Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur retires from service

Vijayawada: Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur retired from service on Friday. A full court farewell was extended to Justice Thakur, who worked as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh high court for 33 months.Speaking at his farewell, Justice Thakur said judicial independence was a right of the people, and protecting it was the responsibility of the judiciary. He said the role of a judge demanded patience in hearing, impartiality in conduct, courage in decision-making, and dignity in behaviour. He said every judgment had a bearing on people's lives, liberties and futures, and judges must function with that awareness.Referring to the rising number of cases, he said it reflected public faith in the judicial system but also placed additional responsibility on courts. He said that the bar also has equal responsibility as that of judges in ensuring justice was not delayed.Justice Thakur underscored the importance of judicial infrastructure for the future and expressed hope that the proposed ‘Justice City', comprising a new high court building, international arbitration centre, judicial academy, advocates' chambers and residential facilities, would meet long-term needs. He acknowledged the support extended by the state govt for judicial infrastructure.He said individual achievements were not solely personal but were the result of institutional support and collective effort. Justice Thakur recalled the influence of his father, D D Thakur, and his brother, former Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, in shaping his values.Thanking judges, officers, staff and members of the Bar, he said the independence of the judiciary remained central to sustaining public trust.Chief Justice-designate of the Andhra Pradesh high court, Justice Lisa Gill, credited Justice Thakur for strengthening the judicial system through administrative reforms and infrastructure development. She listed various initiatives, including the recruitment of judges, judicial staff, and construction of court buildings during his tenure as Chief Justice. Justice Thakur stood as an example of enduring commitment to judicial service, she said, adding that his contributions would remain a reference point in the state's judicial history.Additional solicitor general Challa Dhananjaya, advocate general Dammalapati Srinivas, AP High Court Advocates Association president Prabhunath Vasireddy and Bar Council chairman Dwarakanath also spoke, acknowledging Justice Thakur's role in judicial administration. Several judges, law officers, members of the bar and court officials attended the farewell.