“We lost a stalwart, a man who has no parallel”, said Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court Rajendra Menon on the untimely death of Justice Valmiki Mehta.
Justice Menon was speaking at the Full Court Reference organized to condole the sad demise of Justice Mehta.
The ceremony was attended by the family members of Justice Mehta and many Senior Advocates and junior members of the Bar.
Former judges of the High Court Justices Kailash Gambhir and Manmohan Singh were also present.
Remembering Justice Mehta for his uncompromising and firm nature, Justice Menon remarked that he delivered judgments expeditiously, while upholding the rule of law.
Justice Mehta’s clarity of thought and uprightness was acknowledged by all, Justice Menon said.
Additional Solicitor General Maninder Acharya said that Justice Mehta would be difficult to forget. Bidding her “final goodbye”, she said that Justice Mehta would live through his judgments.
Recalling how he imposed costs to be deposited towards several relief funds, ASG Acharya informed the gathering that Justice Mehta regularly paid for books for underprivileged children.
Standing Counsel for NCT of Delhi, Advocate Rahul Mehra said that Justice Mehta was an institution in himself.
“He was human incarnation of SCC online”, Mehra remarked.
Describing Justice Mehta as dynamic and formidable, Mehra concluded,
“The song has ended, melody lingers on.”
Bar Council of Delhi Chairman KC Mittal said Justice Mehta was a source of inspiration for young lawyers.
Delhi High Court Bar Association President Kirti Uppal said that Justice Mehta’s demise was a “cruel joke” on the Delhi High Court.
Justice Valmiki Mehta, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, passed away on March 1.