Adieu Justice Suresh – A champion of human rights

ANOTHER champion of the rights of the people is no more. Justice Hosabet Suresh passed away at 10.45 pm on Friday, June 12, an hour after a heart attack. His daughter, Rajini, told me that fortunately, apart from a minor breathing problem, he passed away peacefully.

I got to know him in 1981 when I had just enrolled at the bar. I practiced with him for first 6 months of my career, in late 1981 to early 1982, just as he was designated as a senior advocate. After the six months with him, he told me that it would be better if I charted out on my own, which I did.

During those 6 months, I got to know him and his family. A visit to his house in the evening would always be coupled with the delicious coffee made by his wife ground from beans from the Philip Coffee store in Bandra and sometimes coupled with steaming idlis or dosais. She even taught me to make the coffee from the decanter which habit has stayed with me till date. The coffee kept me awake during the late-night conferences.

He was adept in both civil and criminal law, especially on procedure, which few counsel in the Bombay High Court at that time could match. He would settle drafts in no time. His streak of impatience in him was evident even in those days which would stand him in good stead later in the human rights work after his retirement from the Bombay High Court.

His impatience in court as counsel earned him accolades and brickbats. He refused to compromise on his legal arguments and was not one who would easily give up a legal principle. However, at the same time as a good counsel, he was most adept at negotiating a good order for his client from the court.

His treatment of his son with disabilities as an equal impressed me. He always told me that it was wrong to molly coddle him as that would make him dependent and spoilt.

As a judge he was admired by all advocates as he treated all of them with respect. He was willing to listen, express his point of view and decide firmly and quickly on all matters. Nothing was too difficult for him. All counsel felt that they had a fair hearing before him. It was evident to all that he had compassion as a judge for the ordinary person and the underprivileged.