The CII addressed the audience during celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. This significant milestone highlights the Bench’s dedication to delivering justice over two decades.
Madurai (Tamil Nadu): Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud inaugurated the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. In his address, he praised the Bench for its significant contributions over the past two decades, highlighting its role in serving as a vital repository of data and providing software backup support for the Delhi High Court.
He emphasized the importance of these contributions in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of judicial processes.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud urged the judges of the Supreme Court, High Court, and subordinate courts at a judiciary event in Tamil Nadu,
“Let us renew our dedication to the principles that have brought us this far. We must maintain the utmost standards of integrity, impartiality, and fairness,”
Addressing young lawyers, Chief Justice Chandrachud added,
“Every aspect of your profession will present temptations to stray from the path of integrity, truth, and justice. You must not let this happen.”
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud addressing the audience at the Vigentennial Celebrations, commemorating 20 years since the founding of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. He also passionately discussed the concerning practice of advocates paying minimal wages to entry-level juniors, under the assumption that these juniors seek to “learn” and gain exposure and experience.
Noting that junior lawyers have much to teach, particularly due to their awareness of contemporary realities, he urged,
“Please abandon this paternalistic approach,”
Chief Justice Chandrachud also lamented that paying minimal wages to entry-level lawyers results in “gatekeeping” the profession.
Addressing senior lawyers, Chief Justice Chandrachud appealed for fair compensation for juniors, stating,
“The over-romanticization of hard work, particularly when it involves insufficient pay, is not just rhetoric. It results in expectations of long hours, minimal sleep, and inadequate monetary reward. As the famous saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Similarly, it takes the entire Bar to nurture competent lawyers, irrespective of their social or economic background.”
While addressing the gathering, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud praised the Madurai Bench for evolving from a “district Bar” to a “Bar that represents the voice of the Bar across India.”
He remarked,
“In the last 20 years, the Madurai Bench has transitioned into truly being a representative of the great traditions of the Madras High Court.”
On the issue of entry-level juniors receiving a “meagre” salary, Chief Justice Chandrachud urged,
“Please shed this paternalistic approach that they have come to learn and gain exposure and experience, and that you are mentoring them.”
Highlighting the valuable insights junior lawyers offer, he pointed out that paying them as little as Rs 5,000 per month results in “gatekeeping” the profession.
Read Also: CJI Chandrachud: “Supreme Court to Get Air-Conditioned Corridors”
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud unveiled the Vigentennial Stupa at the Madurai Bench via video conference. The celebrations, held at the Madurai Convention Centre on Tamukkam grounds, attended by several dignitaries, including Supreme Court Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, M M Sundresh, K V Viswanathan, and R Mahadevan.
Madras High Court Acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar, Justices R Suresh Kumar, S S Sundar, and R Subramanian, along with Tamil Nadu Advocate General P S Raman and Additional Solicitor General of India A R L Sunderesan, also present. Justice Sundresh unveiled a new name board for the Madurai Bench.
In his address, Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized that establishing the bench of the high court goes beyond setting up infrastructure, creating courtrooms, or furnishing them.