Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, at his farewell event hosted by the West Bengal government, stressed, “Diplomacy is important on either side, essential between judiciary and executive,” highlighting the delicate balance required for governance and constitutional harmony.
Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam emphasized the importance of maintaining diplomacy between the judiciary and the executive during his tenure.
Speaking at a farewell event organized by the West Bengal government at the Town Hall, he noted the delicate balance he managed between the two branches of government.
Justice Sivagnanam, who is set to retire on September 15, expressed his appreciation for Kolkata, where he served as a high court judge since October 2021 and later as Chief Justice from May 2023.
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He remarked,
“Being the head of the judiciary, in the sense of being a chief justice of our high court, is a delicate balance between judiciary and state.”
Stressing the need to avoid any perception that the judiciary is subordinate to the executive, He stated that,
“Diplomacy is important on either side,”
He praised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Judicial Secretary Siddhartha Kanjilal, and Law Minister Moloy Ghatak for their unwavering support, which enabled significant advancements in the state judiciary.
Justice Sivagnanam stated,
“In close to three years, both during my tenure as acting Chief Justice and Chief Justice, the CM has never returned me with an empty hand,”
The farewell organized by the state government for a Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court was a rare occasion, with the last similar event held for Chief Justice Jai Narayan Patel in 2012. Born on September 16, 1963, Sivagnanam began his legal career by enrolling in the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in 1986.
He became an additional judge at the Madras High Court in March 2009 and was appointed as a permanent judge in March 2011, as noted on the Calcutta High Court website.