In the first such instance in the Kerala High Court, a permanent judge on Monday resigned from the post, citing personal reasons. Justice V Giri handed over his resignation letter, addressed to President Pratibha Patil, to Chief Justice S R Bannurmath in the morning.

Justice Giri told The Indian Express that he has been deliberating upon the idea of quitting for some time. “There is no official reason behind my decision, taken on Sunday. I have completed all pending works in the bench. I want to go back to my old profession.” Giri was a lawyer before he was directly appointed as the High Court judge in 2007.

As he had been a permanent judge in the Kerala High Court, Giri would have had to practise in high courts elsewhere in the country or the Supreme Court.

Giri said his decision has evoked mixed reaction from other judges in the High Court. "Some of the senior judges said that I should not have taken this step. I hope they would understand me. Being a lawyer looks more suitable for me," he said.

High Court Registrar A V Ramakrishna Pillai said Justice Giri was the first permanent high court judge in Kerala to quit the job.  Incidents of judges resigning are rare. In the past, a non-permanent judge of the Kerala High Court had resigned, he said.