The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday bid farewell to Justice Deepak Gupta, who was sworn in as the Judge of the apex court in the year 2017.
This farewell ceremony was one of its kind where the event was organized virtually through video conferencing.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Supreme Court Bar Association President, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, Attorney General K K Venugopal, and family members of Justice Gupta were present during the virtual farewell.
Mr. Dave while addressing and bidding farewell to Justice Gupta said “Your departure creates a void, not only on the judicial side but also on our personal side…The Bar & Bench is eternally grateful to you”. While appreciating Justice Gupta’s judgments, he referred to Justice Gupta’s verdict in the case of Roger Mathew in which Justice Gupta stated that dissent cannot be said to be anti-national.
Mr. Venugopal addressed Justice saying, “…you are a young man, and a judge leaving his office at the age of 65 is unfair”. Mr. Venugopal also appraised the judgment in which Justice Gupta struck down the law that paved the way for making any sexual relation with a woman below 18 years of age as rape.
Most awaited in the queue, Justice Gupta while giving his farewell speech said that he has enjoyed every moment of his 42 years of profession. He said that he’ll now pursue his hobbies.
Justice also shared his greatest ambition when he was at the law faculty of Delhi University and it was to address arguments in the Delhi University and for the same “God has been very kind” he added.
“In a country which professes to be a follower of rule of law and separation of powers, there is no alternative to a fearless and independent judiciary“- Justice Deepak Gupta
While addressing the current pandemic situation of the country, Justice Gupta said the Court should attempt to help the poorest of the poor and it also needs to be humane and compassionate and is indeed the need of the hour.
In the end, Justice Gupta thanked his wife, Mrs. Poonam, for being his pillar of success and also thanked her for the haircut she gave to him so that he looks presentable today.
-India Legal Bureau