Misconceptions About Judges Need To Be Refuted: CJI

Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Thursday said that false narratives and misconception created in minds of the people that judges supposedly lead an easy life need to be refuted by educating the public about the work put in by them with limited resources.

The CJI said the most obvious sacrifice to become a judge is monetary, of course, but one must be moved by the spirit of public duty to take such a decision.

Justice Ramana, who was speaking at a farewell function of Justice R F Nariman organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA),

said that it is important for judges to stay in touch with the society and not remain completely secluded.

However, he said the undeniable fact is that “our engagement with society undergoes drastic change when we become a judge.”

“Day in, day out, there exists a misconception in the minds of people that judges stay in big bungalows, work only 10 AM to 4 PM and enjoy their holidays. Such a narrative is untrue. It is not easy to prepare for more than 100 cases a week, listen to arguments while also dealing with administrative duties,” the CJI said, adding that judges continue to work even during court holidays, do research and complete pending judgements.

“Therefore when false narratives are created about supposedly easy life led by judges, it is difficult to swallow. We cannot defend ourselves. It is duty of the Bar to refute these false narratives and educate the public about the work put by judges with limited resources,” the CJI said.

Justice Nariman said he was leaving the institution with mixed feelings.

“Now I won’t have files waiting for me when I wake up at 6 in the morning. Although I’ll still wake up but follow a routine like ordinary citizens,” he said.

Sharing his experience, Justice Nariman said when he was at the Bar he had no idea how it would be like at the bench.

“This side (as a judge) is much more difficult than a lawyer. You have to read much much more. I enjoyed writing judgements and at the end it worked out well,” he said.

Attorney General K K Venugopal said Justice Nariman is a jurist par excellence, expert in constitutional law, commercial and tax law and also a religious scholar.

Venugopal said Justice Nariman is one of the finest legal minds and one of the finest judges which the apex court has had.

“Justice Nariman is a constitutional czar par excellence”, he said.

SCBA president and senior advocate Vikas Singh said his retirement evokes mixed feelings in him.

“It’s my privilege that I am hosting this event of his retirement but also it’s our loss that we are losing a brilliant judge today. Justice Nariman’s one day salary as a lawyer is more than what he earned in these seven years as a Supreme Court judge. That is what he sacrificed,” he said.

The senior advocate requested the Collegium that all the judges Justice Nariman wanted to be elevated to the top court should be cleared and that will be the most befitting tribute.

“I urge CJI Ramana that a quota for women judges be introduced and that is the way to have more women judges in the Supreme Court,” Singh said.