Madras High Court Chief Justice AP Sahi received a warm welcome from the Bar on Tuesday after he restarted his judicial duties less than a month after he was afflicted by COVID-19.

Justice Sahi sat this morning in Court along with Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy to dictate orders and take up a few matters through virtual mode.

Among those who welcomed the Chief Justice back in action was advocate NGR Prasad.

“Let me take this opportunity to welcome you back,” he said.

Another lawyer present virtually added,

“Everybody was appreciating that your Lordship went to a government hospital.”

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi was also among the lawyers who extended his greetings to the Chief Justice on his return to Court.

“I did not know the Chief Justice was not well,” he remarked.

During the course of the warm exchanges, the Chief Justice recounted that he may have overreached in undertaking physical inspections to certain subordinate courts prior to his falling ill on account of COVID-19.

“I have to confess there was an overreach on my part”, Chief Justice Sahi commented.

Rohatgi observed, “Inspection is necessary to rejuvenate the subordinate judiciary.”

Chief Justice Sahi responded that it is not just about rejuvenation and that on inspection, he found that there was a Taluk Court waiting to be inaugurated for a year. A police booth was inaugurated instead in front of the court.

Chief Justice Sahi added that he informed the Police Superintendent that he has taken photographs of the booth, and cautioned that, “Tomorrow morning there will be an FIR or no police booth.”

The Court building was inaugurated the next day, Chief Justice Sahi said, expressing his happiness at the same having happened though with his intervention.

He remarked, “These small things are so important, you can’t brush them aside.”

Rohatgi responded that he is happy that Chief Justice Sahi is back and smiling.

The Chief Justice also informed that he would not be taking up further judicial matters this week and that these may be taken up by the second bench presided over by Justice Dr Vineet Kothari.

Chief Justice Sahi had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month and received treatment from the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. He was reportedly discharged from the hospital around two weeks ago after 10 days of admission.