“A judge has to be fearless”: Justice Sureshwar Thakur’s bids farewell to Punjab and Haryana High Court
“A judge has to be fearless. If fear creeps into the mind of a judge or a lawyer, the judicial system collapses.” With these stirring words, Justice Sureshwar Thakur signed off from the bench, retiring after more than 11 years as a high court judge.
Justice Thakur, who demitted office upon attaining the age of superannuation this evening, was given a warm send-off by Bar and Bench at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In a deeply reflective address, Justice Thakur said fear not only saps courage but also exerts intellectual pressure, causing “colossal damage to the judicial institution”.
Comparing his retirement to “attaining salvation”, Justice Thakur said he now felt freed from all ties. “A judge must always remember to remain grounded and humble, not elevated by pride. Delivering justice is a sacred duty,” he reminded.
Over the years, Justice Thakur was known for his clarity in reasoning and his firm grasp of constitutional principles. Advocate Ravi Sodhi, among others, recalled how his judgments ironed out creases and removed bottlenecks in matters of public significance.
Justice Thakur also expressed gratitude to Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court and then Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha for “tremendous support”. He acknowledged the affection and respect received from the Bar during his tenure.
Born in Shimla on May 18, 1963, Justice Thakur hails from a distinguished legal and literary family. His father, late Justice Hira Singh Thakur, served as a judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, while his mother, Nirmala Thakur, is a renowned English poet.
He studied at St Edward’s School, Shimla, completed his law degree from Himachal Pradesh University, and began practicing in the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 1987. He was appointed Additional District and Sessions Judge in 2001. He went on to hold several key judicial and administrative posts across Himachal Pradesh and was elevated as a judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in May 2014. On October 25, 2021, he took oath as a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge.
