Thread by @lawbarandbench

Justice VR Krishna Iyer Award 2020 to be presented to retired Justice Kurian Joseph, former judge, #SupremeCourt of India by The Law Assistance and Welfare (LAW) Trust.

Justice CT Ravikumar of Supreme Court to inaugurate the function and present the award.

Adv Santosh Kumar P., Chairman of the LAW trust gives the welcome address.

Adv Joseph John, Chairman, Bar Council of Kerala gives the presidential address.

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John: Justice VR Krishna Iyer, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice CT Ravikumar all are pride of Kerala.

Justice Kurian Joseph is an able, noble, humble and simple person!

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Justice CT Ravikumar begins his inaugural speech.

Ravikumar: It is befitting that the LAW Trust has chosen this day for his contribution in not just judicial field but also social service.

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Ravikumar: It is also befitting because a legal awareness programme was launched by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) today morning. Justice Joseph believed in legal awareness.

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Ravikumar: Justice Joseph’s judgments always had compassion. How to judge a case of poor person is a quality every judge should have.

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Ravikumar: This award should reach only persons with conviction, and this time it has reached a wonderful personality. Because it is not just his judgments, but also his compassion and humility.

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Ravikumar: The committee, I am sure has taken pains to select the right person. I do not want to make a long speech. I only wish and pray to the Almighty to give him a long life, because nobody will benefit except the deserving persons.

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Ravikumar: Justice Joseph just contributed for one acre of land to a person.. It is a huge area in Kerala. He does not do it for publicity, he really wants to do that.

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Award being presented to Justice Joseph.

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Citation being presented to Justice Joseph.

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NK Premachandran, Member of Parliament gives the key note address.

Congratulates Justice Joseph on the award.

Premachandran: Importance of the award is that it is in line of the legendary judges from Kerala High Court, being Justice Iyer.

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Premachandran: Justice Iyer has been part of the 4 pillars of democracy. He was a judge, a minister and a journalist. The wonderful contribution by the late jurist is immemorable.
An award in his name being given someone who absolutely deserves it.

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Premachandran: CJI of SC said that most of the legislations have been passed by parliament has been passed without discussion and hence there is difficulty in interpretation. I agree with this. The last 23 days house convened, 20 legislations were passed without having discussion

Premchandran: Without any opinion of public, without discussion, the court is finding it difficult for interpretation. We have to put our thoughts in this issue. Indian Judicial system is the last report for the people as far as grievances are concerned.

Premachandran: In such a situation we have to look into this.
Justice Ravikumar will also be an honourable judge I am sure. Now a days I am seeing in parliament, a lot of ordinances are being passed and executive actions are being taken.

Premachandran: Without approval of parliament or legislature, the ordinance is being legitimatised, this means the democratic wave, the worth of democracy is going, this is also fatal issue.

Premachandran: Even the CAA Act we passed without the proper discussion. We have to build discussion on such issues. We are giving this award to the Justice Joseph and he stood for the democracy.
I would appeal to Law Trust to have serious discussions on these issues.

Sr Adv Manan Kumar Mishra gives special address.

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Mishra: Kerala it seems has the soil to produce scholars. We have seen Justice Iyer, Justice Joseph and now Justice Ravikumar..

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Mishra: It was easier to meet Justice Joseph when he was a sitting judge. He has become busier post retirement. Sir humko bhuliye mat, please.. (everyone laughs)

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Adv Shaheed Ahamed, Patron of The Law Trust gives the felicitation speech.

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Adv KP Jayachandran Addl Advocate General Kerala gives the felicitation speech.

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Adv Manoj Kumar N, member of Bar Council of India, State Attorney gives the felicitation address.

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Kumar: Let me begin by giving a salute to you Justice Joseph. You have joined in the long line of illustrious judges who have been conferred with this award.

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Kumar: Justice Joseph was the believer that silence of lawful men was more dangerous than violence of the lawless.

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Kumar: Justice Joseph was a staunch believer that judges should not accept executive positions post retirement and he himself turned down such offers. The Trust could not have zeroed in on a better recipient.

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Dr. NK Jayakumar, VC, NUALS gives the felicitation address.

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Jayakumar: An award in the name of Justice Iyer being presented made me very happy. Second is of course the fact that it is being given to Justice Joseph. I find many similarities. The political background is one.

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Jayakumar: Justice Joseph was an active member of the student organisation against injustice and atrocity still continues, that is a positive factor.

Justice Joseph has given me a special privilege - I am called a teacher of a Supreme Court judge. That is rare privilege.

Jayakumar: This award is being conferred upon Justice Jospeh by Justice Ravikumar. Another judge we can be proud of. His words gives a clear indication of his social philosophy and perspective with which he will discharge the judicial functions. We will see a great judge.

Adv TS Ajith, member of Bar Council of Kerala, begins his felicitation address.

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Adv Balu SS, President Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association begins his address.

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Adv Rajeev R Pattathanam, president, Kollam Bar Association begins his address.

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Guest of Honour, Justice Kurian Joseph begins his address.

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Justice Joseph: With humility, I accept this award. Thanking all those including my guru, Prof Jayakumar, who was in the selection committee. I am quite sure I am worthy to receive an award in the name of Justice Iyer.

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Justice Joseph: I just wanted to add to what Prof Baxi said, it is Supreme Court of India, for India, by India, for Indians.
Justice Iyer conceived an idea of justice for the Indians, keeping in mind who are Indians. Otherwise it would be Supreme Court of Justice not India.

Justice Joseph: For the least, last and lost, the marginalised people, I want to tell the judiciary that the interpretation of Constitution will be lost if these people are not considered.

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Justice Joseph: I want to make an earnest request.. I am associated with several organisations, including a Distress Management Collective India.
We had seen a story of a woman who was running a small restaurant in a rural village area, who is a pioneer student in law college.

Justice Joseph: She does not have a laptop also. I had told her study wherever you want to, she will get support. I want to tell the Trust to use this money to buy her a good laptop.

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Justice Joseph: Her story is all over the social media. She is found to be a person of high dreams, and she makes this parotta.

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Justice Joseph: I don’t want to make a long speech. I just want to say, whether the independence of judiciary as such is it not an issue that all of us for our democracy should be concerned.

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Justice Joseph: If the independence of judiciary powerful pillar is not kept as such will be threat to our democracy. Why I say so is because the leaders of the Bar, of the SC had made efforts for selection of judge.

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Justice Joseph: The members had written against appointment of a judge whom they found not worthy. But where is this Bar when things go wrong in the institution? I find this polarisation in the Bar. Because they are part of the institution.

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Justice Joseph: To me I am convinced, it is equally important, for a deserving judge to be allowed to enter th SC, or HC. If you want to stop a judge from not coming, then you should also take efforts for the deserving judges to enter the SC.

Justice Joseph: An otherwise deserving judge should not be prevented from joining the bench for reasons best known to others.

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Justice Joseph: There are four things on which judges take oath - I will deliver justice without fear, failure, affection or ill-will. Are judges today really in a position to deliver justice like this?

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Justice Joseph: This is a question for the guardians, which include the bar association too.

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Justice Joseph: If you are being denied for not listening to your bosses, or being transferred, is it not wrong? If we do not protect the integrity, then things are likely to corrode. Where is this bar? Where was this bar?

Justice Joseph: When meritorious people are ignored for their rightful position? Or when they are being transferred for whatever reasons?
Where is this bar?

Justice Joseph: Justice Iyer used to ask who is to watch the watchdog? The Bar according to me is the watch-dog.

Justice Joseph: If there is a bar which stands in unity for the integrity, then there will be a good institution of judiciary. You cannot say they make a selection, transfer is their concern. You cannot close your eyes, wash your hands and stay mum!

Justice Joseph: Where are you when things have been going wrong, when you otherwise have taken steps. If you want a judge to function without failure, then he should have a feeling, that he will get recognition for his work, my seniority will not be affected, my elevation..

Justice Joseph: They have been affected.. I have been dislocated, not once, twice.. Institution of lawyers, polarised bar has been taken to the knees. This is what I want to remind the Bar.

Justice Joseph: I do not want to say more in front of Justice Ravikumar and embarrass him. When he is not around, I will say.

Justice Joseph: When the judges do discharge function without fear or ill-will, those who discharge such duties, the nation should recognise, the bar should support.

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Event concludes with vote of thanks from Adv Prema Kumar K., Secretary, The Law Trust.