A Farewell to Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee – Justice P.N.Prakash Judge, Madras High Court ( Published in 2021 (6) CTC JS 5)

A Farewell to Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee
– Justice P.N.Prakash
Judge, Madras High Court
( Published in 2021 (6) CTC JS 5)

The Madras High Court saw the end of Dhoni’s (A.P. Sahi, C.J.) captaincy on 31st December, 2020 and soon, the tempest, Virat Kohli (Sanjib Banerjee,C.J.) took over the reins on 04th January, 2021. It has been a T-20 series ever since.

Before assuming office as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Justice Banerjee, like his illustrious predecessor, had done his homework. He wasted little time in getting into the groove and coming to grips with the nuances of the judicial and administrative works of this chartered High Court. He would be in his chambers by 9.15 a.m. and would normally leave only around 8.00 p.m. He held a firm grip over the administration and no file ever stagnated. He undertook car yatras to all District Courts in the State and obtained a hands-on understanding of the requirements in each district.

While in Salem, a lady wanted to talk to him desperately. However, as usual, the protocol around the Chief Justice prevented her. She ventilated her grievance in Tamil, which was translated to him by someone nearby. The substance of her complaint was that she had given her property in Edappadi on rent to house the Munsif Court. She complained that rents had not been paid for several months. On his return to Chennai, he called me, being one of the Portfolio Judges for the Salem District and requested me to address her grievance. I felt distraught that being one of the Portfolio Judges, I had failed to take note of such an important issue that was causing legitimate concern to an ordinary citizen who had given her property for rent.

It appears that on the judicial side, he did not suffer fools gladly. Orders were either dictated in open Court and if reserved, delivered within a few days thereafter. His working table was always clean and tidy, with no bundles anywhere. Of course, he is temperamental and his off the cuff remarks, on and off the bench, have ruffled feathers. He is a pucca Bengali badhralok, who would call a spade a spade.

During his tenure, he conducted the Administrative Committee meetings every fortnight and the Full Court meetings every month. He showed zero tolerance to corruption and ruthlessly axed corrupt officers in droves.

What really fascinates me is, he appears to have known of his transfer to Meghalaya even in mid September 2021. However, he continued to work nonchalantly as if he was going to complete his term as Chief Justice. In fact, along with his wife he had hosted a gala family lunch for us on the 3rd ultimo. Even on 9th November, 2021, during my meeting with him at around 5.30 p.m., he told me that he has prepared a Vision Plan – 2025 for the State’s judiciary. Under this Plan, there would be no Court in any rented building in the State by 2025. The very same evening, news of his transfer to Meghalaya was made public. However, the following day was business as usual. No lamentation, ruing or sympathy-seeking.

For a Karma Yogi, Meghalaya is as good as Madras.

Seeing inaction in action,
Seeing action in action,
Such a man is wise among men,
A yogi, doing all action.

– Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 4, Verse 18

Good-bye Justice Banerjee, you will remain in our hearts!