Kerala High Court Mourns Demise Of Former Judge Justice A Lekshimutty

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (January 21) mourned the passing of Justice A. Lekshmikutty (81), who had served as judge of the High Court.

The late judge started her practice in 1967 in Thiruvananthapuram and after almost two decades of practice, she was appointed as a Sessions Judge. In 2000, she became an additional judge of the Kerala High Court and thereafter, in 2001 as a permanent judge before she retired in 2004 on attaining superannuation.

She has formerly served as a member of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission. She was also Chairperson of the Kerala State Fishermen Debt Relief Commission.

A Full Court reference was held today at the Chief Justice's Court at 10:15 a.m. with members of the bench and the bar paying their respects.

"I came to understand that as a judge of this Court, she remained steadfastly committed to the speedy, efficient administration of justice. She discharged her duties in the true spirit of the oath administered to her. She was widely regarded as humane, compassionate and deeply conscious on the need to render justice to all. Her reputation as a judge was exemplary and well-respected..Along with the bereaved, we deeply mourn the sad demise of Justice A. Lekshmikutty, her life was marked by integrity, dedication and service to justice and society," remarked Chief Justice Soumen Sen.

Justice Sen also spoke about the former judge's contributions towards reaffirming the primacy of the judiciary in the appointment of district judges and reinforcing the executive's obligation to adhere to Constitutional principles.

Advocate General Gopalakrishna Kurup also spoke on the occasion and recalled his own memories appearing before the late judge:

"Humility is meant to be felt not displayed. Silent tiptoes, though gentle, can leave firm and lasting imprints. Late A. Lekshmikutty, former judge of this Honourable Court was the embodiment of such unassuming humility. With quiet grace and unwavering integrity, her Ladyship etched an indelible mark in the annuls of our State's judiciary...Gentle in demeanour and unwavering in composure, she never lost her cool with the lawyers who presented cases before her. One could often feel that her courtroom reflected an unspoken principle: authority need not be loud to be respected."

The AG also spoke about how the former judge paved her own way in a male dominated profession and about her active role as a member of the Human Rights Commission when she visited hospitals and inmates to ensure that basic facilities were available to them.

Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA) President, Adv. Peeyus A. Kottam quoted a few lines from the poem written by the former judge and recalled the message of friendship that the late judge tried to convey.

"To generations of lawyers, her Ladyship stood as a gentle yet firm reminder that justice must always be tempered with compassion...The demise of a judge is not merely a loss of an individual. It marks the departure of a conscious that spoke through the law, a discerning mind that upheld justice and a life wholly devoted to the service of the Constitution. a life marked by judicial integrity, learning and unwavering commitment to the rule of law," he added.

The reference came to an end with a 2 minutes' silence in respect of the late judge.