In a significant address during the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized the need to abandon the paternalistic attitudes prevalent towards junior lawyers and advocated for their fair compensation. The celebrations, held at the Madurai Convention Centre, Tamukkam grounds, saw the presence of numerous dignitaries from the judiciary.
Justice Chandrachud critiqued the low salaries often given to entry-level lawyers, describing them as a form of “gatekeeping” that restricts access to the legal profession. He pointed out that such meagre payments, sometimes as low as Rs 5,000 per month, do not reflect the substantial contributions and insights junior lawyers bring to their work.
“Please shed away the paternalistic approach that they have come to learn and get exposure and experience, and that you are mentoring them,” Justice Chandrachud urged his fellow advocates. He highlighted that the notion of over-romanticizing hard work without sufficient pay leads to exploitation, expecting junior lawyers to endure long hours, less sleep, and insufficient compensation.
The Chief Justice also celebrated the Madurai Bench for its critical role as a data and software backup hub for the Delhi High Court, noting the newly established Disaster Recovery Centre that ensures robust data security. “So, Delhi has to look towards Tamil Nadu for a solution if it faces problems,” he remarked humorously.
The event also marked the unveiling of the Vigentennial Stupa at the Madurai Bench premises, conducted through a video conference. Supreme Court Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, M.M. Sundresh, K.V. Viswanathan, and R. Mahadevan attended the celebrations. Other notable attendees included Madras High Court Acting Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar, Justices R. Suresh Kumar, S.S. Sundar, R. Subramanian, Advocate General of Tamil Nadu P.S. Raman, and Additional Solicitor General of India A.R.L. Sunderesan.
Justice Sundresh unveiled a new name board for the Bench, symbolizing the continual evolution and commitment to judicial excellence that the Madurai Bench has demonstrated over its two decades.
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In his closing remarks, CJI Chandrachud reflected on the broader implications of establishing a high court bench, which transcends the mere creation of physical spaces. “It’s about setting up conventions, about setting up traditions, which will ensure for the future,” he stated, affirming the Madurai Bench’s successful integration into the esteemed traditions of the Madras High Court.
