Reflecting on the six-decade journey of the Delhi High Court, Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath on Friday spoke about the institution’s distinctive character, the stature of its judges, the quality of advocacy before it and its contribution to alternative dispute resolution, while also making a light-hearted reference to the court’s much-talked-about canteens.
Addressing the inaugural function marking the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Delhi High Court, attended by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Nath said the institution’s reputation was the outcome of the collective contribution of successive generations of judges, lawyers, registry officials and other staff members.
Recalling his own professional journey, Justice Nath said his 17 years at the Bar and subsequent years as a High Court judge in Allahabad and Gujarat had given him an appreciation of the distinct identity that every High Court develops over time.
He observed that courtrooms, corridors and even canteens gradually become familiar spaces for members of the legal fraternity, with professional associations evolving into lasting personal relationships. An institution, he remarked, eventually becomes much more than a workplace, acquiring the character of a second home.
Justice Nath also recalled the friendships forged and cases argued during his association with the legal profession, adding that some courtroom anecdotes were best reserved for informal conversations among colleagues.
In a lighter observation, the Supreme Court judge recalled having remarked on an earlier occasion that judges of the Delhi High Court sometimes appeared to wield greater authority than their counterparts in the Supreme Court.
He said the judges of the Delhi High Court possessed a distinctive presence and confidence that commanded respect, adding that this characteristic remained evident even when they appeared before the Supreme Court.
Justice Nath attributed this institutional confidence, in part, to the nature of the matters handled by the Delhi High Court, given its location in the national capital. He pointed out that the Court regularly deals with issues extending beyond Delhi and carries responsibilities of considerable national significance.
He credited successive generations of judges with discharging these responsibilities effectively and contributing to the institution’s standing in the country’s judicial landscape.
Turning his attention to the Bar, Justice Nath described the standard of advocacy before the Delhi High Court as exceptionally high. He said the institution had produced several outstanding advocates, many of whom regularly appear before the Supreme Court.
Highlighting the importance of effective legal representation, he observed that a thoroughly prepared advocate could sometimes persuade even a judge to reconsider an existing view. He said the contribution of accomplished lawyers had played a significant role in building the Court’s reputation over the years.
Justice Nath also acknowledged the Delhi High Court’s efforts in strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. In particular, he referred to the Delhi International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and Samadhan, the Court’s mediation and conciliation centre, noting that these initiatives had expanded the avenues available to litigants for resolving disputes outside conventional adjudication.
He further commended the Court’s infrastructure, digital facilities and specialised jurisdictions, observing that these developments reflected its continuing efforts to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the justice delivery system.
The address also had its share of humour when Justice Nath turned to an aspect of the Delhi High Court that, he suggested, enjoyed considerable popularity among lawyers and visitors — its canteens.
He said he had frequently heard members of the legal fraternity praise the food served at the High Court’s various canteens, with some even rating it better than the offerings at the Supreme Court. According to him, there were also those who believed that the food could compete with several established restaurants in the capital.
While acknowledging that such an assessment might not find universal agreement, Justice Nath said the Court’s culinary reputation was worth preserving for the next six decades.
Concluding his address, Justice Nath reiterated that the Delhi High Court’s achievements could not be attributed to any single generation or individual. Its institutional legacy, he said, had been shaped by the sustained efforts of judges, advocates, registry officials and staff members who had contributed to its development.
He congratulated the Acting Chief Justice, the sitting judges, the Delhi High Court Bar Association and everyone associated with organising the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. He also acknowledged the contribution of former Chief Justices and judges in shaping the institution’s traditions.
Justice Nath expressed hope that the coming decades would bring further accomplishments for the High Court, while its professional excellence, institutional traditions and enduring relationships within the legal fraternity continued to flourish.
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