Senior lawyers on Tuesday gathered in court-hall 1 of the Supreme Court of India to laud Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna for his simplicity and integrity, as he prepares to retire from office today. .Chief Justice of India (CJI) Khanna's fellow judges on a ceremonial Bench, Justices BR Gavai and PV Sanjay Kumar too joined in praising him for the work done during his tenure. .Justice Gavai, who is slated to take over as the next Chief Justice, observed that CJI Khanna's decisions reflected a clarity of thought that was not just well-reasoned but sensitive to human rights. "In both judicial pronouncements and administrative decisions he has left a legacy of his own ... The decision of this court to upload assets and liabilities of the judges shows his penchant for transparency. He is a gentleman to the core in every sense. His humility and calm demeanour has always stood out," Justice Gavai said. .Justice Gavai also briefly remembered CJI Khanna's late uncle, celebrated Supreme Court judge Justice HR Khanna who was bypassed for the office of Chief Justice of India after he ruled against the government in the ADM Jabalpur case. "CJI Khanna sat in the very courtroom for a long time where Justice HR Khanna held court," Justice Gavai recalled. .Justice Sanjay Kumar made an appreciative note of CJI Khanna's prowess when it comes to remembering important details. "He has never made notes. It all comes from his memory. Para number, pages, etc. and all hard-hitting questions, which comes from his memory. He has unyielding patience with lawyers who do not prepare the case. After 20 years on the Bench, to have that patience is praiseworthy. His sincerity impressed anyone. Whether judicial or administrative, he pursued with dedication. As an HC judge, my view was narrow and pedantic. With him, I learnt pragmatism," Justice Kumar remarked. .Attorney General for India R Venkataramani observed that CJI Khanna's judgments were known for their clarity and simplicity. "CJI Khanna has added immense value to the functioning of the court ... You have underscored liberty on an everyday basis. You found that institutional integrity is paramount and your departure cannot be easily filled up," he added. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta added that CJI Khanna's uncle, Justice HR Khanna, would be proud of his nephew. Justice Khanna is remembered for having upheld civil liberties during the Emergency period in India in the ADM Jabalpur case - a decision that cost him the office of Chief Justice of India. After he ruled against the government in this case, the Indira Gandhi-led government appointed a junior judge as the CJI. .Justice HR Khanna resigned from office shortly after. He is now remembered for having upheld fundamental rights during a critical time in India's history. "Justice HR Khanna would have been very proud of you today," SG Mehta said today, while addressing CJI Sanjiv Khanna..SG Mehta also praised CJI Khanna for the patient hearings he had extended litigants and lawyers during his judicial tenure. "I had an occasion to appear in many branches of law before you and I have been enriched by new points said by you every time. As lawyers, we never felt we were not heard. You gave us such a patient hearing. Your judgments since High Court days ... till the last Constitution bench ... has been crisp and short and differentiated between Judicial decision and thesis. Justice HR Khanna would have been very proud today," SG Mehta said. .Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Kapil Sibal added that CJI Khanna has set out an example for his successors. "You are the beacon light for those who follow you. Your courage, your transparency, your ability to grasp the point and your effort to ask juniors to argue, can never be forgotten. You are like that streak in the sky which comes rarely. You symbolise the best in the judge. You are the one who sets standards. God speed, and I know you have a sense of relief. But we will miss you," he said. .Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) President Vipin Nair also joined the SG in commending CJI Khanna for having shown courage, like his late uncle Justice HR Khanna. "It is a testament to the fact that DNA of courage can be passed down from one judicial generation to the next. You have steadied the ship when high stake matters came up in the last few months," Nair remarked. .Additional Solicitor General SV Raju commended CJI Khanna for his stoic handling of high-stakes matters. "I read an article that you judged quietly and in trials by fire. I could not agree more. In the Kejriwal case, you carved out a new path for bail jurisprudence. I behold the judgment, even though it was against me," he said. ."You have shown proof of the pudding is in the judging," Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran observed. Senior Advocate Balbir Singh, meanwhile, remembered a time when CJI Khanna made it clear that judges on the Bench are not defined by their religion. "Your statement that when we sit on the bench we lose our religion was hailed all across. It was a powerful statement," Singh said. "Go well, sir. Go in peace. May health, prosperity always be on your side," Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde added. "The Bar is totally grateful to you for leading from the front. We hold your lordships in the highest of esteem for the firefighting done. This was done by introducing transparency. Nobody has any complaints and only appreciation," Senior Advocate Vibha Datta Makhija observed. .Senior Advocate AM Singhvi commended CJI Khanna for always interacting with the Bar, while Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave lauded him for strengthening the institution of the Supreme Court, both on the judicial side as well as the administrative side."This week, two great sons of India are retiring. Virat Kohli and milord the Chief Justice. On a serious note, for your spine, your integrity, for writing for secularism, for writing for the freedom of worship and for writing for the Constitution - you made it clear that integrity is the value that matters most and that is what is needed to defend the Constitution," Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy added..Other lawyers who spoke included Senior Advocates Adish C Aggarwala, Shadan Farasat, and Prashanta Chandra Sen."Thank you for interacting with the judges to be appointed, as you did as a part of the collegium," Aggarwala said"Not interview.... Interaction," CJI Khanna corrected. "We never felt intimidated before you," Farasat said."All speak about the dissent by Justice HR Khanna ... but there was Mr. Sarb Dyal Khanna, father of Justice HR Khanna, who had dissented in Amritsar municipal committee.. This shows the legacy you come from," Chandra Sen recounted."He was perhaps the living force in the family. Not many remember him. He used to call his all grand children. He always told no child will bring books and by interaction we will have the best of experience," CJI Khanna replied. .CJI Khanna added that he is retiring from office with a lot of memories. He further observed that public trust in the judiciary has to be earned, not commanded. "I am speechless. I carry a lot of memories. Once you are a lawyer you remain a lawyer. The public trust which judiciary has, cannot be commanded and has to be earned. Judiciary is a common term which represents Bench and the Bar. Bar is the conscious keeper. Different judges come here with different backgrounds and that aids judicial decision making," he said. On a parting note, he remarked that he expects his successor CJI to also continue upholding civil liberties. "Justice Gavai has been my biggest support and in him you have a great CJI and he will uphold the fundamental rights and liberty," CJI Khanna said. .No pandering, pontification or press: CJI Sanjiv Khanna is simply doing his job.[Read Live Coverage]
