'Highest Positions In Legal Profession Always Reserved For Hardworking & Patient Young Lawyers': Justice SK Sahoo Bids Adieu To Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court, under the leadership of Chief Justice Harish Tandon, organized a farewell ceremony on Monday (January 05) for Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, who has recently been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.

A Full Court Reference was held in the Chief Justice's old Court room in the afternoon, which was attended not only by the Judges of the Court but also by Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, Deputy Solicitor General (DSGI) PK Parhi and High Court Bar Association (OHCBA) President Manoj Kumar Mishra along with members of the Bar.

The Chief Justice praised Justice Sahoo for his dedication for dispensing justice. He recalled how Justice Sahoo promptly agreed to preside over a Bench to decide age-old criminal appeals which were pending for years. Similarly, the DSGI and the Bar President commended not only his legal acumen and rulings but also his distinct singing skills.

Justice Sahoo spoke in his mother tongue, i.e. Odia. He gave credit for his accomplishment to his Late father Shri Sarat Chandra Sahoo, a prominent criminal lawyer, Senior Advocate Late Prafulla Kumar Dhal and Advocate Late Dr. Manoranjan Panda under the guidance of whom he learned the court crafts and advocacy. He was also thankful to the retired Judges of the High Court as well as the Senior Advocates who led by example and inspired him to do big in life.

The outgoing Judge recounted his memorable journey as an Advocate for 25 years as well as a Judge for almost 12 years. He expressed satisfaction over his own judicial stint during which he decided a number of important cases, mostly on the criminal side. Justice Sahoo talked of his rich experience while presiding over a suo moto PIL Bench [W.P.(C) No. 2140 of 2020] which continuously monitored and passed remarkable orders for ameliorating the civic issues of Cuttack residents.

The Chief Justice-designate of the Patna High Court was rejoiced to note dominance of women in the Odisha Judicial Service (OJS). He also hailed the young talents of the Bar in whom he saw a great potential. He assured the fresh lawyers of the limitless possibilities offered by the profession.

Despite of a huge inflow of law graduates into the profession, he said, the highest positions are always protected for the hardworking, patient and punctual lawyers. Justice Sahoo called upon the junior members of the Bar to concentrate on the nuances of the profession, rather than chasing merely financial gains.

He thanked the members of the Registry and his staff for selfless and seamless support throughout his tenure. Towards the end of his speech, he became emotional. With a choked voice he appealed everyone to forgive him for his mistakes, if any.

Expressing hope for reunion with the members of the fraternity, he concluded his address by uttering the following lines of the evergreen song 'Jeena yahan marna yahan' from the movie 'Mera Naam Joker (1970)' –

“जीना यहाँ मरना यहाँ

इसके सिवा जाना कहाँ

कल खेल में हम हों न हों

गर्दिश में तारे रहेंगे सदा

भूलोगे तुम, भूलेंगे वो

पर हम तुम्हारे रहेंगे सदा”

Notably, Justice Sahoo becomes only the third Judge from Odisha to helm the Patna High Court, the other two being former CJIs GB Patnaik and Dipak Misra. With the departure of Justice Sahoo from the Orissa High Court, it comes down to the working strength of 19 Judges against the sanctioned strength of 33.