CJI DY Chandrachud’s Poetic Farewell To His ‘Tiger Shah’

CJI Chandrachud bade poetic farewell to his “Tiger Shah”, who demitted office as a Supreme Court judge on Monday, the report said.

“You will be missed a lot," CJI Chandrachud said, the report mentioned.?

CJI Chandrachud while quoting Pakistani poet Obaidullah Aleem as per the report said, "Aankh se dur sahi dil se kahan jayega, jaane wale tu hamein yaad bahut ayega (You can be far from our sight, but not from our hearts, we will miss you a lot)."

CJI Chandrachud said he calls Justice Shah as "Tiger Shah" for his courage and fighting spirit, the report stated.

"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 the first seven appointments in a short span of time," Justice Chandrachud said, the report mentioned.

“Both the judges were on the same bench at the time of the pandemic and both heard many cases regarding oxygen and other preparations regarding Covid,” the report said.

“The Chief Justice recalled the time he met Shah at the Gujarat High Court in 1998. He said he had to appear in a case but he forgot his gown in Mumbai and Justice Shah arranged a gown for him from his junior,” it said.

CJI Chandrachud praised his "wonderful" sense of humour and said his pet phrase is correct, it stated.

"He has been a solid ally in the collegium his advice is always the best," CJI was quoted in the report.

“An emotional Justice Shah thanked the Bar for the farewell function and said he had performed his duties without fear, favour or ill-will,” it mentioned.

"I have played my innings very well. I have always followed my conscience. I have always believed in God and karma. I have never expected anything...I always followed the Gita," Shah was quoted in the report as having said.

With the retirement of Justice Shah, who was appointed to the top court on November 2, 2018, the number of judges in the top court will now come down to 32, including the CJI, it mentioned.

The Supreme Court has the sanctioned strength of 34 judges.