Sad that Justice Akil Kureshi was not elevated despite efforts by Justice Rohinton Nariman: Sriram Panchu

Senior Advocate Sriram Panchu on Sunday expressed disappointment over former High Court Justice Akil Kureshi not being elevated to the Supreme Court despite efforts by another retired judge, Justice Rohinton Nariman..Justice Nariman was part of the Supreme Court Collegium when he was a judge at the top court. However, the Collegium comprising four other judges of the apex court, did not recommend elevation of Justice Kureshi to the top court though Justice Nariman had batted for the same. Justice Kureshi eventually retired as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.Panchu said that the Supreme Court lost an asset because history will remember Justice Kureshi as a great judge.."It is sad that Justice Kureshi was not elevated (to the Supreme Court) despite Justice Nariman's efforts. The Supreme Court lost itself an asset by not elevating Justice Kureshi because he'll be remembered in history as a great judge," he said. .The Senior Advocate was delivering the welcome address at a ceremony where Justice Kureshi received the 'SGS Award for for ethics in the legal profession.'The award was presented in memory of legendary lawyer and former Advocate General of Tamil Nadu, S Govind Swaminadhan..Advocate General of Tamil Nadu PS Raman was also present at the event. He took the view that many judges, like Justice Kureshi and Justice S Muralidhar, who are not elevated to the Supreme Court, are often more remembered than those who eventually make it."Many judges who are not elevated to the Supreme Court are often more remembered than those who eventually make it to the Supreme Court. Justice Kureshi is one such person. My friend S Muralidhar also had the same fate," he said..Leaving with pride intact; consider govt's negative perception a certificate of independence: Justice Akil Kureshi .Justice Kureshi retired as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court on March 5, 2022. He also served as the Chief Justice of Tripura High Court..In August 2021, despite being the second senior-most High Court Chief Justice in the country after Justice AS Oka, Justice Kureshi did not find a place in the list of nine names recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium for elevation to the apex court. These names were recommended just a few days after the retirement of Justice Rohinton Nariman, who was part of the Collegium and had insisted the Justice Kureshi's name be recommended for elevation before anyone else.