The Supreme Court Bar Association is organizing a virtual farewell for the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, who is retiring today.

Follow this thread for live updates.

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The farewell event may be watched here :
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Advocate Ardhendumauli Kumar Prasad thanks CJI Bobde for ensuring that the Court functioning without disruptions during the pandemic and lockdown.
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Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai: We are witnessing this Hon'ble occassion. On behalf of the SCBA and Executive Committee, I welcome each one of you. We will miss Justice SA bobde who had been a CJI in the most difficult times of this Court.

Rai: Justice Bobde always remained open to the challenging experience and learning new things. Just like he learnt sanskrit language at the age of 15. It is inspiring how he has grasp hold of a language in such a short span of time.

Rai recites a Sanskrit shloka.

"Whose endeavours are preceded by a firm commitment, who does not take long rest before the task is accomplished, who does not waste time and has control over his mind, he is a wildlife photographer and likes nature and forests." Rai says.

Rai: He always had a love for human beings. J. Bobde had. a total tenure of 2406 days and he served 520 days as Chief Justice of India.

Rai: During his tenure, he heard several key cases and was part of various landmark judgments. He was one of the members of the 5 judge bench which rendered unanimous verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi matter.

#SupremeCourt #CJIBobde

Rai: He also was a part of the bench which rendered the sale of firecrackers on the ocassion of diwali by saying that in no religious textbook it is written that diwali is celebrated by bursting crackers.

Rai: Unfortunately, his tenure suffered with covid 19, when affected many of his dreams and reforms and intiatives. Bobde belives that the most important thing is not speaking one's mind, but finding away to find one's own mind.

Attorney General of India KK Venugopal: I had said that it is always a very sad day that before we're able to spend time with the CJI in his functioning, he disappears and we get a new CJI.

AG: Therefore I had been saying that the CJ should be there for atleast 3 to 4 years. We had Chief Justice Chandrachud, father of the present judge, for 7 years. This is something which is today within the hands of the collegium.

AG: We loose very very good CJs like Justice Bobde. This was a very short tenure because there was unfortunately covid during this period and the CJIs are invited abroad and they project India where they visit those countries.

AG: Because of covid, the CJs are not able to project India abroad and have an interchange of India's with the CJs of those countries. Justice Bobde rose to the occasion when covid hit us.

AG: We are not trained or had that experience but he rose to the occasion and straightaway declared that stop the physical hearings. From day to day, one or other lawyers is being hit by covid.

AG: Two days ago there was an advocate who was wandering in Noida in the search of bed from hospital to hospital and this is a great tragedy that has overtaken not only the members of the Bar but also the population of this Country.

AG: It was all that the Chief Justice could do to ensure the protection of the lawyers. He ensured that so far as the lawyers are concerned, they are kept safe by stopping physical hearings, providing VCs and that till date, it has been going on very successfully.

AG: I am sure when Chief Justice Ramana takes over, he will ensure that we would get rid of this present vidyo which has been giving us lot of glitches, problems and we are able to get an efficient videoconferencing system.

AG: In the last few days, he delivered two judgments which had a lot of effect on the justice delivery system.

AG: So far as the acting judges are concerned, they could be appointed even after retirement so that the vacancies that existed, the cases can be disposed of swiftly which are now pending.

AG: after lot of discussion, he directed under certain circumstances, where more than 20% vacancies existed, acting judges should be appointed. This would make a huge dent in the huge arrears that are pending.

AG: Today I think, on account of his judgment, there will be a total change on the vacancies that existed and we will find that in future because of CJI Bobde's judgment there will be change in the existing vacancy positions.

AG: It is sad as I said when any CJ or Judge retires, he is a person who would keep in touch with us and I hope he has a great future because at the age of 65, it should be 75 when the person retires. We cannot waste the remaining years.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh: Justice Bobde belives that the strength of any institution depends on its foundation and undoubtedly a strength of this institution is the Bar.

Singh: Justice Bobde felt that the relationship between Bar and the Bench was special and that the Bar was the mother of the Bench and that all were coparceners of the undivided family.

Singh: In our first meeting after being elected, Justice Bobde told our EC that he has huge respect for whosoever will be the President of the Bar as he fought the elections and lost. Probably I think in Nagpur but we didn't ask.

Singh: In the same meeting we had brought up the issue of having our SCBA welfare stamp affixation to be filed in the vakalatnama in the Supreme Court. Our EC proposed that we will file a proposal to which Justice Bobde principally agreed.

Singh: Unfortunately we couldn't present a proper proposal inspite there being a resolution of the Bar for the lawyer welfare stamp. Because we wanted before we come up to the proposal, we must have a transparent and independent trust which will handle such money.

Singh: Its our firm believe that High Courts are actually getting problem in getting good names and if they consider the names of lawyers practicing in the Supreme Court, the basket of having good names will be much bigger and accordingly it will help the justice delivery system.

Singh: While on the Ayodhya dispute, I must give out a secret between me and Justice Bobde. While he was in the initial stage of the hearing, he was very firm of the view that the #Ayodhya dispute must be settled by mediation.

Singh: He asked me, because he knew I know the family of Shahrukh Khan, for participating in the mediation. I discussed this matter with Shah Rukh Khan and he was willing to take it.

Singh: Justice Bobde is a visionary and he felt the need and preserved the rich heritage of legal history of India.

Singh: If you recall recently at the Ambedkar University, he recalled that Me. Ambedkar had wanted a uniform language for the whole of the country and sanskrit was suggested as one of the language.

Singh: Probably If it had been taken up, we would not have to answer embarassing questions when we go abroad as to why English is your mother language and why are you still speaking English.

Singh: Biking is a sport for the Chief Justice and here I should tell one more secret about him. Once I was traveling with him in an aircraft, I had told him that I have a Harley Davidson which I was not able to ride. He said if you're selling it off, why don't you sell it to me.

Singh: I said it's a little heavy. He said no no, I've been riding bikes since my childhood. And it is unfortunately that bike which resulted in his fracture.

Justice Ramana: Today morning I mentioned while speaking with Hon'ble judges that bidding farewell is a very difficult task. After 43 long years in the profession, Justice Bobde is retiring today from the highest position in the Indian judiciary.

J. Ramana: The attribute of Justice Bobde that impressed me the most in the yearly decade association with him was his wit, humour and charm. He always created an environment that a human being could be comfortable.

J. Ramana:Brother Bobde did not close hopes and adopted to the changes of circumstances by ensuring that justice dispensation is not hampered at these trying times. He also set in motion various initiatives such as introduction of artificial intelligence for benefit of judiciary.

J. Ramana: Knowing his diverse interests, I'm sure he already has many projects lined up after his retirement. I wish him all the best in all his future endeavours. On behalf of my brother and sister judges, I wish him a very happy and healthy life ahead.

J. Ramana: At this juncture, i think it is important for me to say a few words about the current circumstances. We're going through testing times. The country as a whole is battling the severest covid wave.

J. Ramana: Like the rest of the citizenry, the officers and the staff of this Court, lawyers and judges, all have been affected by this lethal virus. The virus doesn't make any distinction.

J. Ramana: During such unprecedented times, some strong measures may be necessary to break the cycle. I request everyone to co-operate in implementing these essential measures.

J. Ramana: As an individual, the least we can do is help prevent the spread of virus. Please diligently follow the three Ws: Wear a mask, Watch a distance and Wash your hands.

J. Ramana: Please do not step out unless it is real urgency. We can defeat this pandemic together with discipline, dedication and cooperation with each other and the authorities. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost their loved ones to the virus.

Chief Justice SA Bobde is now speaking.

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J. Bobde: This morning I discovered a new cause for becoming speechless and that is having a lot to say and having had contradictory experiences, not knowing what to say.

J. Bobde: Nonetheless I discovered that there are some things which one can say and I shall endeavour to say them.

J. Bobde: Firstly, I must thank you all for your words. The system is such today that nice words surprises one. It is very heartening to hear good things which you mentioned today.

J. Bobde: When I took oath as the Chief Justice, I had not imagined the complexity of the tasks which a CJ has to perform. The judicial side, the administrative side, the management of the courts, sometimes problems of the HCs, dealing with the requirements of the Bar...

J. Bobde: It takes time to understand the complexities but you have to understand and do your best.

J. Bobde: The Bar here is capable and the lawyers are very capable. The standard is very high. The covid pandemic required us, primarily me, because I was the Chief Justice, to learn new things about communications and we decided that VCs was the way forward.

J. Bobde: I'm glad that with the help of my colleagues, particularly the E Committee and the Registry itself,we managed to face the challenge. I am proud to say,having examined the records of various SCs of the world, that our performance during the pandemic was amongst the best.

J. Bobde: One indication is that the Supreme Court did not fail to sit a single day because of covid. Not only that, the number of working days in the last year had been more than anytime before.

J. Bobde: The most unusual thing was to sit before a telivision screen and being looked upon by a camera and speaking through a Mic like we're doing now. It was initially difficult to imagine such kind of virtual hearing but we all got used to it.

J. Bobde: I have flagged earlier, one of the interactable problems about virtual hearings and that is the new kind of equality, inequality which is created.

J. Bobde: I don't wish to dwell much on it, except to say that equality, inequality that already existed has been augmented by the fact that VCs have become technology dependent and your access to justice depends on your access to technology.

J. Bobde: This means that your circumstances are such that you can acquire all the devices necessary.

J. Bobde: We decided to adopt or moved towards artificial intelligence because I think it is futile to ignore it. I remember a time many years ago when computers were introduced and people started communicating with email.

J. Bobde: Some people started thinking why should we communicate through emails. But the truth of the matter is that when something like this is introduced, there is not way of stopping it.

J. Bobde: Imagine the post offices closed down. Today we don't have post offices and the government is wondering what to do with those buildings. I think AI is on the same category if we don't adopt it.

J. Bobde: If we won't become familiar with it, we will find ourselves at a great disadvantage. It is with that spirit that AI has been resorted to.

J. Bobde: I must take the occasion to congratulate and thank Justice L Nageswara Rao for heading the committee so aimly and bringing AI to this stage.

J. Bobde: We have a unique designation of being the guardians of the Constitution. When I say we, it is boht Bar and the Bench. I say it because it is not just the duty of the bench to assume this role, but also of the Bar.

J. Bobde: It is the Bar's duty to assist the Court to come to a right decision. Only a Bar committed to the dynamic concept of Rule of Law and contents of its social responsibilities, that it can assist the judiciary in moulding the law.

J. Bobde: Especially in the service of the marginalized and vulnerable sections of the society. I wish to say something on how this can work better.

J. Bobde: And I am not saying this with any sense of grievance but there is one area we need to pay a lot of attention and that is communication and the relationship of Bar and the Bench.

J. Bobde: I don't wish to criticize anybody. I'm sure there are people at fault on both sides but the attitude and mutual respect that is necessary for an excellent functioning of the judicial system sometimes is wanting in the narrative.

J. Bobde: I want to say this not because we should become a society of people who pay compliments to each other and overlook each other's faults, but I say it because on this communication and this relationship, depends the most important function of the judiciary.

J. Bobde: That is to protect the life, liberty and property of citizens. There is no need for us to become a mutual admiration society. We must work in a way that is harmonious, is nourishing and which fulfills the purpose of this system.

J. Bobde: A small example, something which we were taught when we joined the Bar, is that it should be possible to accept that the judge doesn't agree with you. It doesn't reflect on either the skill of the Advocate or his ability to persuade.

J. Bobde: It's a human nature that every body does not agree with everything. And when that happens, it is important to gracefully accept a decision which is contrary to your submission.

J. Bobde: I did not have such a problem except the very occasional problem of an overenthusiastic argument.

J. Bobde: Having served at Bombay, MP and now at Delhi, I need to say with humility that he relationship between the Bench and the Bar is going to matter the most to the future of the judiciary.

J. Bobde: There is something else which comes in the way sometimes but that is a large subject which we will need to address later and that is how the media and the social media interprets our actions.

J. Bobde: It is said that a lawyer with a well furnished mind alone can be a councillor at law. He alone can go beyond mere looking at precedents and guide the strands along the path of wisdown.

J. Bobde quotes Sir Walter Scott "A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect."

J. Bobde: In the hands of such a lawyer, the law truly becomes an instrument for securing justice. To the young members of the Bar who are disheartened by the events of the pandemic, I want to say, don't lose hope, carry on, things will change.

J. Bobde: And it is true, as Vikas Singh pointed out, my heart always goes out to the young members of the Bar and I understand that it is they who need the greatest degree of encouragement.

J. Bobde: When I was asked in the last couple of months, what is my day like, I used to say my candle burns at both ends. It will not last the night. But oh my friends, it gives such a lovely light. It won't happen tonight onwards. I will be free.

J. Bobde:I hope to go out of Supreme Court. I will be leaving with a lot of beautiful memories but I do hope that I'll be able to keep in touch with you and I will certainly take the occasion to meet you all whenever possible and I invite you the do the same. Thank you, Jai hind.

Ceremony ends.