good. I wish him all the best for all his future endeavours.

16. Madam Sanaya Nariman's stellar support to Brother Nariman needs to be recalled on this occasion. Let me wish Brother Nariman, and all his family members the best of health and happiness.

Thank you.