Justice Trivedi Bids Farewell Amid Tense Exchange

Judicial Departure Marred by Disagreement and Bar Association Snub

 

Justice Bela M Trivedi stepped down from the Supreme Court of India on Friday, concluding a distinguished tenure of over three and a half years. Though the courtroom witnessed tributes to her judicial journey, her departure was overshadowed by a conspicuous absence of a formal farewell by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), sparking unease within the court’s ceremonial proceedings.

 

Senior advocate and SCBA President Kapil Sibal was among those who offered remarks during the ceremonial bench. Praising Justice Trivedi’s contribution, Sibal reflected on the rarity of women reaching the highest echelons of India’s judiciary.

 

“This court is a constellation of stars, and you are one of them,” he said, noting that Justice Trivedi was only the 11th woman to serve on the Supreme Court since independence. “One appointment every seven years—it's a milestone in itself.”

 

Recalling a courtroom exchange, Sibal mentioned a case involving the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), where he had sought the transfer of an accused individual from Karnataka to Kerala. Justice Trivedi denied the request, prompting Sibal to comment in court, “I expect your ladyship to have some empathy.” To this, Justice Trivedi had replied, “You don’t know me then.”

 

The exchange, while recollected in good humour by Sibal, appeared to echo a broader theme of the judge’s commitment to judicial independence, even in the face of popular sentiment. “We knew you before you came here, and we will know you after you leave,” he concluded.

However, the ceremonial atmosphere took a serious turn when Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, who was joined by Justice B R Gavai in presiding over the farewell bench, expressed disappointment over the SCBA's decision not to host a formal send-off.

 

“I must express my disapproval. I believe in speaking plainly,” said Justice Gavai. “The Association ought not to have taken such a stance. Regardless of differences, tradition and institutional respect demand better.”

The Chief Justice took a moment to acknowledge Kapil Sibal and SCBA Vice-President Rachna Srivastava for attending, despite the association's collective decision.

“Despite the resolution of their body, they are here today. Their presence speaks volumes. What has been lost by the Association is made up for by the full house gathered today, which shows the esteem in which Justice Trivedi is held,” Justice Gavai remarked.

Justice Trivedi’s career in the judiciary spans several decades. Born on 10 June 1960 in Patan, Gujarat, she began her legal practice in the Gujarat High Court before being inducted into the state’s judicial service in 1995. Her appointment as a judge of the City Civil and Sessions Court in Ahmedabad marked a unique moment—her father also served as a judge in the same court, earning them recognition in the Limca Book of Indian Records as a rare father-daughter duo on the bench.

She was elevated to the Supreme Court on 31 August 2021, as part of a landmark swearing-in ceremony where nine judges—including three women—took oath on the same day.

Although her final day was tinged with discord, Justice Trivedi’s legacy remains defined by her rigorous approach to the law and her rise through the ranks of India’s judiciary, from the trial courts of Ahmedabad to the highest bench in the land.