CJI Surya Kant praised retiring Supreme Court Judges J. K. Maheshwari and Pankaj Mithal, calling their service dignified and value-driven. He said they showed that authority need not create distance and thanked them for years of dedicated service.
In a heartfelt ceremony, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant praised the devoted service of outgoing Supreme Court Judges J. K. Maheshwari and Pankaj Mithal.
The farewell event was organized by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association to honor their outstanding contributions.
Justice Maheshwari, who will retire on June 28, and Justice Mithal, scheduled to retire on June 16, were commended by Kant for their integrity and for the dignified way they fulfilled their responsibilities.
The CJI said,
“They (Justices Maheshwari and Mithal) showed us that authority need not create distance and that high offices need not separate a person from the places and values that shaped him,”
He said,
“On behalf of my colleagues on the bench, on behalf of the institution, on behalf of everyone who is present here and those who are joining us online, I thank brother Maheshwari, I thank brother Mithal for their years of dedicated service given with dignity, integrity, restraint and conviction,”
Addressing the function, Justice Maheshwari remarked that every judicial post is temporary and ultimately concludes, but a judge’s professional standing and the lasting impression of how they treat the advocate who appears before them endures.
He said,
“In our culture, we often speak of ‘dharma’, but the judicial ‘dharma’ is not about religion. It is about constitutional morality. It is the unwavering commitment to the public trust. But it can only be possible with the assistance of the members of the bar…,”
Justice Maheshwari expressed his gratitude to members of the Bar for guiding him, pushing him to think harder, and helping him stay sharp during his tenure on different benches.
He added that while judges possess the constitutional authority to deliver judgments, advocates from the Bar assess them quietly, day after day.
Justice Maheshwari said,
“Respect of the bar is not something that comes neatly packaged with the warrant of appointment. It must be earned, hearing by hearing, every day,”
Justice Mithal then also spoke to the gathering.
Justice Maheshwari highlighted the importance of judicial dharma as constitutional morality and expressed gratitude to the legal community for its essential support throughout his career.
Looking back on his journey, Justice Maheshwari acknowledged the role of legal practitioners in shaping his professional path, emphasizing that respect from the bar is something earned over time. Justice Mithal likewise shared his experiences, marking a meaningful transition in their distinguished careers.
The event was attended by Attorney General R. Venkataramani, SCAORA President Devvrat, and others who paid tribute to the retiring judges.