A galaxy of retired judges and legal luminaries graced the Essel Karnataka’s Best Legal Service Award ceremony where K Sarojini Muthanna was presented the Award by retired Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice M Ramakrishna.

The event which rolled on with clock work precision came for praise from the guests present. Former Additional Solicitor General of India A N Jayaram remarked: “I have never witnessed an event as classy as this.”

Ms Muthanna was voted for the Award by the people of Karnataka from among the nominees shortlisted by an eminent Jury. Awards were also presented to Justice M F Saldhana, who has made a name for himself as a people’s judge; Retired District Judge N S Sangolli, who has taken up a major project to translate legal books to Kannada; Former Advocate-General B V Acharya and the Karnataka Legal Aid Services Association.

The Chairman of the Advocates Association, Bangalore and the Chairman of the Karnataka Bar Council were also honoured on the occasion.

“Over the past six months, the Essel Awards have touched various categories like legislators, sportspersons, NGOs, bureaucrats and police. Next month’s Award is devoted to Ministers,” Dr M Gautham Machaiah of Essel Group said.

Award winners and legal luminaries were all praise for the Essel Group for the Awards initiative. “The Group is doing its best to project the right image of this country. This initiative can change the face of the country,” Justice Saldhana noted.

A scintillating Salsa performance enthralled the audience.