The importance of statistical data, in interpreting careers, is often highlighted. It hides as much as it reveals. It’s not without reason Wilfred Rhodes had a Test career which lasted more than 30 years! We aren’t discussing sports, though.
Hon’ble Justice P.N. Bhagwati still holds the record for the longest tenure [4905 days; DoA, 17.07.1973 – DoR, 20.12.1986][1]. If we set aside i) Death-in-Office [Hon’ble Judges H.J. Kania, Ghulam Hasan, P. Govinda Menon, P. Satyanarayana Raju, Subimal Chandra Roy, A.K. Mukherjea, S.N. Dwivedi, R.C. Patnaik][2] and ii) Resignation [Hon’ble Justice Baharul Islam][3], Hon’ble Justice K.N. Saikia holds the record for the shortest tenure [807 days; DoA, 14.12.1988 – DoR, 28.02.1991].
Post-Justice-Saikia, in between 1992 and 2020 [28 years], nobody has had a shorter tenure than Hon’ble Justice M. Fathima Beevi [937 days; DoA, 06.10.1989 – DoR, 29.04.1992]. In recent times, we have had Hon’ble Justice Swatanter Kumar [1098 days; DoA, 18.12.2009 – DoR, 19.12.2012][4]; Hon’ble Justice Vikramajit Sen [1102 days; DoA, 24.12.2012 – DoR, 30.12.2015] and Hon’ble Justice Amitava Roy [1099 days; DoA, 27.02.2015 – DoR, 01.03.2018]. It is illustrative. Interestingly, Justice Beevi shall meet her closest match in 224 days. Justice Indu Malhotra [DoA, 27.04.2018 – DoR, 13.03.2021] shall bid adieu with a tenure of 1052 days.
It appears questionable that, in 28 years we have had only 8 women Judges. It is shocking, in those years leading to 2021, the 2 SC Judges who shall hold the record for the shortest tenure are…
[1] Inclusive of DoR. Justice Bhagwati was appointed by Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice A.N. Ray.
[2] Not the only ones to have had died while still being a SC Judge.
[3] Not the only one to have resigned while still being a SC Judge.
[4] He resigned while still being a SC Judge.
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