High Court of Himachal Pradesh Holds Full Court Reference for Late Justice Devendra Gupta..  He was legal luminary, brilliant administrator and a gentleman...   

Shimla, June 24 - The High Court of Himachal Pradesh today convened a full court reference to mourn the passing of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Devendra Gupta, a former judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, who passed away on June 17, 2024.  He was 81. 

The solemn ceremony, held in the court's premises, was attended by a distinguished gathering of judges, advocates, and court officials.

Born on April 4, 1943, in Shimla, Justice Gupta embarked on his legal career by enrolling as an advocate on March 23, 1967.

He initially practiced in the courts of erstwhile  Mahasu, and Shimla district courts, before shifting to the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, following in the footsteps of his father, the late Lala Ram Krishan Gupta, a pioneering senior advocate of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

Justice Gupta’s legal acumen spanned various domains, including civil, criminal, constitutional, taxation, and labor law, until his elevation as a judge.

Justice Gupta was appointed as a permanent judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on June 25, 1990.

On April 28, 1994, he was transferred to the Delhi High Court, where he was recognized as a brilliant administrator and a respected jurist.

His judicial career reached a pinnacle when he was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on March 6, 2003.

During his tenure, Justice Gupta was instrumental in the expansion of NALSAR, which solidified its status as a premier law school.

He also oversaw the computerization of the subordinate judiciary and codified the rules for the administration of the High Court, marking significant strides in the judicial system.

Justice Gupta retired on April 4, 2005, and remained a figure of impeccable integrity and keen judicial insight throughout his life.

His contributions to the legal fraternity were remembered with deep respect at today's reference.

The Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh, Shri MSR Sri Ramachandra Rao expressed heartfelt condolences, stating, "In the passing of Justice Devendra Gupta, we have lost a fine gentleman, a great jurist, and a distinguished personality."

The solemn event was graced by the presence of Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Vivek Singh Thakur, Ajay Mohan Goel, Sandeep Sharma, Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Satyen Vaidya, Sushil Kukreja, Virender Singh, Ranjan Sharma, and Rakesh Kanta. They, along with Advocate General Anup Rattan, Chairman of the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, Luvneesh Kanwar,  President of the HP High Court Bar Association,  Dalip Singh Kaisth, and Deputy Solicitor General of India, Balram Sharma, paid tributes to the late Justice Gupta.

A two-minute silence was observed in honor of Justice Gupta's memory.

Registrar General conducted the proceedings, and members of the High Court Bar Association, along with the staff and officers of the High Court Registry, were in attendance to pay their respects to the departed soul. 

He passed away on June 17, 2024, in Coorg, Karnataka, where he was on vacation. He was 81.

Outside his judicial duties, Justice Gupta had a passion for shooting, a hobby he excelled in during his college years. He was an accomplished NCC cadet, earning the title of best “Under Officer” and even leading a parade in Shimla.

He was also a high-ranking Freemason, achieving the title of Grand Master of India in 2006 and receiving the prestigious Order of Service to Masonry medal.

In his personal life, Justice Gupta enjoyed gardening, cooking, and traveling. He was known for his simplicity, deep religious faith, and humility.

In court, he was known for his encouraging demeanor towards junior lawyers and his pleasant conduct, which put everyone at ease.

Justice Gupta is survived by his three children: Rajesh Gupta, a practicing lawyer in Delhi, Neeraj Gupta, a Senior Advocate in HP High Court, and Deepa Butail, a homemaker.

His passing is a significant loss to his family and the legal community, marking the end of a remarkable legacy in the Indian judiciary.

Justice Gupta’s legacy as a fearless judge with unwavering dedication to justice will continue to inspire the judiciary and the legal community at large.