Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde and senior members of the Bar bid farewell to Justice Arun Mishra, who retires as a judge of the Supreme Court today (02.09.2020). Attorney General K K Venugopal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Supreme Court Bar Association President Dushyant Dave and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association President Shivaji Jadhav were among the lawyers logged in to Court 1 to address Justice Mishra on his last day in office. 

As per tradition, Justice Mishra shared the Bench with CJI Bobde on his last working day. CJI Bobde remarked that it was the very first time that he and Justice Mishra were sitting together, and would be the last time too. He said, “You have been a beacon of courage and fortitude in discharging your duties."

Justice Arun Mishra said that over the course of his career as a judge, he has "dealt with every case with his conscience."

Justice Mishra also said that whatever he could do "came from the Supreme powers of this Court".

Paying tribute to the Bar, he said, "I always tried to borrow the weapon of power given to me by my learned brothers. All of you were the power behind whatever I have done."

He further added that "I have learned so much from the members of the Bar. So many branches of law I have learned from the Bar members. You can master the facts but there are so many local laws... And the interpretation of those by lawyers."

Justice Mishra also said "Sometimes I have been very harsh in my conduct directly or indirectly. Nobody should feel hurt. Analyze every Judgment and don't color it this way or that way. If I have hurt anybody then please pardon me, pardon me, pardon me."

Referring to the Prashant Bhushan contempt case that he heard and decided, Justice Mishra stated, "...even in the last case of contempt, AG said that he didn't want any punishment (for Prashant Bhushan) but.....".

While Attorney General KK Venugopal addressed Justice Mishra as the "iron judge of the Supreme Court".