Full court reference for Justice Kant

Vijay Arora

Shimla, May 24

A full court reference was held on Thursday in High Court of Himachal Pradesh to bid farewell to Chief Justice Surya Kant on his elevation as Judge of the Supreme Court.

Born on February10, 1962 in a middle class family in Hisar district Haryana, Justice Surya Kant had his early education from his village school. He did his graduation from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981. He earned his bachelor degree in law from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak in 1984, and started practising law at the district court, Hisar. He later shifted to Chandigarh in 1985 to practise in Punjab and Haryana High Court. He specialised in constitutional, service and civil matters. 

He represented various universities, boards, corporations and banks before earning the distinction of being appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana on January 09, 2000. He was designated as senior advocate in March, 2001. He held the post of Advocate General of Haryana till his elevation as a Permanent Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004. He was appointed the Chief Justice of High Court of Himachal Pradesh and assumed the charge of his office on October 5, 2018.

The Registrar General Virender Singh conducted the proceedings of the Full Court reference.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary praised Justice Surya Kant for his acumen, skill and dexterity in handling complicated legal issues. He called him an outstanding judge in all respects, a legalist and a pragmatist. He admired him for his liberal attitude in dispensing justice to the underprivileged and vulnerable groups in the society.

Advocate General, Ashok Sharma, Chairman of Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh and Ramakant Sharma, President of HP High Court Bar Association Shri Rajiv Jiwan, and Assistant Solicitor General of India, Rajesh Sharma also spoke on the occasion and praised Justice Surya Kant in glowing terms and extended their good wishes to him.

While speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Surya Kant thanked his brother judges, members of the bar, judicial officers, officers and officials of the Registry for their affection and co-operation apart from those who spoke on the occasion.

Justice Kurien Joseph, former Judge of Supreme Court and former Chief Justice of High Court of Himachal Pradesh graced the occasion. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Justice Sureshwar Thakur, Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Justice Ajay Mohan 

Goel, Justice Sandeep Sharma and Justice Chander Bhusan Barowalia were also present.