Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud hailed Justice MR Shah as “Tiger Shah” in his farewell speech as the latter demitted office as a Supreme Court judge on May 16.
The CJI said Shah’s “practical wisdom and excellent advice” helped the collegium greatly in making decisions.
Speaking at a farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, the CJI appreciated Justice Shah’s “receptive and open nature” and said he adapted to technology quickly due to which complete paperless hearing could took place in the Constitution bench, reported news agency PTI. The Chief Justice said he called Justice Shah as “Tiger Shah” for his courage and fighting spirit.
‘A sold colleague’
“Justice Shah’s entry into the collegium on November 9, 2022, coincided with my own appointment as Chief Justice on that day. He has been a solid colleague for me in the collegium, full of practical wisdom.
He was full of excellent advice which helped us greatly when we made first seven appointments in a short span of time,” the CJI said. He also quoted music legend Bob Dylan and said, “When the winds of changes shift/may your heart always be joyful/may your song always be sung/may you stay forever young.”
Quoting Pakistani poet Obaidullah Aleem, the CJI said, “Aankh se dur sahi dil se kahan jayega, jaane wale tu hamein yaad bahut aayega.”
With the retirement of Justice Shah, who was appointed to the top court on November 2, 2018, the number of judges in the Supreme Court will now come down to 32, including the CJI. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari had demitted office a day before.
The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
