Justice Chelameswar shares bench with CJI on his last day in Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: Justice J Chelameswar today shared a bench with Chief Justice Dipak Misra on his final working day, months after leading a virtual revolt of four senior most Supreme Court judges against the CJI.

65-year-old Justice Jasti Chelameswar, the senior most judge of the apex court, retires on June 22 but bid farewell today as it was the last working day of the SC before summer vacation.

It is the custom in the top court that a retiring judge, on his last day, is given the honour of sitting with the CJI in the majestic Court no. 1.

Justice Chelameswar has been at loggerheads with the CJI over the functioning of the apex court including the allocation of sensitive cases and on recommendation of judges for appointment to higher judiciary. He was at the forefront of an extraordinary press conference called by senior most judges of the SC on January 12 in which a litany of allegations were made against Chief Justice Dipak Misra. He, however, maintained the tradition of sharing the dias with the CJI.

In fact, Chief Justice Misra was seen consulting with Justice Chelameswar before passing order on cases listed before them today.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who was present in the courtroom, said that it had been a pleasure and honour to have a judge like Chelameswar as he upheld the most cherished principles.

"On behalf of the Bar, I would like to say that it was an honour to have appeared before you. Future generations will remember your contribution to democracy and to the country," Bhushan said in a short farewell speech.

With a smiling Chief Justice beside him, Justice Chelameswar said with folded hands: "This can be my only response."

Justice Chelameswar had earlier declined an invitation from the Supreme Court Bar Association to attend the farewell function in his honour, citing personal reasons.

(With PTI inputs)