Higher Judiciary Losing Its Aura & Majesty: CJI Ranjan Gogoi

The Chief Justice was speaking at Justice Kurian Joseph’s farewell programme.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

(Photo: IANS)

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi said on Thursday, 29 November, said that the judiciary is losing its aura and majesty, expressing his concern over young lawyers showing unwillingness to become judges.

The CJI's remarks came while he was addressing a programme hosted by the Supreme Court Bar Association to bid farewell to Justice Kurian Joseph, who retired as the apex court judge on Thursday.

The CJI appreciated Justice Joseph's contribution saying he was a good judge and that the court needs his replacement.

However, Justice Gogoi said young lawyers are not willing to become judges.

“One of the reasons is that the office of judges in higher judiciary is losing its aura and majesty,” he said, adding it is the aura and majesty of the office of judges that attracts young talents.

He said young lawyers are ready to make sacrifices and do hard work. He urged bar associations to help in encouraging lawyers to join judiciary.

CJI Gogoi said that he and Justice Joseph came from different parts of the country – Kerala and Assam – but both had a strong association of six years in the apex court.

Justice Joseph said that judges must have compassion as without compassion, there is no point in interpreting laws.

“I wanted to touch upon constitutional compassion. Compassion from the court is not the charity of a judge, it is the bounden duty of a constitutional court,” Justice Joseph said.

He pointed out that many litigations came in the form of public interest, which results in wastage of time of courts.

In his address, Justice Joseph said that he was warned by his wife that he is going to wear a crown of thorns when he was chosen to become a judge.

“I told her (wife) that I can make it a crown of roses. I made it a crown of flowers if not roses. I tried my best,” Justice Joseph said.

He called his farewell as an emotional occasion and said that he tried his best to keep the oath that he has taken with clear conscience. he said he can hold his head high and tell the world that he has done his best.