'Justice Not Abstract But A Living Reality, Must Be Accessible To All': Kerala High Court Bids Farewell To Justice Amit Rawal

The Kerala High Court held a farewell reference for Justice Amit Rawal on Friday (September 19) who is set to retire on September 21 on attaining age of superaanuation. 

The ceremonial reference was attended by members of the Bench, Bar, and legal fraternity. 

Justice Rawal in his farewell speech expressed his gratitude to the Kerala Bar and Bench for embracing him with warmth since his transfer to the high court in 2019.

Paying homage to “God's own country,” he said: “As I stand high today on the threshold of retirement, I am filled with a deep sense of humility, gratitude, and reflection. The robe I wear today does not merely carry the veil of law, but carries memories, duties, and emotions of over a decade spent in the service of justice.”

He said,

“Justice is not a mere abstract but a living, breathing reality that must be accessible to all, without distinction or discrimination”

He fondly remembered his years at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which he described as the “cradle of his judicial journey” and the foundation of his values as a judge.

He also shared his unique experience of celebrating Onam in Kerala, concluding in Malayalam: “Angane njanum Malayali aayi Onam koodi, Maveliye kandu, Sadya undu” (“Thus, I too became a Malayali by celebrating Onam, meeting Maveli, and enjoying the feast”).

Justice Rawal reflected on his unusual path to law, having come from a family of doctors.

“Where white coats mended wounds, I chose black robes to mend truth,” he said, encouraging young lawyers to believe in themselves and pursue their calling with courage.

“Success is not defined by how you start, but how consistently and courageously you move forward,” he told the budding members of the Bar.

“I step away from the bench with a full heart. There is, of course, a certain melancholy in saying goodbye to the courtroom, to the cause to the calling. But I do not leave with sadness, but with a profound sense of fulfilment. I have tried to serve law with integrity, to uphold dignity,” he added.

Justice Amit Rawal graduated from DAV College, Chandigarh in 1983, and received a law degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1986 and was enrolled as member of Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. He represented the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana in the High Court and other institutions. He was designated as Senior Advocate on 8 May 2012. He handled cases ranging from civil disputes, matrimonial cases , company law and constitution matters. After a short stint in the office of Advocate General, Punjab as Additional Advocate General, he was elevated as an additional judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 25 September 2014 and was appointed permanent judge of that court on 23 May 2016. He was transferred to Kerala High Court in 2019.

Chief Justice of Kerala, Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, in his address, recalled Justice Rawal's progressive arguments and far-reaching decisions. Among them were rulings on the constitutional validity of term limits for cooperative credit societies and the interpretation of coastal regulation zones based on high tide lines.

Advocate General Gopalakrishna Kurup described Justice Rawal as “a scholarly jurist par excellence” whose journey through law reflected independence of thought, depth of knowledge, and remarkable versatility.

Kurup recalled Justice Rawal's formative years at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he disposed of nearly 17,965 cases as a single judge and 1,658 on the division bench. “From civil disputes and matrimonial matters to constitutional law and company law, Justice Rawal's diverse casework has enriched his legal acumen and strengthened the justice system,” he said.

He also highlighted Justice Rawal's service as the Advocate General of Punjab, and the special mention made by The Tribune which described him as “the only black coat among whites” in a family of doctors.

Kurup recalled his speech on the International Day of the Girl Child in 2015, where he urged that empowerment of young girls was central to nation-building, quoting Napoleon Bonaparte: “Give me good mothers and I shall give you a great nation.”

He also acknowledged Justice Rawal's interests beyond the Bench, noting his passion for cricket and golf, and his role in presiding over the All-India Golf Tournament in Kochi in 2024.

Yeshwant Shenoy, President of the Kerala High Court Advocates Association, praised Justice Rawal's “dedication, judicial courage, and unwavering commitment to justice.” He noted that Rawal's judicial tenure was marked by significant contributions to jurisprudence and a fearless approach in ensuring that law evolved to meet contemporary social needs.

One of the defining moments of Justice Rawal's career, Shenoy recalled, was his pathbreaking judgment under the Motor Vehicles Act. Deviating from the rigid statutory formula for compensation, Justice Rawal observed that “the judiciary cannot be a partner in the slumber of legislation,” establishing a principle that courts must ensure just compensation despite legislative gaps.

Shenoy emphasized that Rawal's judgments consistently prioritized “substance over form, and justice over technicality,” striking a balance between legal principles and human dignity. “Law, as Justice Rawal has shown us, is not an abstraction but a living instrument to serve humanity,” Shenoy said.

As Justice Rawal embarks on his post-retirement chapter, resuming practice before the Supreme Court of India, the Kerala Bar and Bench extended their heartfelt wishes.