When you hold a position, you hold it for others; we are not higher than anyone else: Justice MM Sundresh bids farewell to Madras High Court

As Justice MM Sundresh today bid farwell to the Madras High Court in view of his recent elevation to the Supreme Court, he spoke of the public nature of his office and urged judges to assure all that they are not above anyone else. .Addressing fellow judges and lawyers of the Madras High Court this evening, Justice Sundresh said, "When you hold a position, you hold it for others. I only ask my sister and brother judges to ponder over this aspect. We need to create an atmosphere that we are not higher than anybody else. In a system like ours, right from the employee at the bottom to Milord the Chief Justice, everyone is an integral cog of this judicial machinery...We need to treat everybody with dignity and respect.".To drive home the point, he also took to narrating from the Ramayana. "There is a beautiful saying in the Ramayana. When Sugriva became the king, he asked Rama, 'Please tell me your advice.' He (Rama) said it beautifully.He said: 'When I was young, being a prince, I practiced archery by throwing arrows on Manthara who had a hunchback. That she kept in mind. I was young. She didn't forget, I forgot. Because she didn't forget, she waited for the opportunity and finished me off. That is the reason why you are a king and I am in exile today. So please treat everyone of them with dignity.'".Justice Sundresh went on to remind the gathering,"When you have the position, you must exhibit dignity. Only then, the post will have its due respect."Quoting Thiruvallavur, he added, "There are three things you should avoid - arrogance, anger and not using unparliamentary words. If you do that, you will be respected. Have simplicity and be a simple person. I don't know if I have lived up to that.".Justice Sundresh observed that it is for posterity to take a call on how his judgments would be evaluated. "All that I can say, which I already told the Chief Justice, in my entire tenure, I might have delivered good, bad judgments, judgments which may be criticised or acceptable. But till now, I have not given a single order against my conscience. This is what I can take credit for, though a judge is expected to do so.".As for his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Sundresh expressed that he has been having mixed feelings on his departure from the Madras High Court. He recalled that Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee had got an inkling of this in a meeting yesterday when he queried whether Justice Sundresh was alright."Then the conversation went on, as usual he gave me his wonderful black coffee. After that, I went back. I didn't realise it, but when I went to bed, I couldn't sleep. Then I realised my Chief was right. The feeling was and is quite mixed," Justice Sundresh said..He went on to comment,"It is the feeling of a young bride leaving the matrimonial home, knowing fully well that life will be different after she comes back. I'm saying, (in a) conservative family. It won't be the same. Though a bit excited that she is going to have a new lease of life. Same feeling for a student who completes his school, thereafter goes back and seeks certification, then realises that he is on his way out. With the very same feeling, I am standing before you.".In his address, Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram lauded the judge for having always strived to ensure fairness and for his generosity to the junior lawyers who appeared before him."Through his learning, culture, simplicity and fairness, he has endeared all of us. We always enjoyed the pleasure of being near you, My Lord," the Advocate General said.In the course of his speech, the Advocate General also informed that Justice Sundresh had disposed of about 1,03,563 cases while he was at the Madras High Court. ."Justice Sundresh's elevation comes at a crucial time when the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on various Constitutional institutions and governance is still felt. The resultant challenges will require the participation and leadership of the Supreme Court in the months and years to come. I am only too pleased that Justice Sundresh's presence will steer us in the legal fraternity during the troubled times. Though we stand to lose an excellent judge, I am particularly happy that Justice Sundresh will bolster the presence of the Madras High Court and its Bar in the Supreme Court. The legal ethos, principles and values our Bar holds dear will now be better represented. I am confident that Justice Sundresh will leave his mark in the Supreme Court just has he has done in our High Court," the AG added. .On a parting note, the judge said, "I have become emotional with all the wishes and blessings. I will certainly carry them forward. I can only assure you that I will make every other attempt to carry the flag of this Court high. I thank everyone for giving this opportunity.".[Read a Live Account of the farewell ceremony]