'Kerala High Court Has Formidable Women Lawyers, Gave First Woman Supreme Court Judge': Justice N Nagaresh In Farewell Address

The farewell reference was attended by the members of the Bar, senior law officers, and colleagues from the Bench, all of whom paid rich tributes to Justice Nagaresh's contributions to the legal profession and the judiciary.

In his farewell address, Justice Nagaresh spoke about the evolving legal profession, particularly commending the growing presence and excellence of women lawyers in the High Court.

“This High Court, which has given to the nation, the first women High Court Judge, the first woman High Court Chief Justice, the first woman Supreme Court Judge and the first visually challenged women Judge can also boast of a formidable force of women lawyers who can be safely rated to be one of the best in the country in their work culture. It is indeed good to see their numbers swell, year after year, I wish to give our lady lawyers a special commendation. Go to any other High Court, even the Supreme Court, you will never see women lawyers so immaculately dressed in their robes as our lady lawyers,” Justice Nagaresh said.

He acknowledged the guidance of his mentor O.V. Radhakrishnan, and emphasized the importance of rigorous training and ethical grounding for young lawyers.

“Every year the youngsters joining the profession swells in 1000s. I have found many of the young lawyers practicing here highly promising and I am confident that they will be tomorrow leaders of the bar. The significance of getting trained under a good senior in the formative years as a lawyer cannot be over-emphasised. My advice to young friends who come into the profession is to get themselves trained not only in law but also in professional ethics and principle,” the Judge said.

Justice Nagaresh concluded by expressing gratitude to his family, colleagues, and staff, acknowledging their support throughout his career.

“I think there is no meaning in pondering how posterity will rate me as a judge or whether anyone will remember my existence here after a long time. I would be happy and feel gratified that during the last over seven years you have found me to be a not so bad Judge. I can say with certainty that I have treated all the layers who has appeared before me with courtesy and respect whether I had agreed with their contentions or granted them the reliefs asked for or not,” Justice Naagresh added.

Justice Nagaresh was born in Vaikkom in Kerala. He obtained a law degree from Bombay University and post graduation from Government Law College, Ernakulam. Justice Nagaresh enrolled as an advocate on 17 December 1989 and started practice at Ernakulam in the Chambers of Senior Advocate O. V. Radhakrishnan. He commenced independent practice in 1995 and he has appeared and conducted cases involving constitutional law, administrative laws, service laws, labour laws, tax laws, excise and customs laws and other matters before the High Court as well as the Ernakulam Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal. He has served as a central government counsel from 1998 till 2004.

He served as the assistant solicitor general of India, High Court of Kerala, from 17 July 2014 to 1 November 2018. He was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court of Kerala on 5 November 2018.He was appointed as permanent judge of the High Court of Kerala with effect from 14 September 2020.

Also speaking at the reference, Chief Justice Soumen Sen highlighted that during his tenure, Justice Nagaresh disposed of over 20,000 cases across Single, Division, and Full Benches.

“His judgments reflect clarity of thought, depth of analysis, and a careful balancing of competing interests,” the Chief Justice said, adding that his work significantly enriched the jurisprudence of the Court.

“Whether dealing with the complex constitutional questions, intricate statutory interpretations or matters affecting the lives of ordinary citizens, he has consistently displayed a deep sense of justice and human concern. While he now lays down the robs of judicial office, the wealth of experience.. will undoubtedly serve the society in many meaningful ways.. The end of his formal judicial duties does not mark the end of his engagement with law, learning and public life.” Justice Soumen Sen added.

Attorney General Gopalakrishna Kurup, in his address, described Justice Nagaresh as “a judge profoundly learned in law, endowed with a keen and incisive intellect,” noting his remarkable ability to grasp complex legal principles with clarity and precision. He also highlighted the judge's unfailing courtesy, humility, and affable demeanor, which ensured that courtroom proceedings remained both effective and respectful.

Gopalakrishna Kurup also underscored his engagement beyond the courtroom, including his work as a reporter for the Indian Law Report and his association with legal education institutions such as NUALS. His active involvement in labour and trade union matters was noted as evidence of his enduring commitment to social justice.

Kurup observed that on Justice Nagaresh's elevation as a Judge he set aside his prior affiliations with ease, upholding the constitutional oath with impartiality and integrity.

“The practical wisdom and grounded pragmatism that naturally flow from the grassroot public life qualities. You possessed in abundant measure and excellent goodstead in the bench, enabling you to devise balanced and workable solutions to the multifarious disputes that came up for consideration. With an unparalleled sense of ease and grace, you proceeded over the Court in a manner that left all present with the distinct impression that the dispensation of justice was both seamless and humane. You had the rare ability to identify and distilled the core issue in every case often with a touch of gentle humour that lightened even the most complex proceedings” Kurup added

Additional Solicitor General of India(ASGI) P. Sreekumar described Justice Nagaresh's approach to adjudication as sensitive with an appreciation of context and awareness of human dimensions underlying the legal dispute.

“My Lord ensured that the rigour of legal reasoning was always balanced with compassion thereby making justice not only correcting law but also in effect. My Lord's judgements stand as a testament to this philosophy. They are marked by clarity, coherence and a balanced application of principles while never losing sight of broader ends of justice.” he added.

Peeyus A Kottam, President of Kerala High Court Advocate's Association highlighted Nagaresh's patience with young lawyers, and his ability to distill core issues often with gentle humor were fondly recalled.

“He was Bar-friendly without compromising discipline, fearless without being harsh, impartial without being distant and authoritative without losing kindness,” he added.