The High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday bid farewell to the Chief Justice Kurian Joseph, who has been elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court. He will take oath as Supreme Court judge on March 8.
Justice Kurian was given a formal farewell by way of a full court reference in the court of the Chief Justice. Justices RB Misra, Deepak Gupta, DD Sud, VK Ahuja, Surinder Singh, Sanjay Karol, Kuldip Singh, Rajiv Sharma, VK Sharma and DC Chaudhary along with the Registrars AC Dogra, CB Barowalia, KC Chandel and Bhag Chand Sharma were also present.
In his address, Justice RB Misra said that Justice Joseph is a true embodiment of honesty, sincerity and devotion to duty. He called him a man of great vision and versatile person. The advocate general Sharwan Dogra said that the bar had a mixed feelings of happiness on his being elevated to the Apex Court of the country and sorrow that his ever smiling face and magnetic personality will not be there to encourage them now.
In an informal interaction with the media, Justice Kurian Joseph said that besides judiciary, the media has a great role in guarding the constitution. He said that media has to play the role of a watchdog to protect the interests of the public.
He said that he believed the Judiciary and the media should play a proactive role if the Executive fails to discharge its duties. He stressed on the importance of making people aware of their duties and not just their rights.
On being asked as to one of the most important judgment delivered by him, he said that any judgment through which a poor got his due or any person who had lost self respect went back dignified was an important judgement for him.