HIGH COUR OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA 171001.
Shimla. 5th March,2025
A Full Court Reference was held today in the High Court to mourn the sad demise of Justice V. K. Gupta, former Chief Justice High Court of Himachal Pradesh. Justice Gupta passed away on 15th February, 2025, after prolonged illness at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital New Delhi.
Justice Gupta was born on 10th September, 1947, took his early education in U. P. and Jammu & Kashmir and graduated in Law from Delhi University. He was enrolled as an Advocate with Delhi Bar Council in 1970 and was a visiting Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Jammu. He also served as Senior Central Government Standing Counsel in Jammu & Kashmir High Court. He was actively associated with the Bar activities and held the Offices of Bar President, Vice-President and Secretary. His Lordship was appointed Advocate General at the age of 42 years, for the State of Jammu & Kashmir and was elevated as a Judge of Jammu & Kashmir High Court at the age of 43 years. He was transferred to Calcutta High Court in 1996 and served in that High Court for almost four years. He was then appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court on 15th November, 2000. He had the privilege of swearing in the First Governor of the new State of Jharkhand and was later on himself sworn in as First Chief Justice of the High Court of the new State on 4th December, 2000 and was in as such by the Governor on 5th December, 2000.
He was transferred to the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and assumed the charge as such of the Chief Justice of Himachal High Court on 8th March, 2003. After a long span of almost five years as Chief Justice for this High Court, he was transferred to the High Court of Uttrakhand and assumed the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court on 2.2.2008. His Lordship demitted the office of the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court on 9th September, 2009 after attaining the age of superannuation, and thereafter kept himself immersed in Arbitration proceedings.
Speaking on the occasion, Hon'ble the Chief Justice G. S. Sandhawalia said that when Justice Gupta assumed the charge as Chief Justice of this High Court, the High Court and the State Judiciary was in crying need of infrastructure . The High Court new building was under construction and he got it inaugurated within three months from his taking over the charge as Chief Justice. He had expanded the infrastructure of the entire judiciary. The entire credit goes to him for expansion of infrastructure and computerization of the Judiciary in the State of Himachal Pradesh. After his assuming the charge as the Chief Justice of this High Court, he brought the (PC) in the High Court.
Speaking further the Chief Justice said that Mr. Justice Gupta was very social and a widely travelled person. He is known for bringing a revolutionary change in the entire judiciary of the State of Himachal Pradesh with regard to infrastructure development and computerization. He specialized almost in all fields of Law, especially in Constitutional, Service and Civil matters. He had also keen interest in Public Interest Litigation. Hon'ble Mr. Justice Gupta was a distinguished Judge, his knowledge of all branches of Law and his intellectual exposition of the principles of Law, as well as his strong views on the administration of Justice are dominantly reflected in one after the other landmark and path breaking judgments . Those decisions prove the firm commitment of his Lordship towards complete justice. Justice Gupta discharged his judicial functions without favour. His Lordship never hankered for fame or fortune.
The Chief Justice while expressing his deep condolences to the bereaved family and said that passing away of Justice Gupta is not only a loss to the bereaved family members but also to the entire legal fraternity.
Judges of High Court of H.P. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, Justice Sandeep Sharma, Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Justice Satyen Vaidya, Justice Sushil Kukreja, Justice Virender Singh, Justice Ranjan Sharma, Justice Bipin Chander Negi and Justice Rakesh Kainthla were also present on the occasion.
Two minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
Sh. Anoop Rattan Advocate General, Sh. Lovneesh Kanwar Chairman, Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, Sh. Peeyush Verma President Bar Association, H.P. High Court and Shri Balram Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India also paid tributes to Justice V. K Gupta. Sh. Bhupesh Sharma (Registrar General), Sh. Vikas Bhardwaj (Registrar Vigilance), Sh. Paras Doger (Registrar Judicial), Shri Barinder Thakur (Registrar GAD, JB & Protocol), Sh. Aman Sood ( Registrar Administration, Rules & IT), Sh. Harish Sharma , District & Sessions Judge ( Leave and Training Reserve), Sh. Nishant Verma (Central Project Coordinator), members of High Court Bar Association and employees of High Court Registry were also present on the occasion.
(Hem Lata Sharma)
Public Relation Officer
High Court of H.P.
Post a Comment