Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Ravi Malimath retired, expressing pride in having made numerous enemies, a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice. Known for his resolute stance and judicial integrity, Malimath’s career spanned significant legal contributions. His retirement marks the end of a distinguished tenure characterized by bold decisions.
As the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Ravi Malimath did not hold back on his final day in office. He openly addressed his “enemies” during his farewell remarks.
“I have gathered adversaries, and I wear that badge proudly. My allegiance lies solely with the Constitution.”
In a speech that ignited controversy, Justice Malimath condemned individuals he deemed “morally corrupt” and “degenerate” who had attempted to undermine his career over extended periods.
He asserted,
“There are those who have dedicated months and years to tarnishing my reputation, yet their efforts have been futile. I’ve embarked on endeavours unmatched by any other judge or Chief Justice in the nation. Their endeavours will forever fall short of mine. I could divulge much at this juncture, I could name names and thrust this into the limelight of tabloids. Undoubtedly, my detractors are apprehensive, wondering what revelations I might make in my farewell address. However, I choose not to dignify the morally bankrupt and unscrupulous with discussion. They are not worthy of my time. My commitment lies with upholding the Constitution. I remain steadfast in doing what’s right, even at personal sacrifice, for that is the duty of a judge.”
The judge reflected on his experiences of being transferred with the expectation of being appointed Chief Justice, a prospect that never materialized until his tenure in the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
He stated,
“I was moved from Karnataka to Uttarakhand with the intention of assuming the role of Chief Justice, yet it didn’t happen. Subsequently, I was transferred from Uttarakhand to Himachal Pradesh under similar circumstances, only to face another disappointment. Eventually, I assumed the position of Chief Justice at the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. While these transfers were anticipated to unsettle me, they had the opposite effect.”
He stated his preference for serving the nine crore citizens of Madhya Pradesh over the small group of individuals seeking to manipulate the court for personal gain.
He asserted,
“Throughout their time here, numerous individuals have attempted to sway the operations of this court. I have steadfastly kept them at bay, solely for the preservation of the institution. If presented with the same choice, I would make the same decision repeatedly,”
Justice Malimath expressed his satisfaction with the reforms he implemented at the High Court, such as extending the daily work hours by an additional half hour, aiming to address the backlog of cases.
He remarked,
“Throughout my tenure, I successfully resolved over 65,600 cases, which likely stands as one of the most substantial case dispositions by any judge or Chief Justice nationwide, if not the highest. In the state of Madhya Pradesh alone, within a span of 538 days, we managed to resolve more than 17,700 cases.”
The judge also mentioned the “25 debt scheme,” an initiative aimed at clearing longstanding cases before the district courts. He emphasized that without this scheme, a case dating back 61 years would not have been resolved during his tenure.
Furthermore, the judge outlined his “Vision 2047,” aspiring for a state where no case remains pending for more than one year by that year.
Retiring CJ Malimath asserted,
“No one has extended any undue favours to me, hence I am indebted to no one. This is a rarity. What we truly require are systemic changes, especially given the multitude of challenges faced by the judiciary.”
The judge chose to emphasize his achievements during his tenure.
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He expressed,
“I couldn’t be prouder. What more could a Chief Justice ask for? Being able to say that my efforts have made history is something I’ll always treasure. How many can say that? There’s nothing more a Chief Justice could aspire to…Cases lingering for 61 years, construction projects stalled for 16 years. I could have ignored them. I could have maintained the status quo. It wouldn’t have affected my life in any way,”
The judge concluded,
“Serving the Constitution doesn’t bring personal gain, except for the satisfaction of doing what’s right. But serving the community can open doors,”
His resolute stance on his final day in office implies that Malimath leaves a legacy of judicial bravery and an unwavering determination to uphold his principles, regardless of the obstacles he faced.