Savitri Bobde’s LinkedIn post about her father, former CJI SA Bobde, highlights the intense work culture in the legal profession. Despite ongoing health challenges, Justice Bobde continues to work, prompting discussions on work-life balance. Many legal professionals debate the necessity of prioritizing well-being versus the demanding nature of law, reflecting long-standing issues in the field.
A LinkedIn post by Savitri Bobde, daughter of former Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, has ignited a debate on work-life balance in the legal profession. The post, which includes a photograph of Justice Bobde in a hospital bed dressed in a suit, has drawn significant attention.
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In the post, Savitri Bobde describes how her father, despite undergoing multiple surgeries, continues to work.
“Dad, almost 70 years old, ready for a week-long arbitration from hospital bed, where he has spent the last four weeks, after his fourth surgery (3rd unplanned one), all in the last 8 months. He has tubes coming out of his body and is in pain most of the day. Work-life balance anyone?”
she wrote.
The image of a senior legal professional working from a hospital bed has sparked widespread discussion about the culture of overwork in the legal field.
Born in 1956, Justice SA Bobde enrolled as a lawyer in 1978 and practiced at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court for over 21 years. He was designated Senior Advocate in 1998 and became a judge of the Bombay High Court in March 2000.
In October 2012, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. He was later elevated to the Supreme Court on April 12, 2013, and eventually took oath as Chief Justice of India on November 18, 2019. He retired as CJI on April 23, 2021.
The issue of work-life balance among lawyers and judges has been a topic of debate for years. Many in the legal profession take pride in working long hours, often at the cost of their health and personal lives.
Former CJI DY Chandrachud, in January 2023, had spoken against glorifying burnout in the legal profession. He expressed concern over the culture of long working hours leading to mental health issues.
He shared a personal experience about his late former wife, who was also a lawyer.
“My late former wife, when she went to a law firm, she asked what would be the working hours and she was told it is 24×7 and 365 days. When she asked what about ones with family, she was told to find a husband who can do household chores and there is no family time,”
he had recounted.
Savitri Bobde’s post has led to renewed discussions about whether the legal profession needs to rethink its approach to work-life balance. Many legal professionals believe that prioritizing mental and physical well-being is essential, while others argue that the demanding nature of law is unavoidable.
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