The test of a good and successful judge is how many times he has brought a smile on the faces of helpless persons, Supreme Court Judge Justice A.K. Sikri said as he got emotional during his farewell ceremony.
Early in the day, when Justice Sikri was sitting with Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi in court room number 1, a bunch of lawyers showed up to bid him a warm farewell.
Addressing the farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association in the evening, Justice Sikri said that whether a judge should smile or not is secondary issue.
"The primary issue, which is also a test of a good and successful judge is how many times the judge has brought a smile on the faces of helpless persons," Sikri said.
He also said that every judge should have some element of feminity for a fair decision-making as justice goddess is in the form of a woman.
He also quoted Napoleon Bonaparte's farewell speech to his army and said: "I say to my colleagues at the bench and the bar, I bid you farewell, for you my friends who will continue this great institution that is Supreme Court."
More From This Section
He recommended people to listen to everyone as wisdom comes from all corners.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi appreciated Justice Sikri for bringing fresh insights to the institution.
CJ Gogoi also quoted the opening words in Justice Sikri's Aadhaar judgement and said that, "It is better to be unique than the best because being the best makes you the number one, but being unique makes you the only one."
Justice Sikri, the second senior-most judge of the top court, was part of several significant judgements, including the one on Aadhaar.
--IANS
akk/prs