The Kerala High Court convened a full court reference on Tuesday to honor Justice C Pratheep Kumar as he prepares to retire on May 28, 2026. During his farewell address, Justice Kumar reflected on his relatively brief tenure on the Bench, which lasted two years and seven months, and emphasized his dedication to resolving a significant number of cases.
Justice Kumar shared that he managed to adjudicate approximately 6,341 cases, including 3,100 criminal cases and 1,173 Motor Accidents Claims Appeals (MACA), alongside numerous appeals and revisions. He noted that his approach involved initially targeting monthly case disposals, which he later intensified to a daily basis.
In his speech, Justice Kumar articulated the gravity of his role as a High Court judge, underscoring that the title of ‘Justice’ serves more as a call to humble service rather than an assertion of authority. “I am personally content with my contributions and performance as a judge of this Court,” he remarked, acknowledging that it is ultimately the legal fraternity that assesses a judge’s impact.
He further highlighted the significance of an independent and impartial judiciary as a cornerstone of democracy, urging members of the Bar to safeguard the integrity of the judicial system. Justice Kumar stated, “Both the Bench and the Bar are akin to two wings of a bird; without their harmonious operation, the bird cannot fly.” He also called for the Bar to address unfounded allegations against judges to minimize or avoid contempt proceedings.
The farewell event saw attendance from distinguished figures such as the judges of the Kerala High Court, Advocate General Jaju Babu, Additional Solicitor General P Sreekumar, Director General of Prosecution Asaf Ali, and the President of the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA), Peeyus A Kottam.
Justice Kumar was born on May 28, 1964, and obtained his BSc from Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram, followed by an LLB and LLM from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. He commenced his legal career as an advocate on December 17, 1989, and also contributed as a lecturer at the Government Law College, Kozhikode, in 1993-1994. Justice Kumar’s judicial journey began as a Munsiff Magistrate in 1996, progressing to District Judge in 2014, before his elevation to the High Court. He served as Principal District Judge in Thalassery and Kozhikode before his appointment as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court on October 25, 2023, and subsequently, a Permanent Judge in September 2025.
