CJI lauds Justice Joseph for work done as Supreme Court judge, says his expertise will be missed

Justice K.M. Josep is set to retire as a judge of the Supreme Court on June 16

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud on Friday hailed Justice K.M. Joseph, who is set to retire as a judge of the Supreme Court on June 16, and said his expertise on matters ranging from commercial law to Constitutional law will be missed.

Heading a ceremonial bench to bid farewell to Justice Joseph on his last working day as the apex court closes for summer vacation from May 22, the CJI said it is an honour for him to preside over such a bench but it is also coupled with nostalgia and sadness.

"Nostalgia because Joseph and I are childhood friends. Joseph was the first person who became my friend when I shifted to Delhi in August 1972...and I will be speaking more of that in the afternoon when we have the formal SCBA (Supreme Court Bar Association) farewell," Justice Chandrachud said.

Lauding Justice Joseph for the work done by him, the CJI said it has always been a pleasure to share the bench with Justice Joseph.

"I hear from young members of the Bar that they look forward to appearing before Justice Joseph because he is unfailingly patient with them," he said.

"Brother Joseph's expertise on matters ranging from commercial law to constitutional law will be missed. He will leave behind a great sense of continuity which he (Justice Joseph) inherited from his distinguished father, Justice K.K. Mathew (former apex court judge) and I know that you have left behind a huge collection of friends both on and off the bench," Justice Chandrachud said.

The CJI also remembered that he and Justice Joseph had shared the bench during the COVID-19 pandemic, and "it was like we could read each other's mind".