Your Conduct As A Judge Was Exemplary, No One Can Match It: Kapil Sibal Says Addressing Outgoing CJI DY Chandrachud Before Ceremonial Bench

On Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud's final day in Court, among a lot of members of the bar, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal also spoke before the ceremonial bench. Sibal said, "You are an extraordinary son of an extraordinary father. I have practiced in this court for 52 years now. In my life, I have never seen a judge with the limitless patience that you have. The ever-smiling Dr. Chandrachud. That smile will be etched in our hearts for years to come."

Sibal said, "What can I say about you as a human being and you as a Judge. As a Judge, your conduct was exemplary, no one can match it".

Sibal Continued, "Your reaching out to communities in this country, who were never heard before, who were never seen before. You brought them before you and showed what dignity means for them. That is your greatest contribution for the profession". 

He said that there is a deep emotional connection between the members of the Bar and the Judges and that the said marriage can never result in a divorce. "For the simple reason that both of us are wedded to the values that we espouse, the values of our Constitution", he said.  

"No matter which area of the law that you have touched, you have left an indelible mark, which will not be forgotten for years to come. Be it liberty, fraternity, life, the life of ordinary, marginalised, challenged people...Your greatest legacy to this Court is that there will be none like you that will adorne that chair for years to come," Sibal said. 

Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi praised the energy the CJI carries. "I have been in this Bar for 42 years; it seems your energy has increased in these 42 years, from what I saw then."

Attorney General of India (AGI) R. Venkataramani penned down a heartfelt note for the CJI. 

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta spoke on the CJI legacy. Mehta highlighted the CJI’s “unmatched scholarship” and unbiased approach, saying that “DYC will truly be missed.”

Former Delhi High Court Judge, now practicing as a Senior Advocate Rajiv Shakdher, who appeared for the first time before the Apex Court today, also spoke for the CJI. Shakdher said, "Its ironic, Chief Justice; it is my first appearance here today. Unfortunately, this will be your last working day....only on the administrative side, we have had interactions. I have yet to see a judge who delegates work to junior judges and judges in the High Court the way you have on the administrative side."

Many others, including Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Pradeep Rai, Shadan Farast, and ASG Aishwarya Bhati, also spoke at the ceremony. 

Marking the end of CJI Chandrachud's two-year term, he expressed gratitude and a sense of fulfillment; he acknowledged the shift in his role. "I won’t be able to deliver justice from tomorrow, but I am content," he said. Assuming office on November 9, 2022, Chief Justice Chandrachud used the occasion to share personal reflections, including a humorous moment with his judicial registrar the night before. When asked about the timing of the ceremony, he suggested 2 pm, musing whether the courtroom would still be filled at that hour or if he’d be left alone before the screen.

Reflecting on the judiciary's purpose, he likened the role of judges to pilgrims, steadfast in their daily pursuit of justice. He paid tribute to the “great judges” who had shaped the court’s history and expressed confidence in his successor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, whom he described as “an able leader.”

Ending with a touch of humility, he said, "If I have ever hurt anyone in the court, please forgive me," invoking the Jain phrase "Michhami Dukkadam," which asks for forgiveness for past misdeeds. "It is this court that keeps me going,” he concluded, thanking all for their support and engagement.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who will be sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on November 11, lauded Chief Justice Chandrachud for his commitment to marginalized communities, stating that his work was "beyond compare."