As the Kerala government seeks additional funds from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation following the recent floods, contributions are pouring in from all corners and this time from the highest court in the land.
The higher judiciary, often wrapped in the confines of confidentiality, let their hair a little loose for a noble cause. Two Supreme Court judges—Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice KM Joseph—both Malayalis, sang at cultural programmes conducted by journalists covering the apex court in Delhi to raise money for Kerala, reported the Press Trust of India.
Held at the auditorium of Indian Society for International Law opposite the offices of the Supreme Court, the cultural programme was also attended by Dipak Misra, the Chief Justice of India, and several other judges from the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court.
“Some may feel that this is a celebration because there are certain performances, but I would like to say this is a consolidated effort of finding the energy to raise (a) contribution for a noble cause,” said Justice Misra, addressing the press.
While Justice KM Joseph sang a song from the classic Malayalam movie ‘Amaram,’ chronicling the tale of fishermen, and a Hindi song, Justice Kurian Joseph went a little mainstream and performed ‘We Shall Overcome’ alongside recording artist Mohit Chauhan.
One rarest of rare times, perhaps first time ever, wen sitting justices of SC decided to showcase their other human side fr a humanitarian cause.. #KeralaFloodsRelief here’s a small snippet of J.Kurian Joseph in a duet with @_MohitChauhan pic.twitter.com/5uwNyKwOEs
— meenakshibhanja1 (@minakshibhanja1) August 27, 2018
“Fishermen were the first to react when the state was reeling under severe floods. This song is a tribute to them,” said Justice KM Joseph, speaking to the press.
All judges of the Supreme Court personally contributed Rs 25,000 each to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, while staff at the apex court contributed a day’s salary.
Furthermore, a group of Delhi-based lawyers from Kerala started a collection drive and managed to collect enough supplies including sanitary napkins, clothes, baby food, water bottles and medicines, among other things, to fill eight trucks headed towards the flood-ravaged state.
Also Read: Latur Earthquake to Kerala Floods: IAS Officer’s Unique Link to Maharashtra’s Relief Efforts!
Supporting this group of lawyers was Justice Kurian Joseph, who according to the Press Trust of India, “remained active in ensuring and arranging relief materials.”
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court Bar Association contributed Rs 30 lakh from the Calamity Relief Fund it had set up.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)