SC judge F M I Kalifulla retires
New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Justice F M I Kalifulla, who recently delivered a landmark judgement for carrying out reforms in the BCCI, today retired as a Supreme Court judge.
His farewell function saw Chief Justice of India T S Thakur praising him for the historic verdict in which he was heading the bench with Justice Kalifulla, saying the outgoing judge provided valuable insights.
“While deciding the BCCI matter I felt like I was sitting besides a former Indian cricket captain. That much insight was provided by Kalifulla. He has so much insight into the working of BCCI. I am eternally grateful to him for helping me and the game as such in regaining its glory,” Justice Thakur said.
The CJI was delivering his address during a farewell function for Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, organised by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), at the Indian Society Of International Law (ISIL) here.
A rather emotional Justice Kalifulla, in his farewell speech, thanked his family for all the support during his career. He thanked Justice Thakur for his guidance and his mentor T S Gopalan for giving him a free hand in all the cases he handled under him.
In the packed hall at the ISIL, the outgoing judge thanked SCBA and called it as the best Bar association in the country saying it helped him in his career.
Justice Thakur, during his speech, said, “Nothing is forever, nothing is eternal. But I think my short association with Justice Kalifulla will stay forever.”
Remembering how the outgoing judge restored faith in the minds of Kashmiris, Thakur said Kalifulla travelled across the state of Jammu and Kashmir only to ensure that the common man, the poor man also has access to justice.
“He travelled from one corner of the state to another. He established legal aid clinics which generated so much of confidence among the people of the state. That there is a man who is the Chief Justice and who takes the trouble and risks because travelling in Kashmir to small places, which are affected, is not free from risk,” he said.
“His transfer to Kashmir was when that state was going through a very difficult time as it is even now, because of internal disturbances and various challenges which that state and institutions in that state face.
“Kalifulla’s transfer to Kashmir from Madras was seen as some kind of national integration to contribute to restoration of the institutional integrity of that state. The kind of work that he did is remembered even now,” Justice Thakur added.
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, SCBA Vice President Ajit Kumar Sinha and SCBA secretary Gaurav Bhatia were also present.
