Bar is supposed to argue but I argued and the Bar tolerated: First NCLAT Chairperson, Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya bids farewell

The National Company Law Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal Bar Association today bid farewell to the first Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya..Speaking at his farewell ceremony organized by the Bar, Justice Mukhopadhaya said, ."Persons will come and go.. better person may come. Lawyers will remain and.. I will be looking into NCLAT from your success, the success of lawyers.."Justice Mukhopadhaya.Justice Mukhopadhaya is a fomer Judge of the Supreme Court of India and was appointed as the NCLAT Chairperson on June 1, 2016.He will demit the office of the NCLAT Chairperson today..While thanking his brother and sister members at the NCLAT as well as NCLT and the support staff, Justice Mukhopadhaya, on the lighter note, said, "I am surprised with the Bar. The Bar tolerated me for last 3 years and nine months..The Bar is supposed to argue but I argued and the Bar tolerated.".Looking back at his term as the first Chairperson of the NCLAT, Justice Mukhopadhaya said, "I have enjoyed every moment. On day one, I was a chairperson without a chair, building, staff or car.".Justice Mukhopadhaya informed the gathering that on March 30, 2016, he knew that his name had been cleared for the post of the NCLAT Chairperson and was subsequently given charge to frame the NCLT and NCLAT Rules..He added that when he took oath on the morning of June 1, 2016, in the chamber of then NCLT President, Justice MM Kumar, the NCLAT had nothing. "So CLB became NCLT. It had everything.. I had nothing.So I went to the 8th floor (of the building) and asked for chairs and some staff on loan.".Looking at how far the institution has come from that day, Justice Mukhopadhyay remarked, "I am happy that all courts are functioning with speed. For me, speed was the essence of the Tribual.".National Company Law Appellate Tribunal to function from MTNL building, CGO Complex from Jan 16.He added that in a few days or weeks, a permanent Bench of the NCLAT shall start functioning at Chennai..Justice Mukhopadhaya took the opportunity to appreciate the lawyer at NCLAT who cooperated with the bench in fast disposal of cases. .In a light-hearted manner, Justice Mukhopadhyay added,"..(The Bar had) different temperament, attitude and a different fee. You enjoyed with maximum fees and we enjoyed with minimum salary.".Justice Mukhopadhaya hoped that the NCLAT would continue to function with the spirit in which it was started..The Bar President, Senior Advocate Virender Ganda thanked Justice Mukhopadhaya for his guidance and for understanding the basic problems of the Bar. "Your indulgence has always been so forthcoming and upfront.", he said. .The Bar also felicitated the newly appointed member of NCLAT, namely, Member (Judicial) Anant Bijay Singh; Member (Technical) Dr Alok Srivastava and Member (Technical) Shreesha Merla.