The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has announced a new initiative aimed at fostering continued engagement between the judiciary and the legal community. SCBA President, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, declared on Wednesday that all retiring judges of the Supreme Court will be honored with honorary membership in the SCBA. This move is intended to encourage former judges to maintain their connection with the Bar and continue contributing to the legal profession.
During a farewell event organized by the SCBA for Justices JK Maheshwari and Pankaj Mithal, who are set to retire, Singh articulated this initiative’s significance. ‘From now on, each retiring judge will be welcomed as an honorary member of the SCBA. We invite them to remain involved with the Bar, guiding us with their wealth of experience,’ Singh stated. He lamented the tendency of retired judges to cease visiting the Supreme Court and expressed hope that this initiative would reverse that trend.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant attended the farewell ceremony and highlighted the importance of such events in recognizing the personal contributions and values of the judges beyond their professional achievements. He praised Justices Maheshwari and Mithal for dedicating their careers to the judiciary, thereby strengthening its foundation with dignity and purpose.
CJI Surya Kant reminisced about Justice Maheshwari’s impactful tenure as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, particularly during the critical period following the state’s reorganization. Justice Maheshwari was acknowledged for his role in stabilizing court functions amidst significant changes. Notably, he pioneered virtual hearings and e-filing during the COVID-19 pandemic, setting a precedent for other courts in India.
Furthermore, Justice Maheshwari’s leadership as chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee was commended, especially for his role in implementing the e-prisons early release processing module under the National Legal Services Authority. This initiative aims to bring uniformity and transparency to the process of premature release applications across states.
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Reflecting on Justice Mithal’s judicial career, CJI Surya Kant lauded his remarkable judicial temperament and his deep understanding of the human aspects of the judicial process. Justice Mithal’s unique hobby as a stamp collector was metaphorically linked to his judicial philosophy, emphasizing attention to detail and depth of understanding. His commitment to treating the Constitution as a dynamic document was also highlighted, along with his advocacy for Hindi and other Indian languages in the legal context, which he supported as a trustee of the Etawa Hindi Seva Nidhi.
This initiative by the SCBA aims to strengthen the bond between the judiciary and the legal community, ensuring that the wisdom and insights of retiring judges continue to benefit the broader legal ecosystem.
