By Aires Rodrigues
It will be a proud moment for Goa and Goans when our very own Mahesh Sonak is sworn in as Judge of the Bombay High Court at a function tomorrow at 10 am at the Bombay High Court in Mumbai. It will be a very special moment for Mahesh’s mother while his father the late Adv. S.K.Sonak , who was also a very illustrious lawyer, will be cheering his son from the heavens. Indeed, his imprint of moral integrity is unmistakably to be seen in his son.
As Mahesh Sonak assumes this momentous responsibility and the onerous burden cast on him, may these words of Mahatma Gandhi be his guiding maxims “There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts”.
Mahesh, along with another seven other very distinguished practicing lawyers, will take on the responsibility to dispense justice. Of the other seven being sworn in as Judges, five are from Mumbai and one each from Nagpur and Aurangabad. This will bring the strength of the Bombay High Court judges to 60, as against the sanctioned strength of 75. Three judges are due to retire later this year, including Justice A.P. Lavande on 20th August.
Our all deserving Mahesh Sonak who has always conducted himself with utmost dignity and decorum has been rightly selected to be a Judge. I have over the years had the occasion to appear against him in various petitions. A gentleman to the core, with a very broad outlook. Always very fair and understanding even to his opponent lawyer. It was a pleasure to appear against him. Very straight forward, humble, soft-spoken and very sincere. Never had a legal trick concealed under his sleeve which today unfortunately is becoming an integral vital part of the legal profession.
Mahesh Sonak has been unique. Despite having big business houses, the Casino operators and the Mining lords as his clients, he always also had the time and zeal to espouse the causes of the poor, deprived and the down trodden. All these typical qualities of Mahesh Sonak need to be imbibed by all those in the legal profession.
The meaning of the name ‘Mahesh’ is ‘great ruler’. Wishing Justice Mahesh Sonak all the very best while he steps up on the Temple of Justice. May he continue to be the Mahesh he always has been for the enlightened.