In a rare personal reflection, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant recounted how a rebuke from a high court judge early in his career ended up shaping his decision to join the Bar rather than pursue judicial services. The anecdote came on Friday in the Supreme Court during the hearing of a petition filed by judicial services aspirant Prerna Gupta, who was seeking revaluation of an examination paper.
An Unexpected Moment of Encouragement
Though her plea was dismissed by a bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, she left the courtroom smiling after the Chief Justice shared his personal story. As Gupta pressed her case, the CJI intervened and said, "Let me share my personal story and I hope you will go happily as we cannot allow your petition."
The Chief Justice's Early Aspirations
Recounting his early days, he said he had once aspired to become a judicial officer and had even cleared the written examination. "When I was in the final year, I applied for judicial services. At that time, final-year students could apply. By the time the results came, the procedure had changed. Earlier, the public service commission used to conduct the selection. Then a Supreme Court judgment came, pursuant to which judges of the high court were to act as subject experts, and their opinion would be binding on the commission," he said.
He went on to describe how a change in circumstances led him to shift towards legal practice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. "The senior-most judge who had been nominated for the interview panel already knew me because I had argued two matters before him. One of the matters was Sunita Rani vs Baldev Raj, where he had allowed my appeal in a matrimonial case and set aside the decree of divorce granted by the district judge on the ground of schizophrenia," Justice Surya Kant shared.
A Pivotal Moment
Recalling a pivotal moment, he said the judge had once unexpectedly discouraged him from pursuing the judiciary. "One day, he called me into his chamber and asked, 'Do you want to become a judicial officer?' I said yes. He immediately said, 'Get out from (my) the chamber.'" He added that the experience left him shaken. "I came out trembling. All my dreams were shattered. I thought he had snubbed me and that my career was over," the CJI said.
However, the judge later called him again and offered advice that changed his path. "He said, 'If you want to become (a judge), you are welcome. But my advice is, don't become a judicial officer. The Bar is waiting for you.'" Following this, the CJI said he chose not to appear for the interview and instead focused on building his career at the Bar.
A Lesson for the Litigant
"Now tell me did I make a bad right or bad decision," the CJI asked the litigant lawyer, using the moment to counsel her against fixating on the revaluation of a single exam paper. He advised her to consider broader opportunities ahead, saying, "Apply for superior judicial services next time. The Bar has much to offer." Although her plea was dismissed, Gupta left the courtroom with a smile after the exchange.
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