Speaking from the heart in his farewell speech on Friday, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, before the end of his working day, showered his gratitude and asked for forgiveness for any wrong done by him in this tenure.
“It is this court that makes me continue with my studies…we interact with people we probably did not know. I thank each and every one of you. And there is no case similar to another,” CJI Chandrachud said, adding, ‘‘If ever in the court, I have hurt any person, I would wish to seek their pardon.” He made this heartfelt apology when he spoke to the many people in attendance at the Ceremonial Bench who had come to witness his retirement.
Chandrachud, who is set to be replaced by CJI-designate Sanjiv Khanna, spoke in appreciation of his tenure at the apex court and said that he was always striving to do justice till the last day. “I was telling my court staff when they asked me yesterday what time the Ceremonial Bench should be listed that I will be able to handle as many matters as possible.” Adding his desire to work diligently till the last moment of his stay in office, he said: “I would not like to lose the opportunity to do justice till the last.”
Thinking about time and how fast it flies, he said, “We are birds for a certain amount of time, come here as pilgrims, work and go.” The retiring CJI, who was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2016, was humbled by the crowd present at his farewell speech and said initially he had thought the court would be empty.
‘The Prime Minister has got a good man there,’ Chandrachud told his colleagues about his successor, Sanjiv Khanna, ‘He is so stable, so solid, and so dignified,’ said Chandrachud confidently. “Yes, the Prime Minister has got his man there to whom the mantle to lead the judiciary in the years to come can be handed over.”
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