The All India Senior Advocates Association recently welcomed its new members into the Supreme Court Bar at a felicitation ceremony held at the Constitution Club of India, where Justice Rajesh Bindal of the Supreme Court was also honoured.
Senior members of the Bar and the Bench were also present on the occasion, and the event witnessed considerable participation from young advocates practising before the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who was the chief guest, candidly shared his own journey and background at the Bar rather than confining himself to formal remarks.
He said that he had enrolled as a young advocate at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1985 and was a first-generation lawyer with no family background in the legal profession.
He said that he had built his practice entirely through hard work and perseverance over the years, and that these two qualities had carried him from his early days at the Chandigarh Bar to the office he currently holds.
The CJI described Justice Rajesh Bindal as a fellow traveller and someone who had also commenced his legal career at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
He praised Bindal for his diligence, commitment to the judicial office, and the quality of his judgments, emphasising that such dedication to the law is the need of the hour. Noting that Justice Bindal’s tenure is drawing to a close, the CJI expressed confidence that the legal community would continue to benefit from his contributions.
Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, Justice Bindal recounted his journey in the legal profession and, in his address to young advocates, emphasised the importance of regular court attendance.
He advised young lawyers to be present inside the courtroom not merely when their own matters are listed, but consistently, with the specific purpose of observing how senior advocates argue before the court.