'No Greater Feeling Than Serving Others': CJI DY Chandrachud's Emotional Note On Last Working Day

New Delhi: re was greater feeling than being able to serve those in need and people he never knew or met, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said on his last working day as 50th he of Indian judiciary on Friday.

Heing a four-judge ceremonial bench, also comprising CJI-designate Sanjiv Khanna, Justices J B Pardiwala and Maj Misra, which assembled to bid him farewell, CJI expressed a deep sense of fulfilment, t only for work accomplished but for opportunity to serve country.

Justice Chandrachud stepped into shoes of his illustrious far YV Chandrachud, who served as longest CJI between 1978 and 1985, on vember 9, 2022 and will be demitting office on vember 10, a Sunday.

Rich tributes were paid to him by CJI-designate Khanna and bar leers, including attorney general, solicitor general, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Kapil Sibal and ors to mark pivotal moment in India's judicial history.

"You asked me what keeps me going. It is this court which has kept me going, because re is t a single day when you feel that you have t learned something, that you have t h an opportunity to serve society.

"And re is greater feeling than being able to serve those in need and people you would never meet, people you possibly do t even kw, people whose lives you have ability to affect without ever having seen m," a visibly emotional CJI said.

In his dress, CJI Chandrachud recounted his journey, from sitting in last row of court as a young law student to his time on revered corridors of top court.

He reflected on immense privilege of serving country, emphasising that each day spent in court was an opportunity to learn and grow in both legal kwledge and personal insight.

"I was always aware of overpowering presence of greats of this court and responsibility that came with sitting in this chair. But at end of day, it is t about individual, it is about institution and cause of justice we uphold here," CJI said.

He spoke with miration for his colleagues, particularly highlighting his time on bench with Justices Pardiwala and Misra, ting camarerie and diversity of perspectives that enriched ir collective work.

CJI also expressed his confidence in future of court, reassuring legal community that his successor, Justice Khanna, whom he described as "dignified, stable and deeply committed to justice", would le court with equal dedication and vision.

In a heartfelt conclusion, CJI Chandrachud expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to his journey -- senior vocates, juniors, officers and staff -- ackwledging that each one of m played a role in shaping his understanding of law and life.

He also extended an apology for any unintentional errors or misunderstandings, saying, "If I have ever hurt anyone, I seek your forgiveness." Justice Khanna wished good luck to CJI, saying, "He has me my task easy and tough. Easy because of revolutions ushered in and tough because I cant walk up to him. He will be sorely missed. His youthfulness is t kwn here only but also abro. In Australia, re were so many who came to me and asked what his was." Sibal described CJI as " extraordinary son of an extraordinary far".

"I have practised in this court for 52 years w and in my life, I have never seen a judge with kind of limitless patience that you have, ever smiling Dr Chandrachud," SCBA president said.

"What can I say about you as a human being and you as a judge? As a judge, your conduct was exemplary. one can match it. You reached out to communities in this country who were never heard before, who were t seen before. You brought m before you and showed what dignity meant for m," he ded.

"Be it liberty, be it fraternity, be it life, be it life of ordinary, marginalised challenged people, you have, unlike your far, dealt with this court when court was tumultuous. You have dealt with court when matters were tumultuous. You took m he on, unafraid of consequences. Your greatest legacy to this court that re will be ne like you...," he said.

Former attorney general K K Venugopal recounted his experience and said, "When your far asked me should I vise him (Justice Chandrachud) to continue at bar or take judgeship, I said he is a great lawyer and let him continue in same. But you took up judgeship and thank god. If you h listened to me, n we would have lost such a great judge." Born on vember 11, 1959, Justice Chandrachud has h a distinguished career in judiciary.

His passion for cricket dates back to his childhood, when he reportedly played sport in backyard of his far's residence in Lutyens' Delhi.

He was designated as a senior vocate by Bombay High Court in June 1998 and served as ditional solicitor general, before being appointed a judge of Bombay High Court on March 29, 2000. He later became chief justice of Allahab High Court on October 31, 2013.

Justice Chandrachud holds a BA degree in Ecomics from Delhi's St Stephen's College, an LLB from Delhi University's Campus Law Centre and an LLM and a Doctorate in Juridical Sciences (SJD) from Harvard Law School.