Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, while calling Justice AS Bopanna ‘Mr. Dependable’ of the Supreme Court, said that when Justice Bopanna would circulate a judgment, the CJI would respectfully agree with a smile and warm regards.
Speaking during the farewell function of Justice Bopanna, organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), the CJI said that Justice Bopanna had all the qualities of a great judge, a good human being and a worthy friend.
He said Justice Bopanna had a keen interest in cricket and symbolised a captain cool when he presided over the court.
Stating that he did not know about Justice Bopanna’s favourite player, the CJI likened him to Rahul Dravid, calling him Mr Dependable of the Supreme Court.
Justice Bopanna’s soft spoken demeanour made everyone feel heard and valued. In his court, several young lawyers got a chance to argue and hone their skills for which they were grateful, he added.
The CJI further said that all his interactions with Justice Bopanna have been wholesome.
He said Justice Bopanna was known for his diligence. He was known in the Karnataka High Court to seldom take leave.
He had to take a short break in the Supreme Court, but always had his heart back in his chamber here and coordinated with staff and clerks. He has always been punctual to the T. Many people in the Court said that they had to reset their clocks to match Justice Bopanna’s punctuality.
Calling him a judge of the people, the CJI said that Justice Bopanna has never been averse to new ideas and technologies. He even allowed family court proceedings through Skype.
Congratulating the new office bearers of SCBA, the CJI said that he hoped they would fulfill their duties with responsibility and non-partisanship with loyalty to the Constitution.
Speaking on his last working day at the Apex Court, Justice Bopanna said that all his judgeship has come to a culmination. He said he cannot describe this as a dream come true because he never knew that he would be in law and continue practicing, but it has led him here.
Justice Bopanna echoed cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s words after achieving 100 centuries, noting that every new score started with a zero.
He said he was satisfied to have filled his bag of experience, though he did not know about his bag of luck.
Justice Bopanna, who is set to retire on May 19 (Sunday), said that his family and many other people helped him on his way.
He reminisced that when he was elevated as a judge in 2006, in his reply to the Chief Justice’s address, he had said that he was aware of contrasting roles of a lawyer and a judge.
He went on to thank everyone at the bar and on the bench for being so cooperative and courteous with him.
Justice Bopanna was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Karnataka in 1984 and practised in the Karnataka High Court and civil and labour corts for 22 years.
He was appointed as an additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka on January 6, 2006 and became a permanent judge on March 1, 2007.
He was appointed as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court on October 29, 2018.
He was elevated as a judge of the Supreme court of India on May 24, 2019.