Yesterday, Justice Poonam A Bamba bids farewell to the Delhi High Court.

During her speech, she expressed her intention to step down from her position with profound gratitude in her heart and a profound sense of satisfaction for having faithfully upheld the oath of office.

“It's a wonderful platform to perform. There is no interference. You can create anything you desire, though within four corners, but we all know law confers lot of powers on the judges.…. So this gave me a platform to grow and evolve in every which way,” she said.

Justice Bamba obtained her LLB degree in 1983 and subsequently embarked on her career in the legal field. She joined the Delhi Higher Judicial Service in 2002 after practicing law, during which time she represented several banks and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Her dedication and experience led to her elevation as a permanent judge of the Delhi High Court on March 28 of the preceding year.

“I am reminded of a very famous dialogue of Rajesh Khanna in film Anand, “Babu moshaaye, zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin.” So I can say that my journey in the High Court though short has been very significant for me. And if legitimate expectation of long tenure is met that is always welcome,” the judge said.

Justice Bamba further said that she is especially grateful to the fellow judges for embracing her as their own, even though the tenure was very short.

“Once someone asked me, do you believe in destiny? I did not know how to respond. I wasn't sure. But today when I look at look back at my life journey. I can answer it better. I think it was destiny’s push that I'm here today. And I stand here exactly 40 years since I joined this journey in the field of law. As everyone mentioned, I was a science student and had nothing to do with law. Never dreamt of it. But after completing my B SC botany honors, I was awaiting my enrollment as an MSc which took some time and my father persuaded me to join law in the interregnum,” Justice Bamba said.

She went on to express that while her prior experiences in practicing law and working in the banking sector and securities market were valuable, her role in the judiciary has been the most enriching and fulfilling aspect of her life.

“It gave gave me immense satisfaction not only at professional level, but also at personal level. Professionally, in whatever little way if I could meaningfully touch lives, whether while dealing with haggard spouses, traumatized children, abandoned children, senior citizen parents, undertrial criminals, corporates or citizens whose lands had been acquired and even terrorists. And at personal level, I give full credit to Judiciary for my exponential growth and evolvement as a human being,” the judge said.

She added: “The ones who always had grievance against the system or the judges also taught me that they hold nothing personal against me. They just exhibit their own personal experiences with the system. And those who showered praises also gave me a lesson. It is time to detach. All those things are directed at your seat.”

Justice Bamba also said that she has always had a human centric approach to governance and administration, which came handy when she was posted as a district judge in three different districts from time to time for about five years.

“And I've also experienced the divine takes care of you if you just trust. And when I merrily went around with busyness of my life, two of the senior colleagues asked me, speech likh li kya. That was a kind of gentle reminder the universe gave that it is time to hang on the costume and collect your thoughts. So I'm grateful to Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice VK Rao who asked me and gave a gentle nudge to me,” Justice Bamba said.

Justice Bamba concluded her farewell address by affirming that she has fulfilled her responsibilities to the utmost of her capabilities.