CJI BR Gavai & Bench Pay Tribute To Late Shri Jagdish Chandra Gupta & Late Dr Sharat S Javali

In a solemn ceremony held in the Supreme Court of India, Chief BR Gavai, joined by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Sarangi, led a tribute to Late Shri Jagdish Chandra Gupta and Late Dr Sharat S Javali.

The Bench, together with Attorney General R Venkatramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and senior members of the Bar, gathered to honour two jurists who embodied integrity, intellect, and dedication to justice.

Life and Legacy of Shri Jagdish Chandra Gupta

Born in Mathura in 1940, Shri Jagdish Chandra Gupta earned his law degree from Allahabad University in 1961 and began practising in 1962.

His sharp legal mind and deep sense of ethics soon brought him prominence at the Allahabad High Court.

In 1977, he joined the Higher Judicial Service and went on to serve as a District and Sessions Judge in several districts before his elevation to the Allahabad High Court in 1996.

Justice Gavai recalled his remarkable tenure, stating that “Shri Gupta’s judgments reflected balance, clarity, and compassion — qualities that define a great judge.”

Among his significant rulings was his concurring opinion in Ram Babu Gupta v. State of Uttar Pradesh, which clarified the role of Magistrates under Section 156(3) CrPC.

Even after his retirement in 2002, he continued to practise as a Senior Advocate before the Supreme Court and the Uttarakhand High Court, mentoring younger lawyers with warmth and humility.

Honouring Dr Sharat S Javali’s Distinguished Career

The Bench also paid tribute to Late Dr Sharat S Javali, born in 1939 in Pune and hailing from Karnataka’s illustrious Javali family of lawyers and scholars.

A graduate of Government Law College, Bangalore, he began his practice in 1962 and was designated a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court in 1989.

Over his six-decade career, he represented Karnataka in landmark cases, including the Krishna, Cauvery, and Mahadayi river disputes.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna observed that ‘Dr Javali combined scholarship with statesmanship’, highlighting his contributions beyond the courtroom — from serving on the Union Public Service Commission to founding the Dr DC Pavate Fellowship at the University of Cambridge.

Justice BR Sarangi added that his “commitment to public service and education reflected the highest ideals of the profession.”

Concluding the ceremony, CJI Gavai expressed heartfelt condolences to both families, noting that the judiciary had “lost two pillars whose wisdom, humility, and humanity strengthened the moral fabric of our legal system.”

The Bar and Bench will remember Late Shri JC Gupta and Dr SS Javali for their erudition, service, and lasting influence on the values of fairness, empathy, and dedication.

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