Indian Lawyers’ Forum (ILF), Kuwait, the Association of Indian Law Graduates and Lawyers in Kuwait organized a reception for the visiting Senior Justice of Supreme Court of India, Mr. Chamaleshar. The function was presided over by the President of Indian Lawyers’ Forum, Thomas Panicker followed by General Secretary of the Forum welcoming the Chief Guest and the gathering.
Advocate Suresh Pulickkal presented the details of the forthcoming activities of the Forum. The function was inaugurated by Justice Jasti Chamaleshar by lighting the traditional lamp.
In his address, the President welcomed Justice Chamaleshar, guests and members to the function. Jasti Chelameswar was a judge of the Supreme Court of India, and retired on 22 June, 2018 as the second most senior Supreme court judge. Earlier, he was the Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala and Gauhati High Court.
Justice Jasti Chamaleshar said that going public about the issues crippling the apex court functioning was “the right thing” and he doesn’t repent it. He headed the Bench which, in March 2015, struck down as unconstitutional the draconian Section 66A of the Information Technology Act that led to the arrests of many people for posting content deemed to be “allegedly objectionable” on the Internet. He was also the lone dissenting judge in the five-judge Constitution Bench verdict that scrapped the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) law and upheld the two-decades-old collegium system of judges appointing judges.
Justice Jasti Chamaleshar had written against the government’s interference in the judiciary when the Centre, bypassing the collegium, directly asked the Karnataka Chief Justice to conduct an inquiry into a judge recommended by the collegium for elevation to the High Court.
President Thomas Panicker highlighted the activities of ‘Indian Lawyers’ Forum’. He stated that the Forum was formed with 7 members in 1988 and it has grown since the inception and now the total membership is 130 Indian Law Graduates and Lawyers.
He described all the legal aids the Forum has rendered in the recent past adding on that the Forum is very successful in providing a platform for the Indian Lawyers in Kuwait to interact with each other. He observed that the Forum enjoys the membership of Indian lawyers who are working for high profile legal firms/Corporations and holding key legal positions in various companies in Kuwait and is well equipped to deal with any sort of legal and business consultations pertaining to Kuwait as well as India. The Forum is also ready to cooperate with any association in Kuwait, which intends to conduct legal seminars for its members or the public.
As a token of appreciation, a memento and ‘Ponnada’ was presented to Justice Jasti Chamaleshar by President of ILF. Advocate Thomas Stephen, Advisor of the Forum gave a felicitation speech. Justice Chamaleshar in his reply speech, spoke extensively regarding the law system in India, under the Permanent Indian Constitution. The recent development in the Indian Supreme Court was also a subject of discussion, and after the speech, there was a question-answer session.
Advocate Shibin Jose, the Honourary Treasurer of the Forum proposed the vote of thanks and Advocate Mohammed Bashir, General Convenor of the Forum ably compered the function. This concluded with a sumptuous dinner.