Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath addressing the inaugural event of the celebrations marking sixty years of the Delhi High Court, attended by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant

Justice Vikram Nath of the Supreme Court on Friday attributed the Delhi High Court's standing over six decades to the collective work of its judges, its Bar, its registry and its staff, observing that the Court's location in the national capital has placed on it responsibilities that reach well beyond the affairs of Delhi.

Justice Nath was addressing the inaugural event of the celebrations marking sixty years of the Delhi High Court. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant was also present. 

Drawing on his own career, Justice Nath said that long association with a court turns it into something more than a place of work. "Having spent seventeen years at the Bar and many more as a High Court judge in Allahabad and Gujarat, I have come to realize that every High Court has a character of its own. Over time, its courtrooms, corridors and canteens become familiar places. Friendships develop, professional relationships grow. And what begins as a place of work gradually becomes a second home," he said.

He added that an anniversary of this kind would bring back memories of cases argued together and friendships formed in the Court's corridors, noting that "there are also a few interesting courtroom stories which are best shared among friends rather than repeated from this podium." "These memories and relationships are what make an institution special," he said.

Delhi High Court judges carry "a certain aura", even in the Supreme Court

Recalling a remark he had made on an earlier occasion, Justice Nath spoke of the presence that judges of the Delhi High Court carry with them. "In fact, I remember remarking on an earlier occasion, somewhat in a lighter vein, that judges of the Delhi High Court sometimes appear to be more powerful than judges of the Supreme Court. There is a certain aura about the judges of this Court. A presence that naturally commands respect and authority," he said.

He said he had noticed that "even when they come to the Supreme Court, they carry that same confidence and dignity with them," and suggested that this "comes from spending years deciding matters of considerable importance in the national capital."

Justice Nath was careful to tie that standing to the weight of the Court's work. "However, I must emphasize that the Delhi High Court carries responsibilities of an equally considerable nature, situated in the national capital. It regularly deals with matters extending far beyond the concerns of Delhi alone," he said.

"It is to the credit of successive generations of judges that this Court has discharged these responsibilities with distinction and earned the respect it enjoys today," he added. Justice Nath also observed that the Court's "contribution to the development of law in our country is well known, as is the quality of the judges and advocates associated with it."

Standard of advocacy at the Delhi High Court is "exceptionally high"

Turning to the Bar, Justice Nath said it had "produced many of the finest advocates in the country", many of whom regularly appear before the Supreme Court.

"I can say from personal experience that the standard of advocacy is exceptionally high. A well-prepared advocate can sometimes make even a judge reconsider an opinion, and that is something I have always appreciated about our profession," he said.

He went on to credit much of the High Court's reputation to the generations of talented and dedicated lawyers who have practised before it.

DIAC and Samadhan

Justice Nath commended the Court's institutional development, singling out the Delhi International Arbitration Centre and the Court's mediation and conciliation centre, Samadhan, which, he said, "have strengthened alternative dispute resolution and provided litigants with effective ways of settling disputes."

"The Court's modern infrastructure, digital facilities and specialized jurisdictions are equally commendable, reflecting its continued efforts to make justice more efficient and accessible," he said.

Canteen reputation

In a lighter moment, Justice Nath said that the Delhi High Court enjoyed "a rather special status and reputation" when it came to its canteens.

"I have often heard lawyers and visitors say that the food served in its various canteens is among the best available in any High Court, perhaps even better than what we have at the Supreme Court. Some go so far as to say that it can give several well-known restaurants in Delhi a run for their money," he said, adding, "I cannot say whether everyone agrees with that assessment, but it is certainly a reputation worth preserving for the next sixty years."

Closing his address, Justice Nath acknowledged all those who had contributed to the Court's growth. "Its reputation reflects the collective efforts of generations of judges, advocates, registry officials and staff, each of whom has played an important part in its journey," he said.

He extended his congratulations to the Acting Chief Justice, the judges, the Delhi High Court Bar Association and those involved in organising the celebrations, and conveyed his "respectful regards" to the former Chief Justices and judges "who have helped shape the traditions of this Court."

"I hope the coming decades bring even greater achievements for the Delhi High Court and that the friendships, professional excellence and traditions which distinguish this institution continue to flourish," he said, before closing with Diwali greetings.

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