Speech at the ceremony of Justice H Suresh : In memorium 15th June 2020

FRIENDS and comrades of the Human Rights Communities and fellow lawyers and friends of Justice Hosabet Suresh, or simply Justice Suresh, as I would call him.

It is indeed an honour for me to be here amongst you all, to talk about a giant in the Human Rights Community in India, Justice Suresh. For indeed he was just that. The fact that he has brought all of us together today, a rare thing, is a testimony to the esteemed position he holds in the Human Rights Community. In fact, I can say that I am meeting a lot of you after a long time. That is the magic of Justice Suresh.

I must confess that when I first met him in late 1981 and I emphasize the first time, when he had just resumed his practice at the Bombay High Court, I never thought that he would charter such a course in his post retirement life that he did. But over the next 6 months when I was with him in my months of initial practice at the bar, it was evident to me that he was a man of principle, which he would never compromise on. He was also critical, to the point of impatience, but constructively so, on orders that were wrongly passed and which agitated him. He would point out to the mistakes in the order and tell the juniors how he would have dealt with the issues. He was also impatient with the world, full of energy, which made him innovative in his approach. As you can well imagine he was a man passionate about his beliefs which he was completely committed to. Though initially I wondered why he resigned as a judge from the Bombay City Civil and Sessions Court, by the time I left him after 6 months, it was obvious to me that his reasons were good. But with all, that at a personal level he was humble, simple, unassuming and a generous person. All these qualities would endure him well in the next 30 years after he retired as a judge of the Bombay High Court.

As a judge also he showed his caliber on all issues, civil, criminal and procedural too. He was quick to pick up the issues in the matters before him and dispose of matters with proper application of mind and quickly. The losing side may complain about the order but all the lawyers and the parties always felt that they had a fair hearing. And matters which would require settlement, Justice Suresh would go an extra mile to see that an equitable settlement was arrived at. I never heard any lawyer complaining about his judgeship. Let me tell you that it is quite common for lawyers to put down a judge in private in the manner the judge conducts herself in court. All I heard about Justice Suresh was praise. The disappointing thing was that he was not allowed to prove his real mettle as a judge given the assignment system in the High Court.