I am a High Court judge because of Dr. BR Ambedkar: Justice PB Varale bids farewell to Bombay High Court

Justice PB Varale of Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that credit for his achievements in the legal profession culminating in the judgeship of the prestigious High Court goes to Dr. BR Ambedkar. .Justice Varale recounted his family's long association with Dr. BR Ambedkar, stating that he was fortunate to have been born into a family which had worked closely with the founding father of the Indian Constitution."I am in this noble institute all because of the great scholar and political thinker - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. He picked up a small trader in Nippani (Justice Varale's grandfather) while he was thinking of initiating a social movement. He wanted men of confidence," the judge said. "A small person in a remote place would not have dreamt of taking up the legal profession and be a part of this institution. It was all because of Babasaheb Ambedkar," Justice Varale added..I am in this noble institute all because of the great scholar and political thinker - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.Justice PB Varale .The judge was speaking today at the farewell function organised for him by the Bombay Bar Association to felicitate the judge following his elevation as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.The judge in his speech narrated how his family came in touch with Dr. Ambedkar. He stated that when Dr. Ambedkar was to launch Milind Mahavidyalaya, he had asked Justice Varale's grandfather to join the institute."He picked my grandfather a small time trader of Nipani (in Belgaum, Karnataka). He told him ‘I am going to start an institute in Marathwada as that place has no educational facilities. It is my endeavour to provide best of education for our children of depressed and oppressed class'," Justice Varale told. Later, Dr. Ambedkar also took Justice Varale's father under his wings. It was on Dr. Ambedkar's suggestion that Justice Varale's father pursued legal education, the judge said. "When he wanted to take further education, Dr. Ambedkar suggested ‘Why don’t you take legal education?’ That is how my father took legal education, became judicial officer in several courts, and finally became Registrar General of this Court," Justice Varale recounted. .Justice Varale, who is the senior-most judge at Bombay High Court, enrolled as an advocate in August 1985 practiced under advocate SN Loya during his initial years. He also served as a lecturer at Ambedkar Law College in Aurangabad till 1992. He was appointed a judge of the Bombay High Court on July 18, 2008. His elevation as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India UU Lalit last month.It was cleared by the Central government yesterday.