Office we hold is temporary, institutions must endure: Chhattisgarh HC Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha retires

Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha of the Chhattisgarh High Court on Thursday demitted office, marking the end of a judicial career spanning nearly 15 years..A farewell reference was organised by the Chhattisgarh High Court to mark his retirement. Speaking at the event, Chief Justice Sinha reflected on his tenure, the responsibilities attached to the judicial office and spoke at length about building a strong judicial institution for those who serve it and for those who will carry it forward."The office we hold is temporary, the people who occupy them come and go, but institutions must endure and therefore our ultimate responsibility is not to leave behind a personal legacy but to leave behind a stronger institution, great trust and a better future for those who will come after us," he said..Our ultimate responsibility is not to leave behind a personal legacy but to leave behind a stronger institution.Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha.Chief Justice Sinha was born on September 5, 1964. He enrolled as an advocate in September 1990 and practiced before the Allahabad High Court.He was elevated as an additional judge of the High Court in November 2011 and became a permanent judge in August 2013.He later served at the High Court's Lucknow Bench before taking oath as the Chief Justice of the Chattisgarh High Court on March 29, 2023..At the farewell reference, Justice Sinha also spoke about the role of a Chief Justice.He said that the role of a Chief Justice is not limited to administering justice or disposing of cases, but also involves strengthening the institution by improving its infrastructure and creating an environment where every stakeholder could work with dignity and a sense of belonging."A court is not merely a building made of bricks, stone and concrete. It is a place where citizens come with their hopes, their grievances and their faith in the rule of law. The physical infrastructure of a court must therefore reflect the dignity of the institution and provide an environment conducive to the effective administration of justice," the judge added..A court is not merely a building made of bricks, stone and concrete. It is a place where citizens come with hopes, grievances and their faith in the rule of law.Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha.Stressing on the relationship between lawyers and judges, Chief Justice Sinha said that the bar and bench were not separate entities working in isolation but integral parts of the same justice delivery system."The bench may pronounce judgments but the bar brings before the Court the concerns the rights and grievances of the people. A strong, independent and dignified bar is indispensable for a strong judiciary," the Judge said.Justice Sinha also spoke about the responsibility of the institution towards the people working within the judiciary. He said that throughout his tenure he had tried to ensure that those who had served the institution were recognised for their service and received the benefits and entitlement that were due to them..He became emotional at several points during his speech as he recalled his late parents, his seniors, colleagues, family and staff members who had been a part of his journey.He expressed his gratitude to Supreme Court Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra for his guidance and support and thanked senior counsel Gopal S Chaturvedi, under whom he began his practice.He also thanked the former and sitting judges, lawyers and staff of the Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow bench, where he had spent much of his legal and judicial career before taking over as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court..All judges of the High Court were present at the reference, with Justice Sanjay K Agarwal delivering the opening address.Advocate General Vivek Sharma, State Bar Council Chairman Ravindra Kumar Parashar, Bar Association President RS Baghel and Deputy Solicitor General Ramakant Mishra were present as well, along with members of the Bar, officers of the High Court registry and court staff.