- February 7, 2023
Supreme Court judge takes oath with ‘butterflies in stomach’ | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: “Butterflies in the stomach”, said a nervous Justice PV Sanjay Kumar seconds after he reached the pinnacle of his judicial career in taking oath on Monday as a Supreme Court judge, an occasion that appeared to physically overwhelm him, causing mild trembling of his hand.
As he sat down after affirmation of oath to sign the official papers, the dais microphone picked him telling CJI DY Chandrachud, who administered the oath, that he was having “butterflies in stomach”.
The CJI understood the nervousness of Justice Kumar, who was appointed judge of Telangana HC in 2008 and as CJ of Manipur HC in February 2021. Justice Chandrachud’s remarks, also picked up by the dais microphone, was assuring: “This is a very very important and solemn occasion. I get them (butterflies) while administering oaths. It is a moment in history, you know!”
As per Collins dictionary, “If you have butterflies in your stomach or have butterflies, you are very nervous or excited about something”. Britannica described the phrase as “having a nervous feeling in the stomach”. Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, at the peak of his career, had revealed that he got butterflies on eve of every match.
Justice Kumar was third among the five to take oath. The other four who were administered oath as SC judges were Justices Pankaj Mithal, Sanjay Karol, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Manoj Misra. With this, the working strength of SC went up to 32 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
Justice Mithal is the senior most among the five who took oath on Monday. He was appointed a judge of Allahabad HC in July 2006. He was appointed as CJ of J&K and Ladakh in January 2021 and was transferred to Rajasthan HC as CJ in October 2022.
With Justice Karol taking oath as a SC judge, Himachal Pradesh got representation in the SC after a gap of over two and half years. But there are several HCs which have no representation in the SC. Justice Karol was appointed a HC judge in March 2007 and CJ of Tripura HC in November 2018. He was transferred to Patna HC as CJ in November 2019 and worked there till his elevation to the SC.
Justice Amanullah, who was appointed as judge of Patna HC in June 2011, was chosen to become a SC judge from the Muslim community after the retirement of Justice S Abdul Nazeer last month. Justice Amanullah was transferred for eight months to Andhra Pradesh HC in 2020-21 before being transferred back to his parent HC.
Justice Misra, the youngest of the lot was appointed judge of the Allahabad HC in November 2011, and has a long tenure of more than seven years as a judge of the SC. However, he would retire as the most senior judge, remaining no. 2 for more than two years when Justice Pardiwala becomes CJI in 2028.
With these appointments, both Allahabad HC and Delhi HC have the highest representation in the SC with four judges each. Bombay and Gujarat HCs have three Judges each in the SC.
As he sat down after affirmation of oath to sign the official papers, the dais microphone picked him telling CJI DY Chandrachud, who administered the oath, that he was having “butterflies in stomach”.
The CJI understood the nervousness of Justice Kumar, who was appointed judge of Telangana HC in 2008 and as CJ of Manipur HC in February 2021. Justice Chandrachud’s remarks, also picked up by the dais microphone, was assuring: “This is a very very important and solemn occasion. I get them (butterflies) while administering oaths. It is a moment in history, you know!”
As per Collins dictionary, “If you have butterflies in your stomach or have butterflies, you are very nervous or excited about something”. Britannica described the phrase as “having a nervous feeling in the stomach”. Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, at the peak of his career, had revealed that he got butterflies on eve of every match.
Justice Kumar was third among the five to take oath. The other four who were administered oath as SC judges were Justices Pankaj Mithal, Sanjay Karol, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Manoj Misra. With this, the working strength of SC went up to 32 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
Justice Mithal is the senior most among the five who took oath on Monday. He was appointed a judge of Allahabad HC in July 2006. He was appointed as CJ of J&K and Ladakh in January 2021 and was transferred to Rajasthan HC as CJ in October 2022.
With Justice Karol taking oath as a SC judge, Himachal Pradesh got representation in the SC after a gap of over two and half years. But there are several HCs which have no representation in the SC. Justice Karol was appointed a HC judge in March 2007 and CJ of Tripura HC in November 2018. He was transferred to Patna HC as CJ in November 2019 and worked there till his elevation to the SC.
Justice Amanullah, who was appointed as judge of Patna HC in June 2011, was chosen to become a SC judge from the Muslim community after the retirement of Justice S Abdul Nazeer last month. Justice Amanullah was transferred for eight months to Andhra Pradesh HC in 2020-21 before being transferred back to his parent HC.
Justice Misra, the youngest of the lot was appointed judge of the Allahabad HC in November 2011, and has a long tenure of more than seven years as a judge of the SC. However, he would retire as the most senior judge, remaining no. 2 for more than two years when Justice Pardiwala becomes CJI in 2028.
With these appointments, both Allahabad HC and Delhi HC have the highest representation in the SC with four judges each. Bombay and Gujarat HCs have three Judges each in the SC.