Goodbye to the common man’s judge

Justice Bahri hailed from a distinguished lineage of lawyers spanning four generations, originating from Lahore. His grandfather, Late Karam Chand Bahri, was a well-known lawyer, while his father, Late Som Dutt Bahri, served as an MLA and practised law.

Justice Bahri’s own career saw him serving in the District Judiciary before his tenure on the High Court Bench from 1988 to 1994. He later took on the role of President of Punjab Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (PCDRC) in 1995, presiding over consumer protection cases for five years. Despite his age, his legal acumen remained unyielding, and he continued to contribute to dispute resolution, even heading the Permanent High Court Lok Adalat in 2010.

Justice Bahri’s departure left behind cherished memories among his well-wishers. I had the opportunity to request a meeting with his son, Aman, on August 11 for his blessings. Although Aman agreed, circumstances prevented the meeting from occurring before Justice Bahri’s hospitalisation and subsequent passing. I was unable to bid him farewell, choosing instead to remember his vivacious presence during our encounters from 1988 onwards at the High Court, Punjab Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (PCDRC), and Permanent High Court Lok Adalat. His insightful, balanced, relief-oriented, and spirited interactions always left a profound impact on us.

Justice Bahri was known for his prompt case decisions, fair distribution of relief, and concise, open-court judgments. Unaffected by bias or influence, he often mediated negotiations between counsels, crafting well-balanced judgments for litigants. He exemplified patience as a Judge, waiting for a staggering 19 years for his own 1999 Writ Petition to be resolved in 2018. This petition sought residential accommodation or admissible rent allowance from the Punjab Government, which had been withheld since 1995, despite repeated pleas. He left his spacious High Court residence upon retirement in 1994.

Serving as President PCDRC, he faced accommodation challenges, living in a modest government provided dwelling allocated to his daughter, then a Haryana Government Law Officer. Justice A P Chaudhari eventually granted him relief in 2019, criticising the mistreatment he endured and labeling it as “bizarre.”

Justice Bahri’s own quest for justice mirrored his commitment to dispense it to others. During his five-year tenure as President PCDRC, he resolved countless cases, clearing pending backlogs with remarkable efficiency. Adjournments in his court were a rarity, as he meticulously studied each case and came thoroughly prepared, often surpassing the counsel’s preparation.

His humility shone through during a property dispute he faced as head of his HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) in 1992. He pursued legal recourse to regain possession, demonstrating modesty in his approach. When the litigation was relocated to Solan by mutual agreement in the Supreme Court, he accepted the change without opposition, choosing a peaceful resolution to the matter.

Upon achieving success, he openly acknowledged the necessity of obtaining possession via the final decree and subsequently transferring the property to his two capable sons. Until his passing, he resided with his daughter, Justice Ritu Bahri, living by the same rules he upheld as a Judge. Justice Bahri remains a role model, epitomising values, principles, ethics, and integrity. He rendered justice to those in need and held himself to the highest standards of rule adherence. May he rest in peace.

(The writer is a lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court)