SHIMLA: A solemn Full Court Reference took place in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Friday today to commemorate the sad passing of two esteemed legal figures: Justice A.M. Ahmadi, former Chief Justice of India, and Justice W.A. Shishank, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.
Justice A.M. Ahmadi breathed his last on March 2, 2023, in New Delhi at the age of 91. Born on March 2, 1932, he started his legal career in 1954 and was appointed as a Judge of the City & Sessions Court of Ahmadabad in 1964.
He was later elevated to Judge of the Gujarat High Court in 1976. In December 1988, he was further elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. After six years, he became the Chief Justice of India, serving until his retirement on March 25, 1997.
Throughout his career, Justice A.M. Ahmadi delivered numerous significant judgments, showcasing his unwavering dedication to upholding justice.
Justice W.A. Shishank passed away at the age of 83 on August 3, 2023, in Imphal.
Born on January 1, 1941, in Manipur, he served as the Senior Government Advocate for the Government of Nagaland for seven years.
In January 1989, he took the oath as a Judge of the Guwahati High Court, becoming the first Naga to hold this position. He later became the inaugural Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court in December 2000.
Justice W.A. Shishank also served as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh from January 24, 2002, to December 31, 2002.
Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao, addressing the gathering, praised both Justice A.M. Ahmadi and Justice W.A. Shishank as distinguished Judges with extensive knowledge across legal domains. He expressed that their loss is deeply felt not only by their families but also by the legal community and the nation as a whole.
Present at the event were several Judges from the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, including Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, Justice Sandeep Sharma, Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Justice Satyen Vaidya, Justice Sushil Kukreja, Justice Virender Singh, Justice Ranjan Sharma, Justice Bipin Chander Negi, and Justice Rakesh Kainthla.
The event included a two-minute silence observed in honor of the departed dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion were Sh. Anup Rattan, Advocate General, Sh. Ajay Kumar Sharma, Chairman of the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, Sh. Ankush Dass Sood, President of the H.P. High Court Bar Association, and Shri Balram Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India, also paid their respects and shared their tributes.
The proceedings were conducted by the Registrar General, and the event was attended by members of the High Court Bar Association, along with Registrars, Officers, and Officials of the High Court Registry.
