CJI raps Bar assn for denying farewell to judge
Justice Bela M Trivedi, the 11th woman judge of the Supreme Court, bid adieu to her judicial career on Friday, more than three weeks before her scheduled retirement on June 9 as she needed to travel to the US for a family function.
Her last working day, however, was marred by a controversy as the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) chose not to organise the customary farewell for her, attracting criticism from Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih.
“I believe in straight-talking; the association ought not to have taken such a stand… I must deprecate its openly,” the CJI said even as he appreciated the presence of SCBA president Kapil Sibal and SCBA vice-president Rachna Srivastava in the proceedings of the ceremonial Bench where the outgoing judge sits with the CJI on her last working day. A large number of lawyers were also present.
“The presence of the full house here fully vindicates and the verdict is given that she is a very, very good judge. There are different types of judges, but that should not be a factor for denying what ought to have been granted at 4.30 pm today,” the CJI said about the SCBA’s decision not to give a farewell to Justice Trivedi, who had ordered a CBI probe against an advocate for filing a petition based on a “forged” vakalatnama (legal document).
“I am sorry! But I must say that… I should not be saying it… but good traditions need to be followed and respected… I wish my sister (Justice Trivedi) all success in whatever she has thought of for her future,” Justice Masih said.
Attorney General R Venkataramani described Justice Trivedi as a firm judge while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta lauded her saying she never went by popular sentiments.
Endorsing Mehta’s praise for Justice Trivedi, Sibal said, “I do not think any judge of this court bows down to popular sentiment and if he does, that is completely unacceptable.”
Born on June 10, 1960, at Patan in north Gujarat, she did her BCom and LLB from MS University, Vadodara, and was appointed directly as the Judge, City Civil and Sessions Court, at Ahmedabad in 1995. Her father was also working as the Judge, City Civil and Sessions Court, when she was appointed. She was elevated to the Gujarat HC on February 17, 2011, and to the SC on August 31, 2021.
India