Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta on Tuesday began one of his judgments by paying tribute to his young law clerk who passed away four days ago.

In a judgment delivered in relation to the Sambhal violence case, the Court acknowledged the research and work put in by law clerk-cum-research associate Ritwik Deswal, who expired four days before his 27th birthday.

"The order is in memoriam. Human life is fragile, yet in the ordinary course of living, we seldom pause to recognise just how fleeting it is. And when life finally confronts us with that fragility, the realisation often comes too late. On that note, at the very outset, we begin on an unconventional premise. One of our dearest law clerks-cum research associates, Ritwik Deswal, left for his heavenly abode, four days short of his 27th birthday, which happens to be today. As we pronounce this judgment, which bears the quiet and indelible imprint of his final labors, we hasten to record our deep appreciation for the invaluable research assistance rendered by him in the build-up to the preparation of this judgment. His untimely demise has left an excruciatingly deep void in our lives. Even in his final hours, his thoughts remained firmly anchored in the pursuit of truth and the service of justice. It is therefore with profound personal sorrow and grief that we dedicate this final collaboration to his memory, his integrity, his indomitable commitment to the law, his love for academia, and his other great qualities of head and heart," the Court said in the very first paragraph of the judgment.