Justice R Balasubramanian
Justice R. Balasubramanian, my erstwhile colleague
By Justice Katju
Justice R Balasubramanian, whose 80th birthday is being celebrated, was my friend and senior colleague in the Madras High Court, where I was Chief Justice in 2004-2005.
Justice Balasubramanian was very erudite, having vast legal knowledge, and had a very high reputation for his integrity. Since I had been a Judge of the Allahabad High Court before my appointment as Chief Justice of Madras High Court, I was totally unfamiliar with the latter High Court. Hence I often consulted him in matters relating to the Madras High Court, and he always gave me good advice and guidance, without which I could not have discharged my duties as Chief Justice properly.
In particular, I often consulted him, and he properly guided me, about preparing the roster of the High Court, that is, which judge or judges should sit in which jurisdiction.
In fact even before I left Allahabad I telephoned Chennai and spoke with him for half an hour or more to get a briefing about the Madras High Court, as I then knew nothing about it.
I may here narrate an interesting incident relating to him when I was Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
One day during the lunch interval I was sitting in my chamber when Justice Subramanian and Justice Prabha Sridevan, who were sitting in a bench together, came to my chamber, looking very upset.
They told me that some leaflets had been distributed by some unknown mischievous lawyers of the High Court calling these two judges fools. They showed me one of such leaflets.
On reading it I started laughing. At this they got even more upset, and said to me ” Chief, we have been insulted, and you are laughing “
I then said to them ” Listen, you better learn to ignore all this, otherwise you will get blood pressure “.
I told them that in a democracy so many things are said about judges and other authorities, but not all of them are correct or to be taken seriously. This is an occupational hazard for a judge, who must develop a thick skin.
I also told them that if they ignored it, the matter would be forgotten the next day, but if they issued contempt of court notice to anyone the matter would drag on for weeks or months causing endless anxiety to them and their families.
When I said this, both Judges started laughing, and Justice R Balasubramanian tore the leaflet and threw it into a waste paper basket.
I still vividly remember the above incident although it happened 20 years ago.
Justice Balasubramanian had a brother who suffered from some chronic illness that made him an invalid. A swamiji from Haridwar who was also a doctor and was well known to me, came to Chennai at my request, and I took him to Justice Balasubramanian’s residence to examine his brother. He gave some herbal medicines from the Himalayas, but I don’t know how effective it was.
After he retired from the High Court, Justice Balasubramanian started practice in the Supreme Court, and appeared often before my bench ( after my elevation to the Supreme Court). He was a good lawyer, just as he had been a good judge.
I wish him all the best in the years to come
