Never Saw Position Of Judge As Office Of Power, But As Chance To Serve : CJI BR Gavai In Farewell Address

The Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, today expressed that he never saw the office of a judge as a position of power but as a means to serve the nation. 

Speaking at the ceremonial bench conducted by the Supreme Court to bid him farewell, the CJI expressed : 

"As a lawyer and then as the judge of the High Court and then a Supreme Court judge, I have always believed that the office is not an office of power but an opportunity to serve the society, to serve the nation." 

Justice Gavai will retire on November 23. 

He added how his journey from being a lawyer to being a judge also grew his understanding towards the never-ending sea of Law & Justice. 

"I will take this as an occasion to express my gratitude to all of you. When I joined the profession in 1985, I joined as a student of law, and today, when I demit the office, it would be as a student of justice." 

The CJI mentioned how he would often draw inspiration from Dr BR Ambedkar's teachings and his speech of 25th November, 1949- his official 'last speech' before the Constitution was formally adopted. He added how he got an opportunity to deliver justice in topics of environmental and wildlife protection, which was close to his heart. 

" As a judge, I got to decide many matters which were close to my heart - environment, ecology and wildlife, they are very close to my heart." 

He also recalled that as a judge of the High Court, in one of his first decisions, he was able to decide on the aspects of environmental sustainability. The CJI said that he was fortunate that his last judgment at the Supreme Court was also on an environmental issue- regarding the protection of the Aravali Hills. 

Referring to Dr Ambedkar, he added, "The constitution is not required to be static and is ever evolving, therefore the Courts are required to respond to the situation, whenever they change (the situations)." 

The CJI added that he believed that the Supreme Court was one whole institution, and whatever decisions as a CJI he took were after taking on board all his esteemed colleagues/ fellow judges. 

Justice Gavai also expressed that it was a great privilege for him to represent as the 'captain of the judiciary' on the occasion of the Supreme Court celebrating 75 years of establishment. He added that he was grateful for contributing towards social and economic equality. 

The CJI ended the address by thanking his family, his court staff and his 18 Law Clerks. 

Justice Gavai is the second CJI belonging to the Scheduled Caste community after Justice KG Balakrishnan who retired as the CJI in 2010.

He is also the first Buddhist judge to become the CJI.  As a CJI, Justice Gavai had a term spanning a little over 6 months. He was elevated from the Bombay High Court to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.