Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai said that he practices Buddhism though he has not studied any religion in depth.

He also said that he is secular despite his Buddhist background and he believes in all religions - Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity.

"I practice Buddhism but I don't have much depth in any religious studies. I am truly secular and I believe in Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity..everything. I have learnt from my father since he believed in Dr Ambedkar. Someone used to tell him about a Dargah..we used to go," he said.

He was speaking at the farewell function organised for him by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA).

CJI Gavai is slated to retire on November 23 and tomorrow would be his last working day at the Supreme Court.

In his speech, CJI Gavai, who hails from Dalit community, acknowledged the importance of Dr. BR Ambedkar and the Constitution in his life.

"Whatever I am today is because of the institution and shall always remain grateful to it. I could reach this position only because of Dr Ambedkar and the Constitution. I don't think any boy studying in municipal school sitting on the ground could ever dream of this. I have tried to live by four corners of the Indian constitution - justice Liberty equality and fraternity. Whatever I have achieved as CJI in last 6 months and judge of Supreme Court in last 6.5 years, it was on account of this institution that we did what we could have done," he stated.

Specifically on his role as CJI, he said that the Supreme Court should not be CJI-centric.

"I always believed that the supreme court of india should not be CJI centric but of all the judges. Decisions were not taken by me individually but were placed before full court and addresses. Supreme court is a great institution and it is with participation of all stakeholders such as judges, bar, registry , staff that the court functions. This SCBA and SCAORA should always be taken on board where problems of bar is concerned," he said.

SCAORA President Vipin Nair, thanked CJI Gavai for taking cognizance of the issue of investigating agencies summoning lawyers as part of their probe.

The Court in its judgment delivered on October 31 had ruled that investigating agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot summon lawyers in connection with advice given by them to clients.

"Your suo motu cognizance of the issue of lawyers summoning will be remembered forever. The way you immediately took cognizance of our (SCAORA) letter," Nair said.

Attorney General R Venkataramani praised CJI Gavai for his objective handling of the incident in which a Hindutva lawyer had thrown a shoe at the CJI.

"I received a large number of requests to issue sanction for prosecution against a lawyer concerned.. I was in between looking at it from a narrow lens or from a different angle altogether. CJI Gavai has by all scores dealt it with high standards of objectivity and balance," Venkataramani said.

Incoming CJI Surya Kant reminisced about his two-decade-old friendship with CJI Gavai.

"My association with Justice Gavai did not begin on May 24, 2019 when we took oath together as SC judges; but have known each other since 2 decades. We have some fond memories of our friendship. We have had the opportunity to work together on the platform of NALSA, and then in the second inning of that part, when I headed the NALSA and my brother took over as Chief Justice of India. His commitment for the common man in the street is something which is so formidable that you will find from various schemes that have been launched by NALSA and various activities on pan India basis that we were successfully able to launch under his dynamic leadership," CJI Kant said.

Honorary Secretary of SCAORA, Nikhil Jain, added that the bar now looks forward to the tenure of CJI Designate Justice Surya Kant.

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