‘Delhi HC led from the front during Covid, remained open when all courts in the world were shut’

The Delhi HC Thursday bid farewell to Justice Sachdeva and Justice V Kameswar Rao following the notification of their transfer by the Central government to the Madhya Pradesh HC and Karnataka HC respectively.

“Safety and well being of the ones who did not have support systems, medical food supplies were insured for all…The world even today looks upon us for leading them from the front in the age of technological revolution…,” said Justice Sachdeva.

At their farewell organised on the HC premises, Justice Sachdeva, a graduate of Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre (CLC), reminisced on his 36-year-long journey in the profession, and in the HC, and said the bar at Delhi HC has always welcomed and embraced advocates who came from far-off places to the Capital.

“The Delhi HC is considered one of the premier high courts in the country, if not the premier one. For this, I must congratulate the bar for its continued effort in bringing new challenges to the court in the form of a variety of litigation,” Justice Sachdeva said.

He further said the Delhi HC has been at the forefront of digitisation not only in India but also across the world.
Justice Sachdeva said, “For this, we have to thank our visionaries amongst the judges like Justice Madan Lokur, Justice Anil Kumar, Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed, Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Rajiv Shakdher who dreamt about bringing a change and took steps to ensure that we became the best.”

According to Justice Rao, it was his destiny to be a judge. “…Destiny, which I consider as the power which controls the future events in one’s life. The power is the sum total of my karma which includes blessings of my parents, elders and my guru that I got the opportunity to be the judge of this court,” he added.

Justice Rao said that as a child, his interest was more in cricket than in studies. He went on to study B A (Hons.) in Geography from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (DU) and wanted to pursue a career in town planning. He eventually ended up at CLC, like Justice Sachdeva.

He thanked former Supreme Court judge, Justice AK Sikri, who was present during the farewell, with whom he started his first job after joining the legal profession.

He also thanked Senior Advocate NC Sikri – the late father of Justice AK Sikri — for his “simplicity, hard work, and knowledge”.

“Like he did, I always begin my day in court by offering my prayers and touching the Bhagavad Gita…with an intent that I should decide what is right,” Justice Rao said.

“I’m firmly of the view that the members of the bar are the best teachers… I leave this court as a more informed person,” Justice Rao said.

Justice Sachdeva was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi HC in July 2011. He was elevated as an Additional Judge with effect from April 17, 2013, and made a Permanent Judge on March 18, 2015. Justice Rao was designated as Senior Advocate by the Delhi HC in January, 2010, elevated as Additional Judge on April 17, 2013 before becoming Permanent Judge on March 18, 2015.

With the departure of the two judges, the bench strength has come down to 40, against a sanctioned strength of 45 Permanent Judges and 15 Additional Judges.

On March 13, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the transfer of Justice Sachdeva and Justice Rao after they made a request to be shifted to other high courts.