New Delhi: the senior most judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice J Chelameswar, who retires on June 22, said “no “ and declined an invite from the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for his farewell function citing personal reasons,  as the sources of SCBA office-bearers said.

On January 12, Justice Chelameswar came on light when he had recently sparked controversy by holding a press conference along with other three senior most judges Justices Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph in which litany of allegations were imposed against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

SCBA president Vikas Singh informed  the bar body had visited Justice Chelameswar last week to invite him for the farewell on May 18, which is the last working day of the Top Court before the summer vacation.

 "He declined the invite for the farewell function," as PTI quoted him as saying.

He added that all the members of the executive committee of SCBA today once again put efforts to persuade him to attend the farewell function but the judge denied and citing personal reasons.

In a defensive move the judge also asserted the members of the bar that he had not accepted a farewell earlier when he was moving out of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to another high court.