In a break from traditional ceremonies, Chief Justice K.R. Shriram of the Madras High Court took the unusual step of delivering a personal address to bid farewell to Justice D. Krishnakumar, who is set to become the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. This event occurred on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
Typically, the departure of judges from the Madras High Court is marked by a formal address by the Advocate General (A-G), followed by a response from the judge who is leaving. However, in this instance, attendees were surprised when Chief Justice Shriram stepped forward to speak, preceding the address by A-G P.S. Raman.
Explaining his decision to speak, Chief Justice Shriram said, “I want to break the tradition a bit and speak a few words because I had grown very fond of my brother (Justice Krishnakumar) in the last two months. That’s why the Registrar General did not have my address in her minute-to-minute programme.” He expressed both a sense of loss over Justice Krishnakumar’s departure and joy for his promotion, highlighting it as a recognition of his competence, integrity, and commitment to the rule of law.
A-G P.S. Raman provided a brief overview of Justice Krishnakumar’s career, noting his beginnings in Dharapuram, Tiruppur district, and his time as a Government Advocate and Special Government Pleader. Describing him as soft-spoken, calm, and composed under pressure, Raman expressed confidence that Justice Krishnakumar would bring dignity and diplomacy to his new role, contributing to peace and stability in Manipur, “arguably one of the most beautiful states of this country.”
