Retired CJ Muralidhar Calls Justice Akil Kureshi A ‘Great Source Of Inspiration’; Recalls Lessons From Justices AP Shah & Vineet Saran

Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar bid adieu to the Orissa High Court upon his superannuation on Monday. A Full Court Reference was made in the honour of the outgoing Chief Justice, which was presided over by Justice Subhasis Talapatra, Chief Justice Designate of the Court.

While addressing the reference, Justice Muralidhar acknowledged the lessons and inspirations which he derived from his seniors. Paying his respect to retired Justice Akil Kureshi he said,

“I must acknowledge some of my former colleagues who have been a great source of inspiration. One of them, not a former colleague, who has been a great source of inspiration is sitting right in front of me, [former] Chief Justice Akil Kureshi, former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.”

Further, he thanked Justice Vineet Saran, former Judge of the Supreme Court & former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court for being a guiding light. He said that many of his initiatives that Odisha is getting to witness today are actually visualised by Justice Saran. He paid his reverence for guiding him thoroughly when he took over as the Chief Justice.

It is to be noted that the idea of a law museum in Odisha was earlier conceived of by Justice Saran in 2017 when he was the Chief Justice of the High Court. In fact, the museum was inaugurated by the then CJI Justice Dipak Misra.

Developing on that idea, Justice Muralidhar renovated the Museum and placed more artefacts and ancient items in the heritage building situated inside the Barabati Fort, Cuttack, which was recently inaugurated and dedicated to the public being renamed as the ‘Museum of Justice’.

He also recalled the contributions made by Justice Ajit Prakash Shah, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court in shaping him as a 'better Judge'. Justice Muralidhar said that one gets to learn a lot from Justice Shah about maintaining a perfect balance between judicial as well as administrative works.

Justice Muralidhar has, in the past, shared Bench with Justice Shah as a Judge of the Delhi High Court and has delivered numerous landmark verdicts which have stood the test of time. One of the notable decisions rendered by their Bench was Naz Foundation v. Government of NCT of Delhi (2009).

Notably, Justice Shah and Kureshi had to face a similar fate as both of them were denied elevation to the Apex Court despite seniority.

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