Don't think of becoming Bill Gates overnight : Chief Justice Manjula Chellur

Published in 2017 

Giving a pep talk to lawyers, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Justice Manjula Chellur said there are no shortcut to success. Concentrate on your profession... Don't think of becoming Bill Gates overnight...  Don’t think of having Mercedes, BMWs overnight... Work hard... Success will be yours... She was speaking at a function here in city on Tuesday after inaugurating renovated late Adv. R K Manohar High Court Bar Association’s (HCBA) library at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court.

Justice Bhushan Gavai, Justice P B Vairale, HCBA President Adv. Anil Kilor, Secretary Adv. Khubalkar were also seated on the dais. 

In her 20 minutes of candid speech, Justice Chellur touched every aspect of law and justice. At the outset, she recalled glorious history of Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court and it’s stalwart Judges, her earlier days in field of law and these statements drew wide response from the audience. But when her voice got firm and she listed out do's and don'ts in the temple of justice, there was a studied silence in the auditorium. 

“Justice Vivian Bose and Justice Mohd Hidyatullah did not had these technical facilities during those days but they overcame this handicap as their memory was phenomenal. Now you can get every information by pressing just one button. You have better technology. Use this modern techniques and become ten times more efficient that Justice Bose and Hidyatullah,” she appealed. 

Work hard in life to achieve something 

She asked the audience to work hard in life to achieve something and laid a great stress on leading an ethical life. The path you choose to reach the goal must also be good. Be committed to your work. Be committed to case you take up and be committed to seniors who guides you, she opined. Having facilities doesn’t mean you should  relax but put in more efforts and overcome the obstacles but do not waver from commitments made to oneself, she further added.  

The Chief Justice also desired that lawyers should innovate as the world is now a global village and today's is information age. At the same time she asked the legal gathering to refrain from delaying the case in the temple of justice, and lawyers particularly should be honest while giving advice to clients. Offer what is best for them and one which is cost affective.

“Do not unnecessarily make the client to run from one court to another court,” she said further and added if a lawyer follows right path while practicing 10 more people will become their client. Similarly, punctuality, proper drafting of petitions, straight forwardness, open heart, affection for others will always pay in long run. You may not see wonders overnight but you will definitely reap the benefits over the period,” stated Justice Chellur and added that  as you grow older and older your refutation as lawyer increases, you will be recognised.

Throw away that big ‘I'

She also asked senior lawyers to identify potential and good qualities in their juniors. That good quality will be of some assistance to society, to make it a good place to live. If you have a good society to live in, many of the problems can be sorted out amicably. Frowning on selfishness in legal practice, Chief Justice said, some selfish persons only thinking of I, I and I... the big I. Throw away that big I’ within you, she appealed to the legal hawks. 

Making clear that she would not tolerate non-sense, the Chief Justice desired that her institution should look clean and sad there is no room for inequality their. There should no injustice with anyone. Everything is same and no matter what's your background, stated Justice Chellur while making it clear that everyone is equal before the law.

Commenting on Public Interest Litigation’s (PILs) at notice, she said that unwanted, irrelevant matters are increasing sought to be projected as public interest. She asked lawyers that its their responsibility to prevent such matters from coming to Bench, such matters are new tools for making money but are increasing burden on the courts. Asking lawyers to introspect whether they are doing any good to the society, good to the institution, good to the client, and asked them to think as a human being first. 

Raising importance of values in life, Justice Chellur opined that people were not remembered because they are very rich but for their good qualities, commitment to the institution and justice.  People can make money but they can't be useful to society.

Justice Bhushan Gavai said that new HCBA body have done great work within a span of five months. The new library would be helpful for the lawyers practicing in the High Court. Interest of the common man is dear to our heart. This association (HCBA) has produced eminent jurist for the country. Praising the bar further, Justice Gavai said, this bar has very talented members and recalled that the library was the brain child of Justice V C Daga.

Adv Anil Kilor in his introductory speech said that large numbers of reference books are available in the library. Sitting capacity of library was doubled after the renovation work. Adv. Preeti Rane compared the programme while Adv. Khubalkar proposed a vote of thanks.