India, May 13 -- Public trust in judiciary cannot be commanded but earned, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna said on Tuesday in his last message from the bench as he demitted office after a tenure of six months at the helm of the judiciary.

Addressing a ceremonial bench along with CJI-designate justice Bhushan R Gavai and justice Sanjay Kumar, Khanna reminded the members of the Bar that the lawyers are the conscience keepers of the institution and play an essential part in upholding the trust that people have in the institution.

Responding to the compliments showered on him from law officers, office bearers of bar associations and senior and junior members of the Bar, CJI Khanna said, "The public trust that judiciary has cannot...