Supreme Court judge, Justice M.R. Shah on Monday said that he was fully satisfied with his performance as both a lawyer and a judge, noting that he was fortunate to get this opportunity to be able to have done something for the society and the nation at large.
Speaking during his retirement function, he said today, as he stood at the Apex Court premises for one last time, he was remembering November 2, 2018, when he stepped in the Apex Court as a judge. He said he had never entered the Supreme court earlier except for once.
As per Justice Shah, the procedure at the Apex Court was entirely different from the High Court. He said it felt like he had entered this Court a few days back only. Before the flight took off, before he could settle on the seat, it was time to land.
He said he enjoyed his journey from court 13 to court 4, from Noida to Delhi, from the House of Commons to the House of Lords. The Apex Court judge said he enjoyed Noida and the court of the House of Commons a lot. He said he enjoyed everything as a Supreme Court judge and performed his duties without fear or favour.
Justice Shah said he would imagine himself in the shoes of the litigant and would try his best to deliver him justice.
Stating that he tried his best not to hurt anyone during his journey, the Supreme Court judge said that whatever he did, he did it for a cause, for the common man and the litigant. Stating that the litigants treated judges as Gods, Justice Shah said everyone from the lawyers to judges, should give their best to deliver justice to them.
Speaking to young lawyers, he said they should move out of adjournment culture. They should not become mentioning or adjournment lawyers, but rather learn in the company of revered judges. Instead of wasting their time in the canteen or bar rooms, the young lawyers should know their judges. Justice Shah suggested them to work hard, saying that he was the live example of hard work and labour. He said life was an echo, what you gave to life, it gave you back. Justice Shah further told them that whatever was happening in their lives was due to God’s planning.
He said he learnt a lot from Justice A.K. Sikri, Justice Arun Mishra, Justice C.T. Ravikumar, Justice B.V. Nagarathna and of course, CJI DY Chandrachud.
As per Justice Shah, he was only completing 65 years and only retiring from an organisation, but it did not mean he was retiring from work. He said he lost so many things in this journey, but had no regrets.
Noting that parting was always painful, the Supreme Court judge said with a heavy heart and tears in his eyes, he was parting with the company of his brother and sister judges.
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said that he used to fondly call the judge Tiger Shah.
The CJI recalled his first engagement with Justice Shah in 1998, when he was an Additional Solicitor General (ASG) in the Gujarat High Court and was appearing for the state government in a case.
The CJI said he forgot his gown in Mumbai. Justice Shah caught hold of a woman lawyer, who was present in the High Court and told her to give the ASG her gown, saying that he was to appear before the Court now.
As per the CJI, Justice Shah took legal services to the grassroot level and marshalled awareness campaigns in Gujarat. He said Justice Shah got elevated as Patna HC Judge after 14 years.
Even while sitting in the Ceremonial Bench, Justice Shah was as ready with the last matter as he was on his first day, noted the CJI.
He said every draft which he sent to the Supreme Court judge, would be returned the following day, with proper reading, noted CJI Chadrachud. He said even during his daughter’s marriage, which took place recentl;y, Justice Shah made it a point to finish all his court work.
The CJI quoted Bob Dylan’s song for Justice Shah, which goes on like this:
May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.
Vice President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai said that in Justice Shah’s own words, he was like a coconut, hard from outside and soft from inside.
Rai said Justice Shah has been a great judge, very hospitable and kind. The petitioners used to come to his court with high hopes. He delivered more than 1200 verdicts.
He passed a judgment in the High Court, ruling that if pensions were not followed then the officers will be held in contempt.
As per Rai, Justice Shah did a lot for the employees of the High Court. He was part of the mediation committee and took various decisions for the benefit of employees.
SCBA chief and Senior Advocate Vikas Singh said Justice Shah was blessed to have parents watch him rise in the legal profession and demitting the office as well.
Recalling his appearances before the Supreme Court judge during proceedings, Singh said Justice Shah was a ‘tough judge’ and all the lawyers bore the brunt of his toughness. It was difficult to get adjournments from his court.
Singh said he did have some heated exchanges with Justice Shah during the court proceedings, but the latter never took the same to his heart.
The SCBA chief said there was a reason behind this tough attitude. Justice Shah would do a lot of hard work. He would read all files page by page and would remember everything as well.
Singh said apart from the government, which did an excellent job in managing the Covid-19 pandemic, the supportive role played by the Supreme Court during those tough times was exemplary.
Singh further revealed the soft side of Justice Shah, saying that during a case, the Apex Court judge noticed that the document submitted by a widow was wrong. He initially dismissed the petition with cost. Later, Justice Shah took the pain of calling the petitioner’s counsel, saying that he was withdrawing the cost imposed on the plea, realising that the widow would not be able to pay the amount.