'Deprecate openly': CJI on no farewell for Justice Trivedi

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih on Friday disapproved of the fact that the lawyers' bodies at the Supreme Court have decided to refrain from organising an official farewell for Justice Bela M Trivedi, who demitted office on Friday.

It is common practice for the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) to hold farewell ceremonies on retirement of Supreme Court judges. However, no such event was notified by the associations on the retirement of Justice Trivedi. While CJI Gavai appreciated the presence of senior advocate and President of SCBA Kapil Sibal and Vice President Rachana Srivastava before the ceremonial bench, the bench deprecated the stand taken by the association.

The CJI said that he is grateful to the duo for their presence. "But the stand taken by the Association (SCBA), I must deprecate openly, because I believe in being plain and straight. On such occasions, such a stand ought not to have been taken by the association and, therefore, I am openly appreciating Sibal and Srivastava that despite the resolution of the bodies, they are here," CJI Gavai verbally said. Adding that Justice Trivedi is a very good judge, the CJI said that there are different types of judges but that "should not be a factor for doing what ought to have been done at 4:30 pm (farewell) today". CJI Gavai added that Justice Trivedi is known for her firmness, fearlessness, hard work, integrity and spirituality.