Quick Copies
The junior members of the Bar and the clerks are happy because the bail orders and other interim orders are issued in the computerized form on the same day of the order. Your Lordship was able to get sanction for 50 computers with the peripheral towards the computerization of the High Court. Your Lordship’s efforts to construct Additional Law Chambers for the lawyers is going to become a reality soon and the construction is almost complete and every lawyer who is going to occupy the chambers will remember you.
Your Lordship was responsible for amending the High Court Original Side, Appleate side and Civil Rules of Practice. The Rules framed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, even though finalized, is yet to be approved. Because of heavy workload and changing circumstances all the Rules required an amendment. Lord Denning in his book “Closing Chapter” refers to great lawyer Edmund Flowden, who commended an amendment with the words “blessed be the amending hand.”
Many Achievements
Your Lordship has always had a soft corner for the Subordinate Judges. Twelve District Judges were promoted to the cadre of District Judge (Super Time Scale). Since it is a known fact that the delay in disposal of the cases in lower Courts is because of want of Presiding Officers, Your Lordship was responsible for the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission’s selection of District Munsiff/ Judicial Magistrates. Similarly Your Lordship initiated action for direct recruitment of judicial officers for the Union Territory of Pondicherry and mutual transfer policy of Judicial Officers of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Pondicherry was also approved. Apart from the above achievements it is necessary to list out the following efforts taken by Your Lordship. At your Lordship’s instance Committees were constituted in every District consisting of the District Judge, District Collector, top Police Officer of the District, member of the Bar Council, and the President of the local Bar Association, in order to sort out any dispute that may arise between the members of the Bar and others, and if necessary to take assistance of the Hon’ble Portfolio Judge and the Home Secretary, in case of any problem. Your Lordship has taken steps for the establishment of an Engineering College by A.G. & O.T. with the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India as the Visitor Chancellor and it is under process. Your Lordship got approval of the Government for construction of a Guest House for High Court at Egmore. During Your Lordship’s tenure Tamil Nadu Judicial Academy was inaugurated in the Judicial Officer’s Quarters and three courses of training for in, Service Judicial Officers were imparted.
Staff members honoured
Your Lordship persuaded several senior Advocates to give lectures to them. A proposal for the construction of separate building for the judicial Academy at Pallikarnai was recommended by Your Lordship and the Government has approved the same. Your Lordship persuaded the Government to sanction 50 new cars for Hon’ble Judges. Merit Certificates were issued by Your Lordship on Republic Day and Independence Day to sincere, honest and dedicated staff members in the Registry and this has increased the efficiency of the staff. Your Lordship is the Patron-in-Chief of the Legal Services Authority of Tamil Nadu. Your Lordship was actively associated in all the legal aid programmes. Regular Lok Adalats were held at Erode and Tanjavur. Because of your Lordship’s active support Prison Adalats were constituted at 4 Central Prisons. Women prison Adalat was also constituted. New lawyers were empanelled to attend to legal aid schemes. All these achievements and improvements narrated above are not exhaustive, but only illustrative. Because of the time constraint, I am not in a position to cover all your achievements
Courteous & Friendly
As a man you followed the principle which is Ahimsa Paramo Dharmaha. You are very courteous and friendly. If anyone meets you outside the court, he feels, he is meeting a friend and not a Chief Justice. You are going to join the new station tomorrow. On behalf of the Bar and on my own, I wish you a very successful and fruitful tenure. I conclude my address with the benediction – “May life and destiny treat you kindly and all good be yours. God Bless you and your family.”
REPLY TO FAREWELL
ADRESS BY THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. N.K. JAIN (39-8-2001)
My Esteemed Brother and Sister Judges, Mr. N.R. Chandra, Advocate General, Mr. V.T. Gopalan, Additional Solicitor General Mr. K. Muthukumar Swamy, Additional Advocate General, former Advocate General, Mr. Venkatachalapathy, President of the Bar Association, Mr. R. Karuppan, President of the Advocates Association, Mr. Shanthakumari, President of the women Lawyers Association, Mr. M.S. Jawaharlal, Chairman of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Law Association, Senior Advocates, Law Officers, Former Advocate General Rajasthan Shri A.K. Bhandari, Shri Sudhir Gupta, Member of Bar, Officers and Staff of High Court and Protocol Officer Mr. Balakrishanan, Ladies and Gentlemen; I am overwhelmed and deeply touched by the kind words and sentiments expressed by the Advocate General in the Farewell Address and I have no words to express my thanks.
Learning Good Things:
By God’s grace and blessings of elders, the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India and the Collegiums has given me an opportunity to serve in this High Court. I had the privilege of hearing the arguments of eminent counsels of this High Court, as a Judge, Acting Chief Justice and Chief Justice. I have learned a lot. That apart, being a sportsman, I have cultivated the habit of learning good things and qualities, even from my opponent to overcome my shortcomings, and mistakes to improve my game. I have kept in mind that learning is a constant process. I have to gained much from the persons with whom I have come in contact during my stay here.
Not an Outsider :
This State is famous for its ancient temples, culture and hoary traditions. I also had occasions to visit some of the temples, I am very much impressed. The people here are very simple in nature, God fearing, having unassuming character with no pomp and show. The traditional South Indian culture has not only attracted me but also made me to admire them. Despite language constraint and unfamiliar faces, due to the common aspects of indelible imprints of rich, high and noble traditions coupled with the quality of hospitality of the State of Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, from the day one, I never though myself to be an outsider. I could discharge my duties to the best of my ability and capability with the cooperation of all concerned.
Inspired and encouraged
I have tired my best to discharge my duties with sincerity and with the active cooperation of my brother and sister Judges, members of the Bar, Officers and staff of the High Court. The Judicial Officers, members of the Bar and the staff in the subordinate Judiciary also extended their full cooperation in discharging my administrative functions effectively with satisfaction. I am fully satisfied that in response to my constant reminders, the members of the subordinate judiciary had disposed of about 22 lakh cases in 1 and half years, by 30-7-2001, which is remarkable. So also, with the cooperation of brother and sister Judges, advocates, staff, we have been able to dispose of 2.41 lakh cases in High Court. Each one of them deserves my appreciation. I offer my sincere gratitude to those who inspired, encouraged, cooperated and assisted me in discharging my onerous duties.
It is needless for me to point out the Judges and Advocates are equal in status being the officers of the Court. As Judges, we have to discharge our duties with detachment. Credit for a judgment doest not belong to the Judge alone but to lawyers also, whose assistance at the Bar will be very useful for a qualitative judgment. Ultimately, advocates are the Judges of the Judges. I appreciate the valuable assistance of the Bar.
