Thread by @barandbench

Supreme Court Bar Association hosts an online farewell event for Justice Navin Sinha who demits office today as a Supreme Court judge
#SupremeCourt #Farewell

Secretary of SCBA, Ardhendumauli K Prasad: Justice Sinha was a part of many landmark judgments. We will remember a judge who hardly needs time to come to the crux of an issue.

Sr Adv Pradeep Rai: Justice Sinha served 17 years 6 months and 7 days as a judge. He serve 4 years as a judge of the top court. His grandfather was the first advocate general of Bihar.

Rai: His maternal grandfather Dr Raghunath Saran was a padma vibhushan medical practitioner.

Rai: We should learn from Justice Navin Sinha how to divide time. When we work we do but when we don't, we find something else to do. He also refused to recommend a person for judgeship since the person has practiced in his chamber.

Rai: In Ram Murti vs State of UP a judge was accused of corruption and Justice Sinha held he cannot be spared if he has misappropriated funds.

Rai: In Indira Jaising judgment, Justice Sinha was part of, laid down guidelines of elevating Senior judges. In On Prakash vs State of Punjab, it was held that just because kirpal could be used as a weapon does not make it a weapon of offence

Senior Adv Rai: Where eye witness evidence was unsubstantiated by medical evidence, it was held that when there are no gross link, witness evidence cannot be doubted. I feel whenever he decided matters he decided it completely with knowledge of matters

SG Mehta: today is a historical day to bid farewell to one of the strongest judges of the supreme court, in the world of arguments and counter arguments Justice Sinha's dignity stood apart

SG: Justice Sinha has remained a torch bearer of judicial commitment. Justice Sinha had a empathetic approach to cases. I have never seen him irritated or angry. He always had a pleasing smile. Whenever we crossed limits by arguing wrong points reaction would be a little smile

SG: The smile meant he knew what we are doing and we would stop. Justice Sinha has a heart of Gold. He has provided impetus to the evolution of several branches of law. On any subject we started or ended it would be with his views.

SG: On behalf of Attorney General, Govt of India and me, we will miss you here. It will be a tremendous loss to the bar.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, President, SCBA: Today we have assembled to bid farewell to Justice Sinha who had a distinguished career as a lawyer and as a judge. This is not age for a judge to retire. A judge who is so fit loses a judge so early at this sudden retirement

Singh: Justice Sinha's mother and my mother were college mates in Patna. We were from the same school and college. We both have done long bike trips.

Singh: I have never seen him not ready with the brief. We could never steal an order from him without convincing him. When we showed points in our favour, he asked us about the points which were against us.

Singh: His effort in learning conputerisation and then his contribution to conputerisation in Patna HC and Chhatisgarh HC is notable. This prior to the pandemic was far sightedness. This helped the HCs tide over the pandemic to keep wheels of justice moving.

Singh: His diversity is worth mentioning. He took efforts to study the subject and deliver judgments which add to the jurisprudence of this country.

Singh: It's a wrong conception that judges work 10 to 4 and take long holidays. Justice LN Sinha once said weekend was most hectic for writing judgments and writing the cases. We know how hard the judges work. Time spending in reading brief no one cares about.

CJI NV Ramana begins his address: bidding farewell is a difficult task particularly when its of a valued colleague like Justice Sinha

CJI: ethic of public service is ingrained in Justice Sinha due to his illustrious background.

CJI: During his tenure, bother Sinha has deliver 114 judgments and disposed of 13,600 cases. All members of bar referred to his humility and simplicity.

CJI: Process of decision making goes beyond principle of law and it takes courage to do so. It is important that s judge is not deterred by external influences. We often carry our biases which can colour our opinion. When we become judge we have to cast aside our biases

CJI: we must not forget the social dimension which is often at the heart of a case. Justice Sinha has balanced this. We judges are often caught between morality and illegality. We often spend sleep less nights walking this tight rope more so as a SC judge since we are final

CJI: The lawyers like Pradeep Rai and Gopal Sankarnarayanan. They have brought dilemma in mind of Justice Sinha that he should not drive Java bike in Delhi roads. You have put him in dilemma after retirement. Hopefully he will deliver a judgment.

CJI: I congratulate Mrs Vandana Sinha and his family on this occassion.

Justice Sinha begins address: I was asked for a virtual farewell by Sr Adv Vikas Singh but insisted on virtual farewell for personal reasons

Justice Sinha: for me it has been a long satisfying journey since 1979. I want to share one thing, I was elevated in Feb 2004. I went Bhopal and while I was having dinner with Late Madhava Menon. I said I need to be trained before becoming a judge

I have been strong advocate of training of judges. Humility lies in recognising ones own shortcoming and address it. In today's time when competition is stiff and laws are tough, I believe younger generation of lawyers need to be trained: Justice Sinha

They must be taught manner and deameanour of a lawyer. When the lawyer appears a judge can trust him. I leave a suggestion for SCBA to train the younger lawyers: Justice Sinha

It's not for me to judge myself. It's for you to judge a judge. Life of a judge is difficult and it's just not about the work pressure. I won't say much more as my High Court judges brother know what I mean: Justice Sinha

Today's lawyer are tomorrow's judges. good health and discipline is important for the lawyers. I started practice in Supreme Court in chambers of Late RB Datar. Those days corridors in SC were not crowded: SC

Mr Datar was arguing, weather was worse than this. Everything was going over my head. I went to sleep in the front row. Justice Desai was at the bench. Mr Datar woke me up at 4 pm. I was told that Judge asked not to wake me up since later I would not get time to sleep: J Sinha

I will be honest. There were times I had to read briefs twice or thrice at night so that I can follow the arguments in court. At the end it was useful: Justice Sinha

Sometimes a case goes on and on and we are exasperated but the true duty of a judge is to hear it patiently even if you have read the brief well: Justice Sinha concludes

"Young lawyers need to be trained, humility lies in recognizing one's own shortcoming:" Supreme Court judge Justice Navin Sinha retires

report by @DebayonRoy

#SupremeCourt

Read more here: bityl.co/8HUx