“It is an honour for the judiciary when the ruler wants to bestow awards to judges,” he said in an interview with the media today.

Arifin, who leaves office at the end of the week after heading the bench since September 2011, said normally his subordinates would consult him about it.

“Or else, I will only be reading about it in the newspapers,” he quipped.

Arifin said he had no reason to object to judges receiving awards from heads of state.

Former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim had suggested that judges be given a title only after retirement in acknowledgment of their contributions to the people and nation.

On another matter, Arifin said judges should address lawyers appearing before them as counsel although they may have titles like “Tan Sri”, “Datuk” or “Datuk Seri”.

He said all lawyers were of equal standing before the bench.

“What matters most is the quality of argument in assisting the court to make just and fair decisions,” he said.