The Kerala High Court held a full court reference as it bid farewell to Justice V G Arun upon his demitting office upon attaining the age of superannuation. During the farewell address, Justice Arun expressed concern over the underrepresentation of women on the bench despite the presence of many excellent women lawyers. He noted that while there are outstanding female advocates, their representation in judicial appointments remained minuscule, a situation he hoped would change in the near future. In his address, he spoke about his interactions with young judicial officers during his tenure as the portfolio judge in various judicial districts, which he said gave him hope for the future of the Kerala Judiciary. He highlighted that the Kerala Judiciary had always been a cut above the rest of the country and expressed confidence in the institution’s continued commitment to the rule of law and justice.
Justice Arun expressed deep gratitude to his family, colleagues on the bench, members of the Bar, court staff, and the registry, acknowledging that his achievements were collective in nature. He paid special tribute to the late Advocate Anil Sivaraman, whom he described as a close confidant. He said that the guiding principles of his judicial career had been liberty, equality, and fraternity, describing these as the core values of democracy. He quoted from his reflections on Dr. Ambedkar’s emphasis on these principles as forming a trinity, observing that traversing from any one would defeat the purpose of democracy. In concluding his address, Justice Arun described retirement as a semicolon rather than a full stop, expressing that he looked forward to reading judgments without having to write them, revisiting neglected books, and discovering life beyond the courtroom.
Justice Arun provided a personal account of his background, noting that he was the son of T K G Nair, a renowned writer, journalist, and public intellectual, and Smt. Sulochana V. Nair. He acknowledged his familial connection to the legal profession, including his uncle, Justice V. Sivaraman Nair, a former judge of the Kerala High Court. Justice Arun obtained a degree in economics before pursuing law, enrolling as an advocate and beginning his practice in Kozhikode before later shifting to the Kerala High Court in Thiruvananthapuram. Over the years, he trained under senior advocates and served in roles such as the editor of the Kerala Series of the Indian Law Reports prior to his elevation to the bench.
Presiding over the full court reference, Justice A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar paid tribute to Justice Arun, lauding his intellectual rigour and the clarity of his judgment writing. He also praised Justice Arun’s administrative contributions, including his role in the Kerala Judicial Academy. Justice Nambiar observed that Justice Arun’s judgments reflected a rare balance between doctrinal precision and practical wisdom, inspiring confidence in the rule of law among both the Bar and the public. He referenced Alexander Pope in noting that Justice Arun’s mastery in judgment writing came from art rather than chance, and also shared lighter recollections about Justice Arun’s wit and humour, which he suggested would re-emerge in retirement after years of judicial restraint.
The Advocate General also addressed the reference, highlighting the qualities of a fine judge and observing that Justice Arun’s career exemplified these ideals in practice. He described Justice Arun’s conduct as a lawyer, noting his courteous demeanour, calm composure, persuasive effectiveness, and his unfazed response even when faced with interruptions or challenging questions. As a judge, the Advocate General stated that Justice Arun had been a resolute adherent to judicial independence and impartiality, ensuring that his decisions and the decision-making process were marked by fairness and equality. The Advocate General also highlighted several significant rulings delivered by Justice Arun that reflected his deep commitment to constitutional values, human dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of thought. These included decisions affirming an individual’s right to be recognised as non-religious in official records, permitting changes in religious affiliation in school documents, safeguarding freedom of expression of prisoners, restraining intrusive police surveillance at night, and upholding reproductive autonomy as an inseparable facet of personal liberty.
The farewell address also drew attention to rulings delivered by Justice Arun in other areas of law, including the rights of accused persons in medical negligence cases, addressing the prohibitive cost of life-saving drugs, compensation in vaccine-related fatalities, and the rights of older couples seeking parenthood under assisted reproductive technology laws. These decisions were noted as reflecting Justice Arun’s deep engagement with issues pertaining to human rights and access to justice. The President of the Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association described Justice Arun as a bar-friendly judge whose courtroom was marked by discipline without severity and authority without intimidation. Members of the Bar noted that his calm and composed demeanour transformed the courtroom into a space of confidence and comfort, allowing advocates, particularly junior lawyers, to participate fearlessly and grow in their professional capacities.
The full court reference concluded with applause in honour of Justice Arun, prompted by the invitation of Justice Nambiar, reflecting the esteem in which he was held by his judicial colleagues and the Bar. Justice Arun’s farewell marked the culmination of his tenure on the bench, during which he served with dedication, upheld constitutional principles, and contributed significantly to the jurisprudence of the Kerala High Court. His reflections on retirement and his career resonated with those present, encapsulating his commitment to justice, equity, and the rule of law, and highlighting the impact of his judicial service on the institution and the legal community at large.
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