Calcutta High Court Will Greatly Benefit From Appointment Of More Judges: Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam

The Calcutta High Court has bid farewell to Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, who has demitted office after a tenure of over 2 years, being sworn in as Chief Justice in May 2023.

Justice Sivagnaman was sworn in as an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court in 2009, and made permanent in 2011. Thereafter, he was transferred to the Calcutta High Court in 2021, and then elevated to the position of Chief Justice on the 11th of May 2023.

In discussing the heightened workload of judges at the High Court, due to the numerous unfulfilled vacancies, he remarked, "In recalling his time as a judge at the Calcutta High Court, he stated: "When I came here, I requested my then-Chief Justice for ways to recommend the names of Bar Judges. The data is there for service judges. With the help of my fellow jugdes, 17 names have been recommended. Even if 10 come through, that will be a good addition for the High Court. So much of work is there...I had to assign second appeals which are 20-30 years old. And Supreme Court has asked for priority to be given..."

"Each Jugde has four or five determinations, I have not spared the judges in the division benches also. Most of them leave their chambers at 8:30pm...so if some more judges are added, because 17 clear vacancies are there as far as the bar is concerned...so if that strength is increased then the Calcutta High Court will be greatly benefitted," he added.

In talking about how the Calcutta High Court had expanded its virtual hearings to YouTube and ensured live streaming for most courts, he stated:

"I can very proudly say that all our proceedings are live streamed, and we have got a silver button from YouTube as well...this is possible with the cooperation of the bar, enabling me to discharge my administrative duties."

He further refused to comment on speculation on his non-elevation to the Supreme Court, "Much has been said about me, that parting is painful...there is a tinge of sadness, but every judge knows he has to retire. In between, some have spoken about what could have happened to me, why was it not done...this is not a time to make an autopsy on that. No regrets...I take things as they come."

In signing off, Justice Sivagnanam remarked, "I thank each one of you who have played a role in my discharge of duties as Chief Justice, and the support extended by the family in carrying out this divine duty."