Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala of the Madras High Court, who is set to retire today, expressed his profound faith and confidence in the junior members of the Madras Bar, asserting that they will uphold and carry forward the court’s esteemed legacy. Speaking at his farewell event held in the Madras High Court auditorium, Chief Justice Gangapurwala showered praises on the Madras High Court Bar Association’s storied legacy.Reflecting on his tenure, CJ Gangapurwala invoked Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity to describe his experience, stating that although he served nearly a year, it felt as though he had just arrived. He emphasized the substantial personal and professional growth he gained from the institution, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping fundamental laws.
“I gained more from this institution, it has a legacy of its own, it’s a premier High Court which has to be credited with laying down many fundamental laws,” he said. Despite not considering himself an emotional person, the Chief Justice admitted that the farewell event was overwhelming, with many thoughts occupying his mind.
In his concluding remarks, CJ Gangapurwala extended heartfelt thanks to all members of the legal fraternity, including judges, advocates, and employees, for their unwavering cooperation during his tenure.
Advocate General (AG) PS Raman, in his address, lauded the Chief Justice’s tenure, likening his leadership to that of King Raja Raja Cholan, who historically conquered distant lands. AG Raman highlighted the significant contributions of the first bench under CJ Gangapurwala, noting its pivotal role in landmark judgments concerning the constitutionality of various acts, rules, and regulations.
The AG emphasized the qualities essential for a judge: knowledge, patience, and integrity. He added that CJ Gangapurwala possessed an additional virtue—boundless energy and enthusiasm, demonstrated by his dedication to sitting long hours and disposing of cases beyond regular working hours.
AG Raman also shared a remarkable statistic provided by Justice M Dhandapani, revealing that in CJ Gangapurwala’s 14 years and 2 months of judicial service, he had taken only seven days of leave.
The farewell event saw the attendance of all High Court judges, Public Prosecutors, members of the Bar, and numerous advocates, marking a significant moment in the history of the Madras High Court as they bid farewell to a respected leader.