Fitting farewell

"I am a difficult person to deal with,” acknowledged former chief justice of India Sarosh Kapadia at a farewell function organized in Delhi by the Supreme Court Bar Association on his last day in office. Noted for his impeccable integrity, Kapadia who retired on September 28, 2012 explained that this was because he "expected others to be like him,” noted The Times of India on the following day. It was an emotional farewell during which the jurist spoke about his humble beginnings.
Kapadia urged judges to do what they are obliged to do in times of trouble, reported The Free Press Journal of the same date. "Do the right (thing). Rest leave to God… We judges can’t change the world. If you do your duty and dispense justice, you have done your job.” Along with dedication, objectivity and professionalism, Kapadia said judges should exercise judicial reticence to some extent. His successor, Justice Altamas Kabir likened Kapadia to American President Abraham Lincoln and described his tenure as "remarkable.”