In a revealing social media post, Savitri Bobde, the daughter of former Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, has ignited a debate on the precarious work-life balance in the legal profession. The LinkedIn post featured a poignant photograph of Justice Bobde, clad in a suit, preparing for an arbitration session from a hospital bed where he has been recovering from multiple surgeries over the past eight months.
At nearly 70 years old, Justice Bobde’s image, showing him with tubes and amidst evident discomfort, accompanies his daughter’s critical commentary. “Dad, almost 70 years old, ready for a week-long arbitration from hospital bed, where he has spent the last four weeks, after his fourth surgery (3rd unplanned one), all in the last 8 months. He has tubes coming out of his body and is in pain most of the day. Work life balance anyone?” Savitri wrote.
Justice Bobde’s career in law began in 1978, marking decades of service that saw him practicing before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, achieving designation as Senior Advocate in 1998, and ascending the judicial ranks to ultimately serve as CJI from November 2019 until his retirement in April 2021.
The issue of work-life balance among legal professionals has long been contentious. Echoing Savitri Bobde’s concerns, current CJI DY Chandrachud previously criticized the glorification of burnout in the legal field during a statement in January 2023. He emphasized the unhealthy pride many legal professionals take in their exhaustive work hours, which often lead to severe mental health repercussions. CJI Chandrachud advocated for improved working conditions and a better balance, recounting the personal challenges faced by his late wife, also a lawyer, in navigating the demanding culture of legal work.
