My doors are always open to anyone with a grievance: Justice SV Gangapurwala assumes office as Madras High Court Chief Justice

Justice SV Gangapurwala, who was transferred last month from the Bombay High Court to the Madras High Court as its Chief Justice, assumed office on Thursday..In his speech during his welcome ceremony organised by the Madras Bar, CJ Gangapurwala greeted everyone in Tamil and said that it was his privilege to have been chosen to lead a Chartered High Court. He said he was bringing along greetings from the "land of saints and scholars" to the people of a land "rich in art, culture, and intellect.".Justice Gangapurwala also assured all judges of the Madras High Court and all members of the Bar that they will be made part of all decision-making processes of the Court. "It is my honour to work along with my brother and sister judges and the members of this glorious Bar. As the pater familias of the judiciary of the State of Tamil Nadu, I assure you that every stake holder will be taken into confidence in every decision making process. And my doors are always open to anyone with a grievance," the Chief Justice said..CJ Gangapurwala also narrated the anecdote of how when the Zoroastrians first arrived in India and landed in Gujarat, the local ruler Jadi Rana, alarmed by the influx of foreigners, showed them a cup of milk filled to the brim and said there was no place for them. "The leader of the Parsis added sugar to the cup and said the Parsis would live like one with the locals. Just like that, all of you should be rest assured that I will adopt the traditions, the conventions and culture of Tamil Nadu, and live like one with all of you," he said. .Justice Gangapurwala started practice in the year 1985. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in 2010 and was appointed as its Acting Chief Justice last year..The Madras High Court was without a permanent Chief Justice for the last ten months. Justice T Raja, who retired last week, had been functioning as the Acting Chief Justice since September 2022..Madras High Court will see its fifth Acting Chief Justice in 3 and a half months if Justice S Muralidhar transfer is not cleared soon