'Must deprecate openly': CJI slams SCBA for no farewell ceremony of Justice Bela Trivedi

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Friday publicly criticised the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for not holding a customary farewell ceremony for retiring Supreme Court judge Justice Bela M Trivedi, calling the decision regrettable and a departure from tradition, news agency PTI reported.

“I must deprecate openly, because I believe in speaking plainly... The association ought not to have taken such a stand,” Chief Justice Gavai said while presiding over a ceremonial bench that included Justices Trivedi and Augustine George Masih.

Despite the SCBA's decision, CJI Gavai praised SCBA president and senior advocate Kapil Sibal and vice president Rachna Srivastava for attending the proceedings. “I am grateful to Kapil Sibal and Rachna Srivastava. Despite the resolution of their body, they are here. I openly appreciate their presence,” he said.

“What has been lost by the association, the presence of a full courtroom here vindicates — she is a very, very good judge. There are different types of judges, but that should not be a factor to deny what ought to have been accorded,” he added.

Justice Masih echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the importance of preserving institutional traditions. “Strangely enough, as already expressed by the Chief Justice, I feel sorry, but I must say traditions need to be followed and respected. Good traditions should always continue,” he said.

In his farewell remarks, CJI Gavai hailed Justice Trivedi’s judicial journey from the district courts to the Supreme Court, noting her fairness, firmness, and dedication. “She should always be known for fairness, firmness, carefulness, hard work, devotion, dedication, industry, integrity,” he said, calling her a valuable asset to the judiciary.

Justice Trivedi, known for her no-nonsense approach on the bench, is believed to have drawn the ire of some members of the legal fraternity over recent rulings. Notably, she ordered a CBI probe into allegations that a fake petition had been filed in the Supreme Court using a forged vakalatnama. Despite pressure from several bar leaders to go lenient on the implicated lawyers, Justice Trivedi refused to show leniency and later dismissed their apologies.

According to sources, the SCBA’s rare decision to withhold a farewell event may have stemmed from these rulings, which affected lawyers connected to the bar body.

As a matter of convention, the SCBA usually organises farewell functions for all retiring Supreme Court judges. Justice Trivedi's case marks a notable deviation from that tradition.