Full Court Reference on the occasion of farewell of : The Hon'ble The Chief Justice Sujoy Paul

[00:04:07]May I have your lordship's leave to commence the proceedings?

[00:04:11]May I request the learned additional additional solicitor general to deliver his speech?

[00:04:21]>> Honorable the Chief Justice, honorable judges, honorable judges at the circuit bench on virtual mode, uh the learned advocate general, learned deputy solicitor general, learned additional advocate general, learned senior standing counsel, members of the three wings of the bar association, the president and the secretaries, the members of the registry, learned senior advocates, ladies and gentlemen.

[00:04:57]>> [clears throat] >> My lord the Chief Justice, every occasion we come here and assemble for bidding farewell on an organized function.

[00:05:15]>> [clears throat] >> I have already delivered time and again that I do not believe in farewell.

[00:05:23]This has been referred to in English, German, American, Sanskrit literature.

[00:05:30]There is no term which is called farewell.

[00:05:33]But what is actually [cough and clears throat] to be addressed today is lordship's felicitation as well as farewell f a r e w e l which is called farewell by Shakespeare.

[00:05:48]>> [clears throat] >> My lord the Chief Justice Your lordship joined the Calcutta High Court at a time when you are passing through some passing through some difficult phases right from 2 3 years back and we had the privilege to see that your lordship has with a smiling face administered the judicial function and developed a unique relation with the members of the bar.

[00:06:24]I have seen and experienced that my lord the Chief Justice used to address the members of the bar with the very soft word kindly and at times when the question of decorum was involved your lordship become so firm.

[00:06:43]And that is for the institution your lordship has done so.

[00:06:46]And we appreciate that.

[00:06:49]We are aware of your lordship's great career right from practicing at Jabalpur then your lordship's elevation >> [clears throat] >> and Telangana and here.

[00:07:01]Your lordship has disposed of large number of cases particularly on the public interest litigation side and also in the service jurisprudence and other matters as well.

[00:07:17]So the bar is immensely benefited by your lordship's deliberation and interaction.

[00:07:25]On the day when your lordship took oath here as a judge, I addressed your lordship. I remember distinctly that I said your lordship is taking oath on the day of Ashtami Maha Gauri Tithi Ashtami.

[00:07:38]Your lordship has got the blessings of Maha Gauri.

[00:07:42]That is why your lordship tenure was even less and a free tenure. [clears throat] There was not a single day except one day I find there was 10:30 closure of the court.

[00:07:58]So, my lord, in that process we have been taught as students by critics of novel and dramas that all characters are individuals.

[00:08:12]A novelist or a dramatist fails if he pen fails to draw or paint individual characters.

[00:08:20]Because in society there is no type characters or prototype.

[00:08:24]All characters are individuals.

[00:08:27]Even five children [clears throat] of the same parents are all individuals.

[00:08:32]So, it is a pleasure for us to see that your lordship has emerged as one of the finest individuals and an individual character.

[00:08:41]As also your lordship's immediate predecessor honorable the Chief Justice T. S.

[00:08:47]Sivagnanam was also an individual.

[00:08:50]My lord, I shall be referring to three >> [cough and clears throat] >> cases from Bhagavad Gita, the Bible and the Quran.

[00:09:00]What they describe farewell.

[00:09:03]Now, farewell has been described in Bhagavad Gita not as permanent ending, but temporary transition.

[00:09:12]The farewell [clears throat] of Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram when they were leaving Nandgaon and Vrindavan towards Mathura.

[00:09:24]That was a different type of farewell because the entire community was crying for Lord Krishna and Balaram.

[00:09:32]But, it is not the case here.

[00:09:34]It is a case of Bhagavad Gita says not a permanent ending, but temporary transition.

[00:09:42]Now, Bible says profound farewell ranging from confronting benedictions [clears throat] towards of encouraging for a new beginnings.

[00:09:55]The Quran says focus on invoking Allah's blessings, protection and continuous guidance.

[00:10:03]>> [clears throat] >> Therefore the ultimate summary of farewell is philosophical acceptance of change.

[00:10:12]Now, in English literature there is a description the powerful motive of transition, loss, and new beginnings.

[00:10:22]Free the well farewell.

[00:10:25]In French it is called adieu.

[00:10:28]Therefore, it's a beginning from some other beginnings end.

[00:10:33]Your lordship has emerged amongst us a perfect individual with perfect human beings.

[00:10:41]And this has been characterized in our scriptures as Everything is transient and impermanent, life, youth, wealth.

[00:10:57]Mind. [clears throat] But what is permanent is kirti.

[00:11:00]We have no doubt that your lordship has achieved the distinction of kirti.

[00:11:04]And your lordship will be remembered so long this judicial fraternity will exist because of your lordship temperament, deliberations, and wonderful temperament.

[00:11:15]My lord the Chief Justice we at this present moment what we can expect and suggest what Charles Lamb has said in his famous essay The Superannuated Man that when La- Lamb was working in office, he said, "I am grown to my desk, but after retirement, I have time to contemplate. My lord the Chief Justice, kindly contemplate. And that apart, I will request your lordship to write one autobiography or philosophy of life as Bertrand Russell said in his portraits from memory. My lord the Chief Justice.

[00:11:57]>> May I request the learned Advocate General to address?

[00:12:02]>> Under the honorable Chief Justice, the honorable judges, members of the registry, the learned uh Additional Solicitor General, the learned Advocate General of Telangana, the learned Additional Advocate General of Madhya Pradesh, the office bearers of the three wings of the bar, and my lord my fellow members.

[00:12:37]Now my lord, I do not want to prolong my lord this proceeding by adding many words after what the learned Additional Solicitor General said.

[00:12:48]I only would like to say that my lord farewell again. I would like to say that my lord farewell is a word which I don't like using.

[00:12:57]I would always expect to go on meeting my lord again and again in this state, in our city also.

[00:13:09]I only hope that my lord the Chief Justice, instead of being here my lord from uh July 2025, my lord was here my lord for some more time.

[00:13:26]My lord, I would wish my lord my lord a happy very happy and peaceful life after this, my Lord.

[00:13:34]Thank you.

[00:13:38]>> May I request the Secretary of the Bar Library Club to address.

[00:13:46]>> My Lord the Chief Justice, honorable judges, the learned Additional Solicitor General, the learned Advocate General, the learned Additional Advocate Generals, the Deputy Solicitor General, the guests from Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, the members of the registry, the President and Secretary of the Incorporated Law Society and Bar Association, learned senior advocates, members of the bar, ladies and gentlemen.

[00:14:20]The just coming from the event at the auditorium, but I was carrying a thought that whether we can coin any synonym of the word farewell and not use the word farewell itself, but I failed to.

[00:14:42]And my Lord, though I had a different quote in mind, but I couldn't restrain myself from repeating, my Lord, a few lines of Rodgers and Hammerstein, my Lord, from the song Sound of Music, where the children in the Von Trapp family, while planning an escape, sings a farewell song, and that is not to suggest that Lordship is escaping from our court, but my Lord, I think the lines are appropriate.

[00:15:17]There is a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall, and the bells in the steeple, too.

[00:15:26]And upon in the nursery, an absurd little bird is popping out to say, "Cuckoo."

[00:15:33]Regretfully, they tell us, but firmly, they compel us to say goodbye to you.

[00:15:41]So long, farewell.

[00:15:43]It's time to say adieu.

[00:15:48]As already has been said by many in the previous program, also, our association in the Bar Library Club with your Lordship has been very sweet, though on short occasions, but extremely profound.

[00:16:05]My Lord, I still recall the first time your Lordships have come had come to the Bar Library was to inaugurate a book, but more importantly, there was a debate which was being participated by all junior members of the bar.

[00:16:23]And Lordship had said that Lordship would not speak in the beginning, but only after the debate is over.

[00:16:32]And my Lord, the juniors were extremely grateful and happy to see that their chief has not only sat through the entire debate, but my Lord, beautifully assimilated the topic of the motion, the references made by the speaker in such debate, and my Lord, made it into a larger canvas, and delivered a speech we shall forever remember.

[00:17:00]My Lord, subsequent association in the Bar Library Club has been, of course, for unveiling of portraits of stalwarts.

[00:17:09]My Lord, on behalf of the members of the Bar Library Club, we wish that your Lordship's second innings is full of grace, love, happiness, and above all, peace.

[00:17:23]My lord, till we meet meet again, may lordship have a very smooth and prosperous journey.

[00:17:34]>> May I request the secretary of the bar association to address.

[00:17:48]>> My lord, the honorable chief justice, the honorable judges of this Calcutta High Court, learned additional solicitor general, learned advocate general, my esteemed senior colleagues, learned law officers of Union of India and state of West Bengal, distinguished guests present today, office [snorts] bearers of the three wings of the bar, ladies and gentlemen, with a profound sense of gratitude, admiration, and sense of sadness, I, on behalf of the esteemed members of our association, take this opportunity with intent to bid an adieu to our esteemed and beloved chief justice, who demits office after a remarkable and impactful career.

[00:18:36]My lord, assuming charge of the chief justice of Calcutta High Court, the oldest premier chartered High Court in India, created a history as immediately after taking charge, your lordship was entrusted with an onerous responsibility in inaugurating the circuit bench of our High Court at Jalpaiguri.

[00:19:03]I sincerely believe that a judge is not remembered for his long tenure, but for his indelible impression created by him in the realm of legal landscape and administrative domain.

[00:19:16]I also sincerely believe that your lordship both in judicial and administrative side reaffirmed that true strength of our institution is built on your dedication, unwavering integrity and [clears throat] immense efforts in striking a balance for maintaining independence of the judiciary.

[00:19:39]Members of our bar have been privileged to witness your deep legal acumen and humble way in dealing with the challenges faced by your lordship.

[00:19:49]Your strong sense of discipline in attending the court on time has sent a message to all of us.

[00:19:57]Your compassion for the ordinary litigant has left a permanent mark on the administration of justice in the state of West Bengal.

[00:20:07]By [clears throat] dint of your dedication and determination, you have set a high standard of discipline and ethics for all of us to follow.

[00:20:16]My lord, we can also recall with warmth your touching words at the time of taking oath.

[00:20:23]I sincerely believe that although the constitutional provision does not contain any criteria to be an extraordinary human being for elevating as a judge, this criteria is the basic tenet of a judge who administers justice for all.

[00:20:42]On behalf of our entire bar association, I convey my heartfelt thanks to you, your family and relatives who extended their unstinted support for enabling you to render service to the nation.

[00:20:57]We pray to the almighty that you will lead your next phase of your life with full of contentment and lead a healthy life ahead.

[00:21:07]We invite your lordship to meet us as and when your lordship will come to Calcutta, which is your second home.

[00:21:15]Thank you.

[00:21:19]>> May I request the Vice President of the Incorporated Law Society to address.

[00:21:31]>> My Lord, the Chief Justice, my lords, my lords present uh in virtual mode, uh distinguished guest from Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, the family members of Justice Pal, the members of the registry, the learned additional solicitor general, the learned advocate general, the deputy solicitor general, the additional advocate general, and the office bearers and members of the three wings of the bar.

[00:22:06]My Lord, it was our privilege to have you as our honorable Chief Justice.

[00:22:13]Though your tenure was short, but during this time, you navigated the institution with unmatched wisdom and integrity.

[00:22:25]Actually, too much happened during your tenure.

[00:22:29]Apart from judicial work pressure, you had to handle the SIOR issues in the administrative side in terms of the directions given by the honorable Supreme Court, which your lordships handled efficiently and within the shortest possible time, which gave relief to public in general.

[00:22:51]Another milestone that happened during my lord's tenure was the opening of the new building in the circuit bench at Jalpaiguri on the 17th of January 2026.

[00:23:03]My lord's illustrious career shows what a first generation lawyer is capable of achieving and it will remain an inspiration for all young lawyers who are starting their career or trying to build up their career.

[00:23:21]It simply says nothing is impossible.

[00:23:24]Every target or goal you set in life is achievable if you have the great and determination.

[00:23:32]Your legacy of achievement be the eye-opener for the young lawyers of this court.

[00:23:38]In your tenure as our Chief Justice, you have not only fulfilled your responsibilities of the office, but you have enriched it by serving the office with dignity without fear or favor.

[00:23:50]In your tenure in office, you have combined your legal knowledge with practical wisdom in dealing with every matter that came up for your consideration.

[00:24:00]My lord, as you prepare to close this important chapter of your life, know that you take with you the highest regard and deepest affection of every member of the bar of this honorable court.

[00:24:18]There is a saying that retirement is when you stop living at work and start working at living.

[00:24:26]My lord, celebrate retirement with focus on new beginning, freedom, and well-deserved rest. May you find joy in all new assignments that lie ahead of you.

[00:24:40]I, on behalf of the Incorporated Law Society and on behalf of the members of the bar, wish you and your family a peaceful and rewarding retirement filled with joy and happiness. I thank you for your leadership.

[00:24:57]>> May I now most humbly request the honorable Chief Justice to address.

[00:25:03]>> Brother honorable [clears throat] Justice Topobrata Chakraborty the acting Chief Justice designate my esteemed sister and brother judges present here and present virtually.

[00:25:17]Mr. Ashok Kumar Chakraborty, additional Solicitor General Mr. Shurojit Nath Mitra, Advocate General West Bengal Mr. Rajdeep Mazumder, Deputy Solicitor General Mr. [clears throat] Dheeraj Kumar Trivedi, learned additional Solicitor General Mr. Sudarshan Reddy, learned Advocate General of State of Telangana Shri Dominic [clears throat] Fernandes, senior standing counsel State of Telangana Shri Swapnil Ganguly, Deputy Advocate General for the State of Madhya Pradesh Shri Chandru, resource person of National Judicial Academy President and secretaries of Bar Library Club Bar Association and Incorporated Law Society members of three wings of Bar at the principal seat as well as the circuit benches my advocate friends from my parent state Registrar General and the team of registrars the Director West Bengal Judicial Academy officers and staff of honorable court and members of the bar.

[00:26:29]At the outset, I must express my gratitude to the learned speakers for showering wonderful words for me.

[00:26:36]Today, I am demitting the office after rendering 15 years of service on the bench.

[00:26:43]Before that, I was member of the bar for more than 21 years at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

[00:26:51]I served in all the three benches of my parent High Court, High Court of Madhya Pradesh. I worked at Gwalior bench for 4 and 1/2 years in two spells at Jabalpur for about 6 years and for about 1 year at Indore bench.

[00:27:08]When my son became an independent lawyer, I requested the Supreme Court to transfer me out of my parent state.

[00:27:17]Accordingly, I was transferred to the High Court for the state of Telangana in March 24.

[00:27:24]I served at the said High Court for about 15 months and I became acting Chief Justice of the said High Court.

[00:27:32]I joined this chartered High Court on 18th July 25 as a judge and in the month of October 25, I was made acting Chief Justice and became regular Chief Justice in January 26.

[00:27:47]During my small stint of about 11 months in this great High Court, I got cooperation from the members of the bar.

[00:27:55]My colleague colleagues extended their fullest cooperation and guidance to deal with administrative affairs of this court.

[00:28:04]Today, when I'm demitting the office, I have satisfaction that I gave 100% of my capacity to the justice delivery system.

[00:28:15]I delivered all my reserved judgments within seven working days regardless of nature of subject or determination except for a batch of nine very complicated matters which were assigned to be me by my senior bench partner after about a month, the matters were reserved.

[00:28:36]I have immense immense satisfaction that during these periods where I was posted, I left no stone unturned to maintain the maintain and enhance the efficiency, institutional integrity, and independence of the judiciary.

[00:28:53]To maintain equanimity and independence, the Indian meditation method greatly helped me. I have been following one of the oldest meditation technique called as Vipassana.

[00:29:07]During my tenure at my parent High Court, I was chairman of the State Judicial Academy for quite some time.

[00:29:15]I have satisfaction that we introduced new teaching methods to newly selected judicial officers. These sessions included sessions on ethics, norms, and behavior as well.

[00:29:28]The then Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh was kind enough to nominate me for a 3-weeks-long judicial training session in Canada.

[00:29:37]The Indian delegates could interact with the judges of other jurisdictions and could watch the proceedings right from Court of Magistrate to the Supreme Court of Canada.

[00:29:49]Those teaching methods learned by me from different jurisdictions and developed with the help of our faculties, our judicial officers were greatly benefited.

[00:30:00]As a student of law, fortunately, I got another wonderful learning opportunity when Supreme Court interested me along with a team to translate the famous book Courts of India.

[00:30:14]I had to read the book and translate it from cover to cover.

[00:30:19]The concept of Nyaya and Dharma right from Vedic period till date could be learned by me. I could lay my hands on number of reference books from ancient times during the said exercise.

[00:30:33]In this great institution at Calcutta, I got opportunity to hear learned counsel on various new subjects, which was a learning experience for me.

[00:30:44]The unprecedented work of deciding 60 lakhs objections was interested to the West Bengal Judiciary by Supreme Court in relation to a special intensive revision.

[00:30:56]This was a new and unknown terrain for the Judiciary.

[00:31:00]However, this Herculean task was successfully completed by our judicial officer officers within short span of time with the assistance of judicial officers of neighboring states Jharkhand and Orissa.

[00:31:16]I remember the first day when we had an online meeting with our judicial officers. On that day, considering the volume of work and the adverse circumstances in which it was to be undertaken, it was a burning question in everybody's mind whether this exercise can at all be completed within time as expected by the highest court of the country.

[00:31:42]I remember while motivating the judicial officers, I quoted my own example not to appreciate myself but to tell them that 2 years back I was interested with the work of Director National Judicial Academy, Bhopal.

[00:31:59]I was second senior most judge in my parent High Court.

[00:32:03]Till Friday, I used to perform my judicial duties at Jabalpur and then travel to Bhopal to undertake the work of Director National Judicial Academy on Saturdays and Sundays. There was no relaxation from judicial work. I worked 8 and a half half months without any Saturday and Sunday.

[00:32:23]The National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, conducted the regional conferences successfully in six states and I participated in all the conferences as director.

[00:32:35]I quoted this example in order to show that if at the age of 60, I can undertake the said exercise, the judicial officers of West Bengal, who are much younger than me, can certainly undertake said exercise in national interest.

[00:32:52]In addition, I told them that Field Marshal Manekshaw used to say that if somebody says, "I have no fear of death, he is either lying or he is from Gorkha Regiment."

[00:33:07]I, on the lighter vein, told them that West Bengal Judiciary, when West when West Bengal Judiciary will complete this Herculean task within short time, and in future when any such complicated task is entrusted to somebody else, and that body says that we will be able to complete it within short time, the question will arise that either that body is lying or that body is West Bengal Judiciary.

[00:33:38]The example motivated the judicial officers, and I'm extremely happy that challenges were accepted by our judicial officers, and with the help of fellow officers of neighboring states, they completed it by a showing tremendous devotion and sacrifice. West Bengal Judiciary earned the appreciation of Supreme Court.

[00:34:01]All the ups and downs and lows and highs of my journey sustained because of constant support of my family member.

[00:34:09]I'm grateful to my mother, my wife Anagha, my best friend, and my family members for their rock-like support during my career, which permitted me to work without fear or favor.

[00:34:23]I'm extremely grateful to my colleagues in all the three High Courts, the Registrar Generals and their teams. I'm equally grateful to the members of the bar who cooperated with the judicial proceedings in all the three high courts. I do not remember a single incident when I rubbed shoulders with the members of the bar which caused any displeasure or pain to me.

[00:34:47]I'm grateful to the registrar general and her team officers of my secretariat. I've seen the tremendous potential of registry and West Bengal judiciary during the mammoth SIR exercise. I'm grateful to the protocol staff, medical protocol, security staff, group D staff for their services and assistance provided to me and my family members. Because of positive of time, I cannot take everybody's name, but I shall always be indebted for their services.

[00:35:21]We must remember the old adage that judiciary does not have a purse or a sword. Its strength lies in the faith of the people. A strong nation can be founded upon a robust, efficient, independent, and constitutional institution. I hope that I could maintain and run this great institution as per its great traditions and constitutional principles.

[00:35:49]Saint Kabir is one of my favorite poet.

[00:35:53]Kabir said, Kabira jab hum peda hue jag hase hum roye.

[00:36:00]Kabira jab hum peda hue jag hase hum roye. Aisi karni kar chalo hum hase jag roye.

[00:36:08]When we were born, the world celebrated and we cried. Live your life in such a way that when you die or leave, you smile and the world cries. I am I again thank all of you for your support and cooperation. Thank you.

[00:36:28]>> May I have the leave of your lordship to declare the proceedings as concluded?

[00:36:34]The proceedings are hereby declared to be concluded.