Kumar Bahukhandi
SCBA president Senior Advocate Vikash Singh -Photo Credit -Reuters
New Delhi : The President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, on Friday May 29, 2026 announced that every retiring judge of the Supreme Court would henceforth be made an honorary member of the SCBA, with a view to maintaining their engagement with the legal fraternity after retirement.
Speaking at the farewell ceremony held for Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Pankaj Mithal, Singh said the Bar would greatly benefit from the experience of retired judges and invited them to continue visiting the Supreme Court and interacting with lawyers.
“From now onwards, we will be making every retiring judge an honorary member of the Supreme Court Bar Association and we will welcome you, sir, to come to our Bar and spend time with us. It will be a great emotional moment for us to interact with you and learn from you,” Singh said.
Observing that retired judges often stop visiting the Supreme Court after demitting office, Singh said the new initiative was intended to bridge that gap.
“I have seen that mostly retired judges stop coming to the Supreme Court. With this new system, I am welcoming all retired judges. Members of the Bar should benefit from your experience both at the Bar and on the Bench,” he said. He clarified that he was making this announcement without discussing with the Executive Committee, and said that he was hopeful that there would be no objection to the proposal.
Singh disclosed that the idea was inspired in part by a remark made by Justice Sanjay Karol, who had once wondered why retired judges could not continue associating with the Bar in some capacity.
“I thought it was a good thought,” Singh remarked.
Paying tribute to the two retiring judges, Singh described both Justice Maheshwari and Justice Mithal as courteous and approachable judges who were always well prepared with the case records and respectful towards members of the Bar.
He also highlighted their sporting abilities, particularly their interest in badminton. In a lighter vein, Singh suggested that Justice Maheshwari’s quick reflexes in court may have stemmed from his prowess on the badminton court.
Speaking about Justice Mithal, Singh said he was known for his calm demeanour and was never ruffled or unpleasant during court proceedings. “Justice Mithal had a lot of equity-mindedness in him and always tried to see whether some relief could be granted,” Singh observed.
The SCBA President also welcomed the increasing elevation of Supreme Court advocates to the Bench. Referring to the recommendation for the appointment of Senior Advocate V. Mohana as a judge, Singh described it as a significant step both for the representation of Supreme Court lawyers and for enhancing women’s representation in the judiciary.
The farewell ceremony was organised to mark the retirement of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Pankaj Mithal, both of whom demit office this month after serving on the Supreme Court Bench.
( Source-Reuters )
