CJI B R Gavai hails retiring SC judge Bela Trivedi for fairness, firmness

CJI B.R. Gavai praises Justice Bela M Trivedi on her last working day, traces her career from subordinate judiciary to the Supreme Court, deplores SC Bar for not giving her a farewell.

Chief Justice of India Justice B.R. Gavai on Friday (May 16, 2025) praised Justice Bela M Trivedi for her career trajectory from the subordinate judiciary all the way up to the Supreme Court, where she became the eleventh woman judge to be appointed in its history.

The CJI lauded the outgoing judge for her "fairness, firmness, hard work" aside from "dedication and spirituality".

The efforts and commitment of Justice Trivedi, who was elevated to the apex court on August 31, 2021 and spent over three years, were hailed by members of the bar, Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Though Justice Trivedi would have demitted office on June 9, 2025, Friday marked her last day owing to a personal commitment.

In line with its tradition, a ceremonial bench of the top court comprising CJI Gavai and Justices Trivedi and Augustine George Masih assembled in her honour.

The CJI, however, deplored the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for deciding not to hold an official farewell ceremony to bid her farewell this evening.

As a matter of practice, the SCBA holds farewell functions for retiring apex court judges and an exceptional decision was taken in Justice Trivedi's case.