The #DelhiHighCourt will bid farewell to Chief Justice DN Patel today. There will be a farewell reference by full court. 
The event is scheduled to start at 3 pm.
Live telecast of the farewell can be watched through this link:
webcast.gov.in/delhi/highcourt
Live telecast of the farewell can be watched through this link:
webcast.gov.in/delhi/highcourt
Justice Vipin Sanghi addressed the gathering.
J Sanghi: We have assembled here today to bid farewell to hon'ble chief justice who has been here for more than two years and six months.
J Sanghi: The academic record of CJ Patel shows that he was born to excel. He was adjudged a national scholar and awarded two gold medals.
J Sanghi: He made his mark in a very short period. He has represented various authorities and was appointed a special counsel for the stat of Gujarat.
J Sanghi: He was also a part-time lecturer. He was elevated an additional judge of Gujarat High court in 2004 and then a permanent judge in 2006. He was then transferred to Jharkhand High court where he also served as ACJ.
J Sanghi: Members of this great bar would agree that CJ always gave a patient hearing. Throughout his career, he has delivered several landmark judgments. It will be impossible to make reference to each of them but I will highlight few significant ones.
J Sanghi: In UOI v Vedanta Ltd, CJ patel reminded the government to preserve and protect the natural resources. In Praveen Kumar v ECI he delved into the rights of prisoners to vote and held that right to vote was not a constitutional or fundamental right.
J Sanghi: Apart from CJ Patel's work on judicial side, we have had the good fortune of witnessing his leadership qualities on administrative side. His concern for his brethren is commendable. He has created several position and more than 800 vacancies have been filled.
J Sanghi: He played a significant role in acceptance of technology during the pandemic.
J Sanghi: Because of his dynamic approach, the virtual hearing held by the Delhi High Court was applauded not only by the other high courts but even the Supreme Court.
J Sanghi: The first e-lok adalat was conducted under his leadership.
J Sanghi: He also launched the website Samadhan. Under his leaderships digital NI Courts were established.
J Sanghi: Under his leadership, the Intellectual Property division has been inaugurated on the original side. He has always been popular among the bar as 55 advocates have been designated senior.
J Sanghi: I extend congratulations on behalf of all the judges for your future endeavor as chairperson of TDSAT. I congratulate your wife, sons, daughter in law and grand-daughter.
ASG Chetan Sharma now begins his address.
ASG: Your lordships have endeared yourself to the bar and bench with your demeanor. Just before the start of the ceremony we could hear the crackle of your granddaughter and in our parlance such crackle is a mangalsuchak.
ASG: We are used to hearing wails in and outside the court but it very rare to hear crackles of child in the courtroom.
ASG: Your incisiveness could be seen whenever an excise or tax matter came before you.
ASG: I had the fortune of appearing before you in an environmental matter where you let known your no nonsense approach in dealing with environmental matters.
ASG: In the court your demeanour was also pleasant and accommodative to young lawyers. There was a clarion call for encouragement of junior lawyers. Your wit, humour and one liners have kept the court moving and light-hearted.
ASG: Under your leadership a new phrase came to be displayed on the board; 'Board is exhausted'.
ASG refers to a matter in which CJ Patel presided.
ASG: This matter was taken to SC and the apex court had hearty laugh and the order was affirmed.
ASG: This matter was taken to SC and the apex court had hearty laugh and the order was affirmed.
ASG now refers to some of the important judgment of CJ Patel.
ASG: In Sadre-e-Alam the challenge was mounted to appointment of Delhi Police Commissioner. Your lordship relied on several judgment of the SC and said that it was clear that principles given by SC in Prakash Singh case were applicable only to appointment of DGP.
ASG now refers to Anya Malhotra v UOI case wherein challenge was raised to Central Vistal Redevelopment project.
ASG: I have a list of several other judgments but I will not go through those because Mr Mohit Mathur always complains that he is never left with any time.
ASG: I also thank your family members. Successes are not made on standalone basis, it requires support blessing from all those associated with you. I thank you on behalf of Central government standing counsels and all the other lawyers.
ASG: We shall remember your tenure with fondness.
ASG concludes.
ASG concludes.
Advocate Sanjay Lao now addresses the gathering.
Lao: sir, you always upheld the rule of law and discouraged the litigations filed by political motives. You discouraged the litigations filed by frivolous motives.
Lao: On the personal side, your cool temperament was a blessing to all the lawyers. I personally and on behalf of government Delhi extend our best wishes to you.
Lao concludes.
Lao concludes.
Delhi High Court Bar Association President Mohit Mathur now begins his address.
Mathur: Bar is always sad when a judge leaves us after a long association especially so when the leader of the institution leaves us. When the captain retires, the whole team suffers a moral and strategic setback.
Mathur: You hang your overall blacks after guiding us through one of the most difficult times.
Mathur: Shortly after taking office, you were handling petitions regarding police-lawyer clashes. you stood by the members of the bar and stood action. The city felt safe under your watch.
Mathur: Being the president, I have had the honour to observe you from close quarters. Even in these tumultuous times you have taken many initiatives.
Mathur: There is common complaint that you have set so high standards of fitness that we Delhiwalas cannot compete.
Mathur: We also learnt that you had some love for music but unfortunately we did not get he opportunity enjoy that with you. In last few years we have witnessed tremendous growth in the court. The e-filing has revolutionized things.
Mathur: We invite you back to us as an honourary member of DHCBA. We wish you all the luck and happiness.
#DelhiHighCourt #Farewell
#DelhiHighCourt #Farewell
Mathur: Your son is starting a new chapter with us, we are sure he has some very big shoes to fill.
#DelhiHighCourt #Farewell
#DelhiHighCourt #Farewell
CJ DN Patel now begins his address.
CJ Patel: I am deeply touched and shall ever be grateful to you.
CJ quotes Abraham Lincoln: "The best thing about future is that it comes one day at a time".
CJ quotes Abraham Lincoln: "The best thing about future is that it comes one day at a time".
CJ Patel: God gave me the opportunity to secure justice as a lawyer and the opportunity to deliver justice as a judge.
CJ patel: I chose to be a lawyer because I wanted to help the people. Judiciary has been bestowed with powers and responsibilities. It is pertinent to note that is a unique institution in republic. Our task is to render justice by our order and putting to end a lis.
CJ patel: There is always a gap between justice and law. There is some rule to be played by judges and if there is any gap, that has to be filled by judge. Judicial activism is to exercised very rarely. We are the interpreter of law but as an exception whenever there is a gap...
... between law and justice there is the place for judicial activism. We are not here to make law. One has to maintain a balance between activist and restraint.
CJ Patel: Our tryst with Covid has only confirmed that the life can be very unpalatable. No matter our background or identity, there is hardly any say we have over it. No matter how much we plan, unpredictability in life is a reality.
CJ Patel: During the pandemic, even though I missed going to court, I am sure I would not have spend so much time seeing my grand-daughter grow. We are here for a purpose. In these trying times, rendering assistance to common people became a challenge.
CJ: I have observed the monumental efforts made by individuals working at every level of judiciary.
CJ: I express my gratitude to my fellow brother judges.
CJ: I owe to each of you bounding gratitude. I had the good fortune of sharing the bench with bright your judges.
CJ: The quality of bar in Delhi High Court is par excellence. It is more often than not we as jduges know so much about the law through the bar. In fact the success of Delhi HC can be credited to the quality of its bar and relationship that exists between the bar and bench.
CJ: Each one of us is bound by the mandate of the constitution to dispense justice to the last man in the queue.
CJ: I consider myself fortunate to have been in this court and to have served justice. I thanks Mr Mathur and his team for his support. I also appreciate the services rendered by ASG Chetan Sharma and Mr Rahul Mehra.
CJ: The initiative to bring about the infrastructural changes in court during pandemic would not have been possible with High Court staff and registry. I would like to thank all of them for putting their work before their own health.
CJ: I also thank the medical branch. Before pandemic, 60-year-olds like me could not have thought of working virtually and being so tech-savvy.
CJ: My special thanks to Mr Manoj Jain, the registrar general for ensuring smooth functioning of the registry.
CJ: No doubt the judge presides over the court but the work of many go into a court functioning smoothly.
#DelhiHighCourt #Farewell
#DelhiHighCourt #Farewell
CJ: Special thanks to Mr Vinyas who helped me with all the technical stuff. I would call him at midnight and he would always help me. So special thanks to him.
CJ: I am indebted... I am indebted to my parents. (CJ becomes emotional).
CJ: One can never forget the contributions of one's parents. They taught me the value of simple living and high thinking. My family stood by me. They never complained about me not giving enough time to them.
CJ: As a lawyer you always have to be careful. Judges maintain a consistency. There is nothing wrong with being pro this or pro that. There is always a development of law by these type of judgments.
CJ: There is always a development of law and a new approach will develop. Judges are not permanent. Nothing is wrong. When I was too much busy, all care was taken by my wife.
CJ thanks his family.
CJ: My son who is a surgeon has come with his entire team. We are accustomed to come to court daily, nothing is new for us but there are people who have never seen a court and I think about how fortunate they are. Few of them are sitting here.
CJ: My son who is a surgeon has come with his entire team. We are accustomed to come to court daily, nothing is new for us but there are people who have never seen a court and I think about how fortunate they are. Few of them are sitting here.
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