I take all compliments with a pinch of salt, would be naive to take at face value: Justice KM Joseph on last day as Supreme Court judge

On his last day as a Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice KM Joseph underscored that he would take the compliments bestowed upon him with a generous pinch of salt..The judge was sitting on a ceremonial bench with Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha when he maintained a healthy skepticism. "All that you have said I take with a generous pinch of salt and it is customary and I would be naive if i take it at the face value," Justice Joseph remarked while thanking the bar and his brother judges. ."Thank you for all that you have said and perhaps what you have not said," he added. .The CJI shared the mixed emotions of nostalgia and sadness he felt while bidding Justice Joseph adieu. He also disclosed that the two were childhood friends. "We are childhood friends and was my first friend in Delhi when I shifted here. We shared a bench in COVID and it was like we could reach each other's mind," he said. The CJI ended by saying that the retiring judge had inherited the integrity and passion from his father late Justice KK Mathew, a former Supreme Court judge. .Attorney General R Venkataramani said that the institution and the bar were indebted to Justice Joseph. "I have appeared before him on so many occasions. There are so many recollections... when judges take oath there are qualities which play a role in decision making process and he is an extreme example.. I hope you are with us in other engagements as well."Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta aechoed these sentiments. "I share what the AG says. I hope his lordship has a healthy retirement," the SG said.Supreme Court Bar Association President Adish C Aggarwala also wished Joseph a happy retired life..Senior Advocate Anitha Shenoy lauded Justice Joseph's personal commitment to social justice. "You are personally committed to social justice and you took every level of discourse to a higher level.. May God bless you with immense and good health and a life filled with music. All the very very best", she said. .Senior Advocate AM Singhvi said that the court was losing an asset today."I remember the Uttarakhand matter for a long time.. here was a judge who said what you make about page 5 of bommai judgment.. that was him.. he read each and every case and he decided only on merits and nothing else could affect him," the senior counsel recalled. .[Read our live-coverage of the ceremonial bench here]