Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath on Tuesday fondly recalled the time he regularly shared the Bench with former Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, revealing that members of the Bar had affectionately nicknamed the duo "Amar Prem" after the iconic Bollywood film Andaz Apna Apna.

Justice Nath made the remarks while speaking at the launch of Justice Gavai's book, The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks.

Looking back on their tenure as bench partners, Justice Nath described it as one of the most memorable phases of his judicial career.

"Many of you would remember the period when we sat together as bench partners. Those were truly memorable days, and I still hear members of the Bar recalling them with great affection," he said.

He shared that the close rapport between the two judges had not gone unnoticed by lawyers appearing before them.

"We were affectionately christened 'Amar Prem', borrowing from the classic film Andaz Apna Apna. It was all in good humour, and I must confess we quite enjoyed the title," Justice Nath remarked.

He said the nickname reflected Justice Gavai's warm personality and his ability to create a comfortable atmosphere without compromising the dignity or seriousness of judicial proceedings.

"He has the ability to bring a sense of ease to any situation without ever diminishing its seriousness, whether in the courtroom or outside it," Justice Nath observed.

According to him, Justice Gavai's approachable nature ensured that everyone—from young advocates appearing in court for the first time to seasoned members of the Bar—felt respected and heard.

"A courtroom can often be an intimidating place, but his wit and natural ease reminded everyone that courtesy and compassion are not inconsistent with firmness or discipline," he said.

Justice Nath also described The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks as a timely and much-needed publication. He said the book offers valuable insight into Justice Gavai's constitutional philosophy and public vision.

While judicial decisions are necessarily expressed in the precise language of law, he noted, a judge's public speeches often reveal the broader values and institutional beliefs that shape their approach to justice.

"They tell us a lot more about the judge, the values he holds, the institutions he believes in, and the society he hopes to help build," Justice Nath said.