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New Delhi: The outgoing Chief Justice of the Madras high court, Justice Sanjib Banerjee, whose transfer to Meghalaya kicked up a controversy, on Wednesday expressed regret that he could not “demolish the feudal culture” of their workplace.
He left for Kolkata by road on Wednesday and did not have a farewell. In a letter to his colleagues at the bench, the members of the bar, the registry and the staff, he appreciated the kindness and warmth with which he and his spouse were greeted during his 11-odd months of tenure.
In particular, he told “all the staff” his regret is “that I could not completely demolish the feudal culture in which you serve” while appreciating their cooperation, even as he said he was “sorry” for the long hours they kept for him.
Police sources said Justice Banerjee and his spouse left for Kolkata for their onward journey to Meghalaya, where he would serve in the high court, and the state police accompanied him till Vellore, a border district.
In his two page letter, he “apologised” to his colleagues “for being unable to last the distance and second, for not saying goodbye to you in person.”
“Finally, to the few of you who may have felt offended by any of my actions, please know that they were never personal. I perceived those actions as necessary for the institution,” he said.
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, had earlier proposed Justice Banerjee’s transfer from here to Meghalaya, with voices both in support and against the shifting, with a section of advocates writing to the CJI seeking the reconsider the decision.
Lawyers who have backed the judge’s transfer have slammed those who have asked the collegium to reconsider as a “fringe group” which is aiming to malign the judiciary.
Addressing the bar in his letter, Justice Banerjee said it was the best among the country and had “suffered a talkative and sometimes grumpy old judge with more patience, respect and understanding that I may have deserved.”
He credited the registry for its efficiency that made administration easy.
He said he and his wife were forever indebted to everyone for the kindness and warmth and that “we leave with happiest memories.”
While all high courts are considered equal, the fact that Justice Banerjee is being transferred from one of the largest high courts to one of the smallest has raised eyebrows. In 2019, Justice V.K. Tahilramani, who was chief justice of the Madras HC, was also transferred to the Meghalaya HC. She resigned in protest after the Supreme Court collegium, headed by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi, declined her request to reconsider her transfer.