'We Will Remember Them' : Gujarat High Court CJ Pays Homages To Advocates Who Died Due To COVID

During the virtual reference, Justice Vikram Nath, Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court read out the names of all such lawyers of the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association (GHCAA) who lost their lives to COVID-19.

"During this period of more than one year of the mankind facing the wrath of unknown Coronavirus, many members of GHAA have lost their lives. We will also stand to remember them. I on my own behalf and on my behalf of my brother Judges, express my condolences to the bereaved families…," CJ Nath said.

  The reference was attended by Judges of the High Court, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, Govt Pleader Manisha Lavkumar, Public Prosecutor Nitesh Amin, ASG Devang Vyas, Senior Advocate and President of GHCAA Yatin Oza, State law officers, Members of High Court Registry, and other members of the Gujarat Bar.

Families of late Justice Sahai and late Mr. Kaji were also present virtually.

Justice Vinay Manohar Sahai left for his heavenly abode on May 11, 2021 following prolonged illness.

"Vijay Bhiaya, that is how we used to address him. I had known him 34 years as an elder brother, a friend and a guide," CJ Nath said reminiscing his time with Justice Sahai.

Justice Sahai obtained his degree in Law from the University of Allahabad in 1975. He enrolled as an advocate in January, 1976 and started his practice in the chambers of his father RM Sahai, who retired as Supreme Court Judge in 1995.

Before his elevation as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court in February 1999, Justice Sahai worked as a Brief Holder for the State of UP from 1983 to 1989, as the Standing Counsel for UP Public Service Commission, Ghaziabad Development Authority, UP State Road Transport Corporation and UP State Electricity Board.

He was transferred as a Judge of the Gujarat High Court in 2010 where he served as the acting Chief Justice in 2014, till he demitted the office upon his retirement on 12^th August, 2015.

Senior Advocate Kanishk Hirala Kaji passed away on May 1, 2021, exactly 61 years since the day he joined the Gujarat High Court Bar.

"In the few times that I met Mr. Kaji, he has had only encouraging words and amusing anecdotes to share," CJ Nath said.

obtained his degree in Law from Bombay University in 1945. He started practicing at the Bombay High Court in 1948. On bifurcation of Bombay in 1960, he shifted to Gujarat and started practicing before the Gujarat High Court and the Supreme Court.

He was the Founder President and President Emanates of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association and All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants. He also worked as a part-time professor of law at GLC, Mumbai from 1947 till 1960.

He was appointed as the Acting Advocate General for the State of Gujarat from 1966-67 and as the standing counsel for Income Tax between 1971-77. He was one of the few Advocates to be designated as senior, not on application but by the full court.