The Uttarakhand High Court witnessed a solemn and respectful farewell on Friday as the legal fraternity gathered for a full court reference ceremony to mark the retirement of Chief Justice Guhanathan Narendar. The event, held in Dehradun, saw senior judges and lawyers extend their best wishes to the outgoing Chief Justice for his service to the state's judiciary.
A Tenure Focused on Accessibility and Technology
Advocate General SN Babulkar set the tone for the ceremony, commencing the proceedings by wishing Justice Narendar robust health and happiness in his future endeavours. Senior Judge Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari took the opportunity to reflect on the retiring CJ's contributions, specifically underscoring the several landmark judgments delivered under his leadership.
In his farewell address, Chief Justice Narendar provided a candid assessment of the challenges faced by the judiciary in a hill state like Uttarakhand. He pointed out that the difficult terrain and lack of basic infrastructure, including roads, in many areas create significant hurdles for citizens, making their lives arduous and access to justice a struggle.
"Although my tenure was short, with the cooperation of all concerned, we were able to resolve as many problems as possible," Justice Narendar stated. He emphasized that a core focus of his term was leveraging technology to transform the judicial system. "We maximised the use of technology in the courts to make the justice delivery system accessible, affordable, transparent and accountable," he added.
E-Courts Project and Future Roadmap
Elaborating on the technological push, the outgoing Chief Justice detailed that several key initiatives were launched under the national e-courts project. He informed the gathering that while some of these digital interventions have already been implemented successfully, others are in the pipeline and will be carried forward. Expressing his gratitude for the support received, Justice Narendar said, "I am deeply grateful for the cooperation and appreciation I received from all quarters."
A New Chapter: Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta Takes Over
With Justice Narendar's retirement, the mantle of the Uttarakhand High Court's top judicial office will now pass to Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta. Justice Gupta, a senior judge from the Allahabad High Court, was appointed as the new Chief Justice of Uttarakhand by the President of India. This appointment follows a recent recommendation made by the Supreme Court collegium.
The swearing-in ceremony for Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta is scheduled to be held at Lok Bhawan in Dehradun on Saturday. This formal event will mark the beginning of a new leadership era for the High Court, which continues to grapple with the unique challenges of serving a population spread across the Himalayan state.
The transition underscores the continuous evolution of India's judicial system, with a clear focus on overcoming geographical barriers through innovation and ensuring that the promise of justice reaches every citizen, even in the remotest hills.
