Appreciations

Justice V. Sivasupramaniam whose 100th birth anniversary fell on March 14 was a colossus, multi-faceted and multi-dimensional personality who is remembered not only by judges and lawyers but also by the people of all communities and denominations even today for his significant service in the spheres of legal, judicial, religious and cultural advancement.

He was a Judge of extraordinary versatility and ability and above all else, he was an exceptional human being. In fact, he showed by his illustrious life how men in the midst of the storms of life could achieve the full development of their personality. It is very often said that "great men whether great social reformers, eminent lawyers or judges differ from common men only in one thing. They give life a meaning, a purpose and dedicate themselves to that purpose. They testify to the truth and refuse to compromise whatever the cost”.

Justice Sivasupramaniam was born on March 14, 1908 and had his early education at Jaffna Hindu College, and subsequently at Ananda College, Colombo. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of London, was called to the Bar on March 8, 1933 and practised at the Jaffna Bar where he soon built up a steady and lucrative practice in the civil side of the law.

He joined the Judicial Service on February 27, 1941 and functioned as Magistrate, District Judge, Additional Permanent Secretary and Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice. In 1966, he was appointed to the Bench of the Supreme Court and retired in April 1970. Justice Sivasupramaniam believed that a respected and independent Judiciary and a vigilant and strong Bar are indispensable to the administration of justice and for the vindication of law. He always maintained tremendous courage and a high degree of judicial statesmanship. During a period of about 30 years of his judicial career he displayed extraordinary patience and understanding. Besides he had virtues like impartiality, independence, scholarship, industry, courtesy, firmness, patience and above all, a deep sense of justice. He achieved excellence as a Judge of the Supreme Court on account of his courtesy towards counsel, firmness in his rulings and being in full possession of the facts and the law and always being master of his court.

When he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, the then Attorney General A.C.M. Ameer QC in his welcome speech said, "Those of us who know of your Lordship's qualities and head and heart, those of us who have come before your Lordship, be it when your Lordship was Magistrate, District Judge or Commissioner of Assize or in the old Legal Secretary's Department or in the Ministry of Justice are confident that we shall not experience anything but courtesy at your Lordship's hands – courtesy which some say is synonymous with your Lordship's very name."

L.B.T. Premaratne, the then Acting Attorney General in bidding farewell to Justice Sivasupramaniam on his retirement said, "Your Lordship's sound knowledge of the law, full and complete grasp of fundamental and basic legal principles and possession of a fund of common sense made your Lordship a most competent and acceptable Judge. But what has really endeared your Lordship to all practitioners is your Lordship's humility, simplicity and kindness. Not once in these courts has your Lordship's voice been raised in anger at Counsel, Junior or Senior, or perhaps what is even more important at any witness whatever situation or position in life rich or poor.”

Former Chief Justice Sharvananda at the ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court where reference was made to Justice Sivasupramaniam on his death said, "The secret of his success as a good Judge was that he was deeply religious. He practised what he preached and discharged his duties without fear or favour guided by the philosophy of the Bhagavath Gita. He was a truly great Hindu gentleman wishing well of others, harbouring no ill will and offensive to none. He was a remarkable man who genuinely believed that the seat of justice was a place for the performance of a divine function, who strove to discharge his duties with humility without any trace of arrogance. His face was always lit with smiles. Deep piety, integrity of character, independence of mind, devotion to duty and courage of his convictions marked his life and earned him the respect of all who came in contact with him."

Indeed, Justice Sivasupramaniam's polished manners and sartorial elegance, intellectual refinement and boldness of thought would assure him a permanent place in the legal thought and judicial literature of this country.

After his retirement as Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sivasupramaniam was one of the three Judges who was appointed to the new Court of Appeal which was established as the highest court of the land when appeals to the Privy Council were abolished. Further, when for the first time, a Constitutional Court was set up in Sri Lanka Justice Sivasupramaniam was appointed as a Judge of that court as well.

He was appointed a member of the Law Commission, the Board of Trustees of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, the Board of Management of Dr. N.M. Perera Memorial Trust, the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association of Jaffna Hindu College and Chairman of the Hindu Advisory Council and President of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress.

His wife Manonmani was a source of encouragement and tower of strength in all his endeavours. They were an idyllic couple finding comfort, solace and happiness in each other through all the hazards and hassles of life.

In the words of a poet, Justice Sivasupramaniam was "a statesman, yet friend to truth, of soul sincere. In action faithful and in honour clear who broke no promise, served no private end, who gained no title and who lost no friend. He was noble, nobility itself”.

He stood tall as a man as well as a legal luminary