Supreme Court judge Bhat demits office

Supreme Court judge S Ravindra Bhat, who was part of a five-judge Constitution bench that refused to accord legal recognition to same-sex marriages earlier this week, demitted office on Friday, after a stint of little over four years in the top court.

- Abraham Thomas

"I wish to record my gratitude to all my colleagues who have shown nothing but great warmth and cordiality and to the members of this great bar for the cooperation and the daily quest for justice," he said, as a ceremonial bench, headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, bid him farewell. "I wish that everyone adopts an approach of inquiry, empathy fierce independence, and compassion. I think these are hallmarks of not only a judge but every good human being and every legal practitioner," he added. Justice Bhat recalled his association with justice Kaul, which dates back to their graduation days.