Nithyakalyani Narayanan. V
In her farewell speech on July 20th, Justice Sunita Agarwal, Judge at Allahabad High Court (Allahabad Bench), urged young women, students, and lawyers to be confident, persistent, and not let external influences discourage them. She remarked that young women lawyers should not let anyone dictate what they can or cannot do.
“Do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot achieve, even the sky is not the limit … To the young members of the bar, I would like to say, always remember that this institution is above all of us. We exist because this institution exists and it is not the other way round. This institution is so large-hearted that it embraces everyone who enters. No individual is and will ever be greater than the institution. Pay your respect and sense of gratitude to this august institution every day.”
She also advised young Advocates to devote their time and energy to their work and to be disciplined, honest, and positive. “Respect your colleagues and staff and help each other when in need…There will be plenty of opportunities coming your way and if you choose carefully, you will achieve great success. The world is your oyster.”
Justice Sunita Agarwal is an alumnus of Awadh University. She enrolled as an Advocate in December 1990. She was promoted to an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in November 2011 and as the permanent judge in August 2013. She added that when she joined the bar, there were very few women advocates in the profession, especially in the Allahabad High Court and that many people doubted her and her place in this profession. She is now recommended to be the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, thus becoming the only woman Chief Justice currently in the country.
Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Printinker Diwaker shared that her departure was a significant loss for them, while the Gujarat High Court now stood to gain from her presence.
Justice Agarwal expressed her gratitude towards her family, every one of her Court staff and her seniors both on the bar and the bench.