During his farewell function, Justice B Veerappa of the Karnataka High Court stated that the judiciary is the only temple in India worshipped by every citizen, regardless of their religion, caste, gender, or place of birth.
He highlighted that courts, as temples of justice, are distinct from the other two organs of the country (legislature and executive) as they are manned by human beings.
The judge emphasized that while the judiciary, like other organs, is operated by humans, its function is divine. Justice Veerappa was appointed as a High Court judge on January 1, 2015, and retired on May 31, 2023.
In his farewell speech, he underlined that the Indian judiciary is considered the final resort when all other options have been exhausted.
“It is the last stop of the people after every knock of all doors fail. People approach the judiciary as the last resort. It is the only temple worshipped by every citizen of this nation, regardless religion, caste, sex, place of birth,” the judge remarked.
He further added that this was due to the institution’s significant trust and confidence from all citizens.
“Indian judiciary has by and large enjoyed immense public confidence. The greatest asset and strongest weapon in the armoury of judiciary, is the confidence it commands and the faith it inspires in the minds of the people in its capacity to do even under justice and keep the scale in balance in any dispute. Citizens have always considered the judiciary as the ultimate guardian of the rights and liberties,” the judge stated.
Justice Veerappa also offered guidance to members of the judiciary and legislature, urging them to combat the “menace of corruption,” which he regarded as “more perilous than the disease of cancer.”
“It is a major obstacle to the growth of the country and the future generation. We the judges, stop of the entire judicial system, should pledge to eliminate corruption. We should become a role model to all other organs of the State. Thereby it is high time to both lawyers and judges to ensure calmness in the minds of the public and to protect the majesty of the esteemed institution” the judge stated.
During the farewell event, Chief Justice PB Varale of Karnataka High Court spoke about the nickname “Tiger” that is attributed to Justice Veerappa.
“Justice Veerappa was known for his fearlessness. Because of that he was so straightforward and he used to ‘roar’ in court, probably because of that that he earned the tag of ‘Tiger’,” the judge remarked in a lighter note.
He also shared his experience as the Chairman of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, where Justice Veerappa personally visited 26 government hospitals and 11 prisons to gain insights into the ground-level reality and the facilities provided by the government.
