New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna praised Supreme Court judge Justice CT Ravikumar on his last working day, calling him a "humane and noble soul" whose rise from humble beginnings to the apex court was truly remarkable. Justice Ravikumar, who joined the Supreme Court on August 31, 2021, after a distinguished tenure at the Kerala High Court, retires on Sunday.

A legacy to follow
Justice Ravikumar, the ninth senior-most judge in the Supreme Court, received an emotional farewell from the ceremonial bench comprising CJI Khanna, Justice Ravikumar, and Justice Sanjay Kumar. CJI Khanna acknowledged the challenges of rising from a rural background without urban privileges, highlighting that his achievements were exceptional. “Justice Ravikumar has not only achieved this but also outperformed in his duties," CJI Khanna remarked. He called Ravikumar’s journey an inspiration for future generations, leaving behind a lasting legacy for all judges to follow.

Gratitude and tributes
In his farewell address, Justice Ravikumar expressed gratitude to the Bar for its unwavering support throughout his career. “I was an advocate and that advocate remains in me. That is why I always hold the Bar in the highest respect,” he said.

Legal luminaries, including Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Kapil Sibal, paid heartfelt tributes to the retiring judge. Mehta described Ravikumar as “a god-loving person” who never raised his voice or made anyone uncomfortable. Sibal fondly spoke of Ravikumar’s love for cricket and nature, remarking that they both drew wisdom from observing nature’s simplicity.

Early life and career
Justice Ravikumar was born on January 6, 1960, in Kerala’s Peermadu. He graduated in zoology from Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, before earning an LLB degree from Government Law College, Calicut. Ravikumar began his legal career in 1986 and later became an additional judge of the Kerala High Court in 2009. He took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court in 2021.

With PTI inputs