Every judge should have an element of femininity: Justice AK Sikri bids farewell

Members of the Bar and the Bench bid adieu to Justice AK Sikri at the farewell function held for him by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) today.

A visibly emotional Justice AK Sikri thanked everyone from his family, teachers and colleagues, to his clerk, interns, and juniors in a heartfelt address delivered at the event.

Justice Sikri, who was praised by members of the Bar for his pleasant and patient approach towards lawyers, said that he attempted to contribute whatever he could to the institution.

“I have tried to contribute whatever I could in my humble way in my time in this institution”

In addition to Supreme Court judges and law officers, a number of Delhi High Court judges were also in attendance at the function to bid farewell to Justice Sikri.

Speaking of his time at the Delhi High Court (his parent High Court), Justice Sikri said that sometimes judges are said to “come in pairs”. While he sat alongside Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul most frequently at the Delhi High Court, his counterpart in the Supreme Court was Justice Rohinton Nariman.

Justice Sikri spoke of the special bond he has with Justices Kaul, Nariman, as well as Justice (retd.) Madan Lokur, whom he has known since they were students of law.

The judge went on to say,

“There is a part of me which is feminine. And I think every Judge, for fair decision making, should have an element of femininity. After all, the symbol of Justice is a Goddess.”

He concluded his speech by saying,

“In lighter vein, I want to talk about the mild debate there was on whether a judge should smile. That’s not the primary issue. It is not about how many times a judge smiles, but how many times the judge has brought a smile on the faces of helpless people.”

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi delivered a special address at the farewell function. He spoke not only of Justice Sikri’s warm nature, but also of his unique style. CJI Gogoi said,

“Whether it was issues relating to Constitutional provisions or taxation or social justice, Justice Sikri traversed all these paths in a style so uniquely belonging to him and him alone.”

CJI Gogoi went on to quote the opening lines of the Aadhaar judgment authored by Justice Sikri to describe him.

“It is better to be unique than the best because being the best makes you number one, but being unique makes you the only one.”

Justice Sikri will be remembered for his sensitive approach and the insight he brought to the institution, both as a lawyer and as a judge, CJI Gogoi said, while highlighting the important issues Justice Sikri had addressed in his various judgments.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, who was endearingly called the “Bhishma Pitamaha of the institution” by Justice Sikri in his address, also praised Justice Sikri’s calm and composed demeanour, as well as his accommodating nature.

SCBA President Rakesh Khanna also delivered an address in honour of Justice Sikri, whom he described as a “paragon of virtue” who has always upheld human rights and dignity.

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