Sometimes judgments become a problem rather than solution: Justice Gautam Patel

Court judgments sometimes add to the problem rather than devising a solution to the issue, Bombay High Court judge Justice Gautam Patel said on Tuesday..Justice Patel was speaking about the role of judgment writing in a judge’s life.He opined that the primary purpose of being a judge is not to write judgments but to find the quickest possible solution to an issue. “For me writing judgments is torture really. I never know whether it is good enough, whether it had come out well, whether it is accurate, whether the reason will hold to teeth. But I don’t think that is the primary purpose of being a judge,” the High Court judge said..He added that every matter does not require a judgment and what is more important is for the judge to intervene and find a solution in the fastest way possible.“Being a judge is to solve the problem in the fastest way possible. Sometimes it needs a judgement, but not every matter needs a judgment, not every matter deserves a judgment. Sometimes, judgements become a problem rather than solution. You come across a case so horrific you do not feel like getting up and coming to court. But these are the ones where if you can step in, you really think you will help a life. All that we do is to open a door. When you open that door it is more than 10 judgments,” Justice Patel said..The judge was speaking at the farewell event organized for him by the Bombay Bar Association. He is set to demit office on April 25..In his farewell speech, Justice Patel spoke about his retirement plans. He stated that he was not interested in spending an entire working day in arbitrations.“I have decided what I am not going to do. I have no intention of slogging from 9 in the morning to 7 in the evening in arbitrations. There is a lot more out there,” he stated..The judge also revealed his intention to teach law students after discovering that court clerks who graduated during COVID had not been taught basic law subjects.“Another thing I am committed to is teaching. The court clerks… I was in a bit of a shock, and this tragedy is indescribable. This is the COVID batch. They have never been taught constitutional law, Code of Civil Procedure. Contract law has been read out to them. CPC was a series of power point slides. You cannot have a generation getting into law who is dependent on SCC Online. We have to do this. I am talking already to some of the law schools, but if I ask for help from any of you, please don’t say no,” Justice Patel urged the lawyers and judges in audience.