Madhya Pradesh HC judge’s farewell speech: Body to science, Rs 1 crore to PM CARES

Justice Singh then announced that he would donate all of his GPF money to PM CARES — the public charitable trust to deal with public emergencies.

“As per the office calculation, I am expected to receive approximately Rs 1 crore one lakh from my GPF account. I pledge before you all to donate the entire amount, as soon as I receive it, to the PM CARES Fund for nation-building,” he said. “And this step is the beginning and not the end.”

Justice Singh specifically credited his wife for both decisions, saying she had stood by him throughout his life and had supported him wholeheartedly at different points of his career.

“I would also like to place on record my thanks to my better half, Mrs. Indra, who stood by me in my journey of life through thick and thin. I can say about her that at different points of time, she supported me wholeheartedly,” he said. “It was actually her idea to pledge our bodies after death and to donate my entire GPF account to the PM CARES Fund.”

Justice Singh said retirement would mark the beginning of a new chapter in his life and that he intended to continue working for society from a new platform.

Reflecting on his 37-year journey, including nine months of bench service, Justice Singh said he had seen the judiciary evolve in its efforts to reach not only litigants who approach courts but also citizens who are unable to reach the courts. Justice Singh recounted a senior judge’s advice that “a judge should not succumb to criticism, but he also advised me that if dealing with a judicial file, if there is any pressure on your mind, meaning that either you are angry with a party or have some sort of affection for a party, then don’t deal with the case”.

Justice Singh retired from the Madhya Pradesh High Court on September 17 after 36 years of judicial service, bringing to an end a career that began with his appointment as a Civil Judge Class II on May 31, 1990. Born in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, on September 18, 1964, Justice Singh holds B.Sc. and LL.B. degrees. Justice Alpesh Yashwant Kogje, who moved from the Gujarat High Court, is the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court; he took the oath as the 30th Chief Justice of the court on September 10, 2026.

During his district judiciary career, Justice Singh served at Itarsi (Narmadapuram), Bhopal, Morena, Sakti in the then Bilaspur district, Jabalpur, Ratlam, Sidhi, Katni, Indore, Khandwa and Seoni. He also served as Deputy Welfare Commissioner, Bhopal Gas Victims; Principal Judge, Family Court, Jabalpur; District and Sessions Judge, Chhatarpur; Principal Registrar (ILR & Examination) of the Madhya Pradesh High Court; and Principal District and Sessions Judge, Dhar, a post he held from June 2022 until his elevation to the High Court.