Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva & Justice V Kameswar Rao Bid Farewell To Delhi High Court

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice V Kameswar Rao on Thursday bid farewell to the Delhi High Court, after serving as a judge here since 2013.

The Union Government yesterday notified the transfer of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice V Kameswar Rao to the Madhya Pradesh High Court and Karnataka High Court respectively.

Justice Sachdeva began his farewell speech by thanking God for bestowing the honour upon him and considering him capable of holding the position of a judge.

“I have always believed that God uses his beings to dispense justice. We are never born capable of this position, but he chooses us to hold this position. He can choose anyone and make him or her capable of performing his work. I hope I have been able to perform my duty as he would have wanted me to,” he said.

Justice Sachdeva said that the Delhi High Court Bar Association is one of the finest bar associations in the world and that no other bar association is comparable to it.

“The Delhi High Court is considered as one of the premier High Courts in the country, if not the premier one. For making the Delhi High Court as the premier High Court in the country, I must congratulate the bar for its continued effort in bringing new challenges to the court in the form of variety of litigation,” he said.

The judge further said that the Delhi High Court has been in the forefront of digitization not only in India but also across the world.

He said when the COVID-19 lockdown happened and all the courts were closed, the Delhi High Court was the only court in the world which was functional.

“The Delhi High Court led from the front and ensured that during tough times help reached all in need. Safety and well being of the ones who did not have support systems, medical food supplies were insured for all. This court ensured appropriate oxygen supply was made available to hospitals and individuals. All this could be made possible because of the digital advancements achieved by this court over the years. The world even today looks upon us for leading them from the front in the age of technological revolution,” he said while ending his speech by thanking his family members, mentors, staff and legal researchers.

Justice Rao, in his emotional speech, thanked his family members and elders for their guidance and support in his journey. He also thanked former Supreme Court judge, Justice AK Sikri, who was present in court, with whom he started his first job after joining the legal profession.

Justice Rao also remembered Justice Sikri's father, Senior Advocate NC Sikri for his simplicity, hard work, and knowledge and said that he prayed to the almighty to make his human existence purposeful.

“Like he did, I always begin my day in the court by offering my prayers and touching Bhagavad Gita, which I have kept in my chamber with an intent that I should decide what is right,” he said.

Justice Rao also said that the Delhi High Court is also at the forefront in dispensation of justice, which includes the development of law in every jurisdiction.

“The credit must go to the members of the bar for giving effective assistance and also judges whom you see sitting on the dice are the finest in the country having left their vast and successful practice to serve the society. I'm firmly of the view that the members of the bar are the best teachers,” he said.

In March, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the transfer of Justice Rao and Justice Sachdeva to the respective High Courts.

The collegium of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, recommended the transfers in the interest of better administration of justice, upon individual requests made by each judge for transfer to any other high court.

On March 03, Justice Sachdeva had expressed willingness to be transferred to any High Court. Similarly, on March 04, Justice Rao requested a transfer to another High Court. Acceding to both individual requests, the collegium transferred them.

Justice Sachdeva was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in July 2011. He was elevated as an additional Judge of the Delhi High Court with effect from April 17, 2013, and was made a Permanent Judge on March 18, 2015.

Justice Rao was designated as Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in January, 2010. He was elevated as Additional Judge of High Court of Delhi on 17th April, 2013 and as Permanent Judge on 18th March, 2015.