It's a real homecoming: Justice Katju

"It is a real homecoming for me, for I too am one of the 'sons growing grey' who returns again," said Supreme Court Judge,  Justice Markandey Katju, while addressing a gathering of the students and teachers of his alma mater, Boys' High School (BHS) & College on Saturday morning.

"I owe so much in life to Boys' High School, where I spent my formative years, from 1951 to 1961, and where I learnt the value of hard work, secularism, spirituality and scientific spirit," observed Justice Katju, who, beginning his career in Law at Allahabad High Court, was elevated as its judge, and later rose to become the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, and then, of the Delhi High Court. Only a few days back, he was elevated as a Judge of Supreme Court.

"It is the English language which opens the world of knowledge to you, pertaining to a wide variety of subjects—philosophy, medicine, science, engineering, law, and computer science—since good books on these subjects are all in English," he told the boys.

He was extended a warm welcome by BHS Principal, C. V. Innes, who said how Justice Katju, who was in the city for the ash immersion ceremony of his mother, expressed his desire on Friday  to visit his, alma mater, the BHS, and meet its teachers and students. "It was so gracious and thoughtful of him to have remembered his alma mater, and we hurriedly organized this function this morning to honour his wish, " said Innes. "It is a great honour to us to have amidst us an old BHS boy, having an outstanding and highly inspiring track record in judiciary", he added. "We surely feel confident about our nation's future when our institutions, including the judiciary, are in the hands of persons of high capability," said Innes, referring to Justice Katju's recent elevation to the Supreme Court.

Earlier, amidst cheers, Jaya Lahiri, oldest BHS teacher, presented a bouquet on behalf of teachers and students to Justice Katju as a mark of their love and respect for an alumnus who had made the school immensely proud by his distinguished accomplishments. Later, Justice Katju interacted with BHS teachers while sharing a cup of coffee with them.