Constitution Is Judges' Holy Book: Justice Deepak Gupta In Farewell Speech

The Constitution is the holy book of the judges, said Justice Deepak Gupta, Supreme Court judge, in his farewell speech on Wednesday.

"When a Judge sits in court, we have to forget our religious beliefs and decide cases only on the basis of this Constitution which is our Bible, our Gita, our Quran, our Guru Granth Sahib and other texts", Justice Gupta said, waving a copy of the during the farewell ceremony organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association via video conferencing.

 This is the first video-conferencing event held in the history of Supreme Court to give farewell to a judge.

Justice Gupta also spoke about the need for the bar to be "humane"

"To be a good lawyer, you have to first be a good human being. You have to be sensitive to everyone's problems".

"When you expect a humane judiciary, the Bar needs to be humane as well. You cannot charge sky-rocketing fees from your clients", he said.

"I may have been an activist Judge, but I've never crossed my boundaries. I knew my limitations. When we work under checks and balances, we must be within our limits. We must see that the other organs work within their limits. Some of the writ petitions filed recently are so poorly drafted and it undermines the cause of PILs. Lawyers are requested to exercise restraint" 

"The integrity of the institution cannot be put at stake under any circumstances. I am sure under my brother judges, it will be ensured that people get what they need from the Court", he added.

In his speech, Justice Gupta remembered his father, who had passed away when Justice Gupta was only 13 years old. He conveyed that it was his father who inculcated the habit of reading in him and the importance of being well read for a lawyer as one needs to be aware of every topic under the Sun.

"Today, as I hang up my robes after 42 years in the profession, I have enjoyed each and every moment of it. Though I end relationship with court, but my relationship with Bar can and will never end.", he said.

Justice Gupta concluded his speech by thanking his wife Poonam.

" She has been a pillar of success for me. I thank her for the haircut she has given me so that I look presentable today", he said.

Justice Deepak Gupta assumed the office of SC judge on February 17, 2017.

K K Venugopal, Attorney General of India, said that Justice Gupta will be remembered for his "social justice judgments".

"You have given good commercial judgements, but what is astounding is your humanity and your social justice judgements. You have looked into child custody, juveniles, condition of widows, but most importantly you have said that marital exceptions would not apply to wife below the age of 18", the AG said.

Referring to the recent speech made by Justice Gupta on the importance of dissent in democracy, the AG said "It was a bold statement for a sitting judge to make"

"On dissent, you are first judge to come out so strongly and your thoughts that citizen has a right to protest in a peaceful manner will never be forgotten", the AG said.

Dushyant Dave, Senior Advocate and President of Supreme Court Bar Association, stated that the three pillars of the judiciary,  "Integrity, Independence and Impartiality", were brilliantly exhibited by Justice Gupta.

Justice Deepak Gupta obtained his degree in law from the Delhi University in 1978 and practiced in the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

He was appointed as a Judge there in October, 2004 and he remained the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court twice. He headed the Green Bench of the High Court for three years. He also served as the Executive Chairman of the H.P. State Legal Services Authority and the President of the H.P. Judicial Academy, Shimla for more than three years. He also headed the Committee on Computerization of the Courts in Himachal Pradesh.

In March 2013, he took oath as the first Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. In May 2016, he was transferred and took oath as the Chief Justice of High Court of Chhattisgarh.

He was elevated as a Supreme Court Judge on February 17, 2017.