Shivangi Prakash–
Justice MR Midha, in a tearful farewell to the Delhi High Court on the occasion of his retirement, took a walk down memory lane with other Judges and colleagues, recalling his early days at the Bar and said, “This very system has lifted me.”
He showed his gratitude to the system and added the feather of impartiality to its hat by saying that despite having no Godfathers in the profession, he had been raised to the position of judge by the system.
“I joined the bar in 1992 and got elevated in 2008. When I was only 13, I lost my father. I had no brother and a mere rental income of 500 Rupees only. When I joined the bar I started out with a briefcase and used to travel in the bus from Krishna Nagar to Tis Hazari. I had never dreamt that a common person with no godfather will be elevated to this position. I never thought I could reach that position,” Justice Midha said.
In an e-goodbye organised by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), he gave his farewell speech.
Senior Advocates Sidharth Luthra, Sandeep Sethi, Amandeep Singh Chandiok, and Justice Vipin Sanghi, Justice Midha’s fellow-judge, were also present, as were DHCBA President Mohit Mathur, Secretary Abhijat, and Senior Counsel Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
While DHCBA President Mohit Mathur praised Justice Midha and said he had been the “Recipient of his generosity“, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi described how Justice Midha had thrown himself into his work as a judge as soon as he was appointed.
Praising his research skills, Singhvi said, “His research is so meticulous and so is his work in the field of Motor Vehicles Act.”
With reference to Justice Midha’s recent celebrated judgment wherein he upheld the right of stray dogs to be fed and of citizens to feed them, Singhvi said, “He always strives to balance welfare and society.”
In attempt to shed light on the effort that goes into becoming a judge, Justice Midha said that he had not gotten enough sleep in the previous 13 years, that he had no time to watch television, and that he had no time to read newspapers beyond the headlines.
Justice Midha concluded saying, “Truth is justice in action. It’s always hiding under there somewhere.”
Also read: Delhi High Court issues Notice to Centre on Plea for Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage