“We Are Ultimately Defined Not By The Office We Hold Or The Name We Acquire But By The Choices We Make”: Kerala High Court Bids Farewell To Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar On Superannuation
From the Editor's Desk
The Kerala High Court on Friday (January 9) accorded a farewell to its 39th Chief Justice, Justice Nitin Jamdar, who demitted office on attaining the age of superannuation. A full court reference was held in the presence of judges, senior advocates, members of the Bar and court staff.
In his address, Justice Jamdar thanked the Bench, the Bar and the registry, describing the High Court not only as an institution of work but also as a place of belonging. Reflecting on the nature of judicial service, he said the judiciary is sustained as much by its internal ethos as by its visible structures, and underscored the centrality of public faith in the system. “The judicial system is founded not only the physical or external manifestations but its internal factors. At its soul is the trust the people repose which must always be preserved, without which everything will be an empty shell,” Justice Jamdar said.
He also spoke of the moral foundations of judging, noting that office and recognition are secondary to personal integrity and the choices made in public life. “We are ultimately defined not by the office we hold or the name we acquire but by the choices we make,” he said. Expanding on the idea, he observed that fidelity to one’s values is what lends meaning to judicial work and enables a dignified exit from office. “True satisfaction lies in the ability to live and work in accordance with once deepest values and to step away with one's self respect intact. In a society that often places status above all else, quiet integrity and honesty may appear unfashionable but it is this fidelity to once values that sustains the spirit and gives meaning to judicial service. To dispense justice with sincerity, independence and clear conscience is a deeply spiritual journey which takes you closer to the god,” he said, while thanking colleagues and members of the Bar for their support during his tenure.
Justice Jamdar holds degrees in Commerce and Law from Sydenham College and Government Law College, Mumbai. He began practice in 1989, primarily in administrative and constitutional law, and represented a range of public bodies including local self-government institutions and universities. He also served as standing counsel for the High Court administration and the Union of India. He was elevated as a judge of the Bombay High Court on January 23, 2012, where he handled multiple jurisdictions and was associated with the computerisation movement. He took oath as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court on September 26, 2024.
Speaking on behalf of the Bench, Dr Justice Jayasankaran Nambiar recalled Justice Jamdar’s administrative style as measured and solution-driven. He said Justice Jamdar remained unflustered and attentive to concerns raised before him, describing him as calm, composed and practical in resolving issues. “On the administrative side, his strength lays in his calm and composed approach in problem solving, nothing ever shook him and he always listened patiently to those who approached him with their worries before making a satisfactory solution for each situation.” Justice Nambiar said.
Justice Nambiar also referred to Justice Jamdar’s engagement with access-to-justice concerns in remote regions, particularly Lakshadweep. He noted that a suo motu judgment during Justice Jamdar’s tenure led to the constitution of a permanent committee for judicial infrastructure, alongside steps to strengthen digital connectivity, legal services and mediation facilities for island residents. He further pointed to the roll-out of a structured, technology-enabled jail appeal system in the Kerala High Court, aimed at ensuring timely appellate remedies for incarcerated persons and enhancing judicial oversight. Adding a personal note, Justice Nambiar spoke about Justice Jamdar’s understated humour and his interest in birdwatching and photography, describing him as observant in both life and law.
Advocate General Goplakrishna Kurup, addressing the gathering, reiterated the centrality of an independent judiciary to the rule of law. “without a judiciary that can and will administer the law fairly and fearlessly between parties, no guarantee conferred by law can have any real meaning.” He said Justice Jamdar exemplified fairness by hearing every voice and resisting prejudice and indifference alike.
Referring to Justice Jamdar’s tenure as Chief Justice since September 26, 2024, the Advocate General said that despite being brief, it was marked by an approach that was “fair, firm and fearless”, leaving a lasting institutional imprint. He also highlighted Justice Jamdar’s courtroom manner as calm, attentive and precise. “Court room silence can often be as persuasive as the loudest argument for a wise judge who speaks softly with fierce precision. My lords demeanor at the Bench may be described as one of the kind authority. You listen carefully to the submissions of the counsels and engage with them calmly. Delving deep into the intricacies of the lists to be adjudicated,” the Advocate General said.
Among administrative measures credited to Justice Jamdar, the Advocate General noted steps aimed at reducing pendency, including designating Wednesdays as regular hearing days and introducing systematic monthly listings of fully pleaded cases, which he said improved disposals. He also referred to Justice Jamdar’s emphasis on roster discipline and jurisprudence that clarified the distinction between maintainability and entertainability of writ petitions under Article 226. “My lords, judgments reflect a remarkable versatility in traversing branches of laws with clarity. They stand as a testament to your unwavering commitment to fairness, equity and social justice, a legacy that continues to guide both the bench and bar, long after today,” he said.
The Advocate General further highlighted Justice Jamdar’s push for a digitised judiciary and paperless courts, describing the reforms as measures that could reduce delay, lower litigation costs and preserve records with integrity over the long term. He also referred to Justice Jamdar’s role in the inauguration of what was described as the first fully paperless district judiciary at Kalpetta.
Paying tribute on behalf of the Bar, the President of the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHAA), Advocate Peeyus A Kottam, described Justice Jamdar as a judge who did not seek applause but remained anchored to constitutional principles. He credited Justice Jamdar with landmark technology-focused reforms, including the launch of the fully paperless district judiciary at Kalpetta, which the association said has emerged as a national benchmark.
The KHAA President also referred to Justice Jamdar’s progressive rulings, including decisions relating to surrogacy rights and environmental protection, and said his approach reflected an attempt to balance constitutional freedoms with ethical and ecological considerations. He further noted Justice Jamdar’s participation in international forums on environmental law and legal technology, describing it as indicative of the wider resonance of his judicial vision.
