Justice A K Sikri, who retired as a Supreme Court judge on Wednesday, said every judge should possess "some element of femininity" to do complete justice.
Speaking at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association in his honour, Justice Sikri got emotional and thanked the judiciary and lawyers for their help throughout his career.
His eyes were moist earlier in the day too when he sat on the bench along with Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S A Bobde as lawyers thanked him and wished him.
"Thank you all," he told the lawyers, wiping his tears before rising from the dais.
During the function organised by SCBA in the apex court lawns in the evening, Justice Sikri said, "By nature, a part of me is feminine. Going by the quality this gender possesses, I am of the opinion that every judge, in order to do complete justice, should possess some element of femininity."