A Full Court Reference held in the High Court of H.P. to mourn the sad demise of Justice R.C Lahoti

 

 Vijyender Sharma  

Shimla. 2^st April, 2022.

  A Full Court Reference was held today in the High Court of H.P. to mourn the sad demise of Justice R.C Lahoti, former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India, who breathed his last on March 23, 2022 at the age of 81 years. Justice Lahoti was 35^th Chief Justice of India and served as such from 01.06.2004 to 01.11.2005.

Born on 01.11.1940, at Guna, Madhya Pradesh, Justice Lohati joined the Bar in District Guna in 1960 and enrolled as an Advocate in 1962. In April, 1977, Justice Lohati was recruited directly from the Bar to the State Higher Judicial Service and was appointed as a District & Sessions Judge. After functioning as such for about a year, he resigned in May 1978 and reverted to the Bar for practice mainly in the High Court. Justice Lohati was appointed as Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on May 03, 1988 and permanent Judge on August, 04,1989. He was transferred to Delhi High Court on February, 07, 1994. Justice Lahoti was appointed as a Judge of Supreme Court of India on December, 09,1998 and thereafter on 1^st June, 2004, appointed as Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India. Justice Lahoti retired on 1^st November, 2005.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon'ble the Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq said that during his nearly 7 years tenure in the Supreme Court, Justice Lohati authored about 342 judgments. He was a former independent director of the Board of directors of the Press Trust of India. In 2006, the then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh presented him with the National Law Day Award for his unique contribution in the field of administration of justice, making it friendly to the people at large. The Chief Justice said that Justice Lohati will always be remembered for his contribution to the Rule of Law and his efforts to enhance the dignity and majesty of the institution.

The Chief Justice while expressing his deep condolence to the bereaved family said that with passing away of Justice Lohati we have lost a fine gentleman, a great jurist and a great personality.

            Judges of High Court of H.P., Justice Sabina, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua and Justice Satyen Vaidya were also present on the occasion.

Two minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

   Sh. Ashok Sharma, Advocate  General,  Sh Ajay Kochhar, Chairman, Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, Sh. Lovneesh Kanwar, President Bar Association, H.P. High Court and Sh. Lokender Thakur, Senior Panel Counsel, Govt. of India also paid tributes to Justice R.C Lahoti. The Registrar General conducted the proceedings. The Members of the High Court Bar Association, Registrars and Officers and Officials of the High Court Registry were also present on the occasion.