Retired Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram made his first appearance in the apex court today as counsel for a company involved in a dispute over an arbitration award.
Sri Ram, 69, who retired from the Federal Court in February 2010, appeared and submitted on behalf of the company, MTM Millenium Holdings Sdn Bhd, before the five-member bench comprising his peers.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum led the bench that also comprised Federal Court judges Datuk Hashim Yusoff, Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar, Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha.
Lawyers who were in the court for other legal matters took the opportunity to see Sri Ram in action as counsel.
When the hearing of the case ended, some lawyers and chambering students were seen taking photographs with Sri Ram outside the court.
When approached by the media, Sri Ram declined to comment on his appearance in court.
Previously, it was reported that Sri Ram would appear for Perak Pakatan Rakyat in its election petition cases but there was a debate over his decision to practise law after retirement.
Bar Council chairman Christopher Leong said former senior judges should act as consultants, rather than in court.
Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria on the other hand, had said retired judges could not be deprived of their right to appear as lawyers in court.
He noted that prior to this, former lord presidentTun Salleh Abbas and retired High Court judge Datuk R. K. Nathan had also appeared in court.- Bernama
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