Court rooms are a fertile source of humour. Amidst the regular humdrum of daily court room proceedings, humour props up unexpectedly, sometimes on account of the wit of an Advocate or a Judge and sometimes on account of an innocent remark of a litigant or a witness.
'Humour in Court' is an endeavour of the Information Technology & Artificial Intelligence Committee of the High Court of Delhi to capture such moments and preserve them for posterity.
How to get your posts published?
Any litigant/Advocate desirous of getting his post published on this page is requested to send it to delhihighcourt@nic.in with the subject, 'Humour in Court'.
After screening by the designated committee of the High Court of Delhi, it will be posted here.
S. Muralidhar began his law practice in Chennai in September 1984 and in 1987 shifted to the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court. He was active as a lawyer for the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee and later was its member for two terms. His pro bono work included the cases for the victims of the Bhopal Gas Disaster and those displaced by the dams on the Narmada. He was appointed amicus curiae by the Supreme Court in several PIL cases and in cases involving convicts on the death row. Muralidhar was counsel for the National Human Rights Commission and the Election Commission of India and a part-time member of the Law Commission from December 2002 till May 2006 when he was appointed a judge of the Delhi High Court. Muralidhar was awarded the Ph D by the Delhi University in 2003. He is the author of `Law, Poverty and Legal Aid: Access to Criminal Justice' a book published by LexisNexis Butterworths in August 2004. Transferred to High Court of Punjab and Haryana and assumed office as Judge on 06.03.2020.
Justice Chander Shekhar
Justice Chander Shekhar
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Born on 26th January, 1958 in a small Village Hasole (Chokath), Tehsil Dehra, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh in an Agricultural family.
Did his Schooling from Harcourt Butler Sr. Secondary School, New Delhi, B.Com(P) from University of Delhi and then LL.B. Enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in the year 1982 and started practice on the Civil, Criminal and Industrial side in the Supreme Court of India, High Court of Delhi and Delhi District Courts.
Joined Delhi Higher Judicial Service in the year 2000. Presided over Sessions Court, Civil Court, Judge NDPS, PO MACT, Rent Control Tribunal, Spl. Judge PC Act CBI. Expeditiously disposed of many cases including the most sensitive matter of Maulana Azad Medical College also known as “Khooni Darwaja Case”.
Justice Chander Shekhar has written and compiled a book titled as ICT in Delhi Courts, which is a guide to the complete process of Computerization of Delhi District Courts and also formatted and designed District Courts User Manual in Hindi to make justice accessible to all. His keen interest and untiring efforts as Chairman, Computer Committee, Delhi District Courts continuously for six years resulted into Computerization of District Courts. Was also Chairman of various administrative Committees of the Delhi District Courts.
Justice Chander Shekhar is a trained Mediator. Posted as Full time Coordinator, Mediation Centre, Rohini Courts, where he was instrumental in planning and making the Mediation Centre, Rohini Courts fully functional, in the year 2009. Imparted training to the Advocates & Judge Mediators.
Worked as a Reporter (Part-time), Indian Law Reports, Delhi.
In 2010, was posted as Registrar (Case Flow Management), High Court of Delhi and more than three thousand matters after physical scrutiny were placed before various Courts and disposed off.
In 2011, was appointed as Spl. Secretary (Law), Department of Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs, GNCT of Delhi having the additional charge of Secretary, Alternative Dispute Resolution/Director, Delhi Dispute Resolution Society.
Became District & Sessions Judge (North), in March, 2013 and in December, 2013 as District & Sessions Judge (North-West), Delhi.
In July, 2014 was posted as Registrar (Vigilance) High Court of Delhi, New Delhi.
Attended many Seminars including ‘End to End-Court Technology’ held at Singapore as nominated by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and Regional Workshop on Counter Terrorism held in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Invited as resource person by Delhi Judicial Academy and various other Departments/Institutes.
Elevated as Permanent Judge of High Court of Delhi on 8th November, 2016.
While sitting in Division Benches and for some time in a Single Bench till October, 2018, the total disposal of the Main Cases was 2610 and that of the Miscellaneous Applications was 5471. As per actual working days w.e.f. from 8th November, 2016 to 21st October, 2018 the disposal of the cases was 9.2 cases per day as per MaliMath Committee Criteria.
However, while holding the present Single Bench on criminal side w.e.f. 22nd October, 2018 till 30th November, 2019, the total disposal of the Main Cases is 2405 and that of the Miscellaneous Applications is 3755. As per actual working days, the disposal of the cases is 16.94 Cases per day as per MaliMath Committee Criteria.
Apart from holding regular Court and disposing of many-many important matters, the judgments whereof have been published in various Law Journals and are widely cited in Courts all over the country, Justice Chander Shekhar has also presided over two Tribunals involving highly sensitive national security issues, in respect of banned organizations, namely Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu & Kashmir (JeI) and Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd. Yasin Malik Faction) (JKLF-Y), under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Retired on 25.01.2020.
Justice R.K. Gauba
Justice R.K. Gauba
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Justice R.K. Gauba was born on 4th December 1957, in an Army family, and did his schooling at various stations, mainly from Kendriya Vidyalaya. Post his graduation from Osmania University, Hyderabad, he did his LL.B from Jabalpur University. He entered Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service on 24th November 1981. He was selected to and joined Delhi Judicial Service on 19th August 1983 and presided over the courts of Civil Judge, Metropolitan Magistrate and Rent Controller. He was promoted to the Delhi Higher Judicial Service on 20th November 1997 and served in many a jurisdiction, including as Special Judge for NDPS and anti-corruption cases as also municipal election disputes. He also exercised appellate jurisdiction under rent control law, Public Premises Act and against orders of MCD/DDA appellate tribunal. He was Chief Metropolitan Magistrate for Delhi during 1998-2000. He also presided over the MACT, Sessions Court, matrimonial cases. He was the Registrar Vigilance at Delhi High Court and Supreme Court during 2005-2010. He also served on deputation as Officer on Special Duty (Judicial) with the 1st Central Review Committee under POTA. He was elevated to High Court as an Additional Judge with effect from 15th December, 2014 and was appointed as permanent Judge of the Delhi High Court with effect from 02-06-2016.
Retired on 03.12.2019.
Justice Sunil Gaur
Justice Sunil Gaur
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Born on August 23, 1957. A first Divisioner post-graduate, had began his career in legal profession at Punjab and Haryana High Court in the year 1984 and in the year 1995 joined Delhi Higher Judicial Service. During his tenure in Delhi Higher Judicial Service handled civil and criminal cases including sensational Shivani Bhatnagar murder trial and had been Judge-incharge of Delhi Mediation Centre, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, and was Judge-Incharge, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi. On April 11, 2008, he has been entrusted with higher responsibility upon being elevated as a Judge of Delhi High Court. Became Permanent Judge on 11.04.2012.
Retired on 22.08.2019.
Justice Vinod Goel
Justice Vinod Goel
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
• Justice Vinod Goel was born on 7th August, 1957 in village Hassanpur, (now in District Palwal), Haryana, and did his schooling from Government High School, Hassanpur.
• Passed B.Com. from Vaish College, Rohtak affiliated to Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak.
• Did LL.B. from Panjab University, Chandigarh in April 1980.
• Awarded Certificate of Honour by Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh for securing highest marks in Criminology 4th Semester Examination in April, 1979.
• Did Diploma in Labour Laws in May, 1981 from The Indian Law Institute, New Delhi.
• Enrolled on the Roll of Advocates with the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana on 30.7.1982.
• Did practice in District Courts at Faridabad and Sub-Divisional Courts at Palwal on Civil and Criminal side. Also conducted Labour, Service, Election Petitions, Claim Petitions & Revenue and Consolidation Matters.
• Joined Delhi Higher Judicial Service on 31.12.1997 (AN). Presided over Civil Courts, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, CBI Courts.
• Is a Trained Mediator under the aegis of MCPC of Hon’ble Supreme Court and trained in Mediation by ISDLS. Presided over as Judge In-Charge, Mediation Cell, East District, Karkardooma Courts from 15.12.2009 – 31.07.2012.
• Posted as District & Sessions Judge, Shahdara on 01.03.2013. Oldest Sessions Case No.1/2006 CBI Vs. Santoshanand etc. (commonly known as L.N.Mishra Murder case) was disposed off on 08.12.2014 and order on sentence was passed on 18.12.2014.
• Appointed as Registrar General, High Court of Delhi on deputation with effect from 10.01.2015.
• Was administered oath as a permanent Judge of the High Court of Delhi on 08.11.2016. Retired on 06.08.2019.
Justice A.K. Pathak
Justice A.K. Pathak
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Justice A.K.Pathak, B.Sc., L.L.B.- Born on 11th July, 1957- Enrolled in the year 1980 with the Bar Council of Delhi. Practised in Supreme Court of India, High Court of Delhi, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, MRTP Commission and other Forums between 1980 to 1995. He was on the panel of Delhi Electricity Supply Undertakings and Government of NCT, Delhi, for handling their cases in Delhi High Court, during 1994-1995. He joined Delhi Higher Judicial Service on 9th March, 1995. He worked as Presiding Officer, Debts Recovery Tribunal-I, Delhi from April, 2000 to January, 2001- Also worked as Presiding Officer, Employees Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal from November, 2004 till November, 2005. Worked as Registrar General of this Court from 28th February, 2006 to 6th January, 2007. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court on 14th May, 2009 and became Permanent Judge on 05.09.2013. Retired on 10.07.2019.
Justice Rajendra Menon
Justice Rajendra Menon
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Born on 7th June 1957, graduated in Science from Govt. Science College, Jabalpur under Rani Durgawati University (Jabalpur), did LL.B from NSE Law College (Jabalpur) in the year 1981.
Started practising Law soon thereafter and was Standing Counsel for Central Government from 1991 till his elevation to Bench, besides being Standing Counsel for several Private and Public Sector Undertakings like South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd., Northern Coalfields Ltd, Western Coalfields Ltd., Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, Vijaya Bank, Rani Durgawati University, M.P. Dairy Development Corporation, Associated Companies Ltd., Reliance, Tata Motors and various other establishments.
His Lordship took oath as Additional Judge of Madhya Pradesh High Court on 01.04.2002 and became Permanent Judge on 21.03.2003. He was posted at Gwalior Bench of the said High Court till March 2008, when he got posted at Principal Bench at Jabalpur. He was also Acting Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court from 13.05.2016 to 14.03.2017.
During his Lordship's posting at Madhya Pradesh High Court, he was associated with several Administrative Committees. He was also appointed as Welfare Commissioner for the Bhopal Gas Victims Compensation Commission during the period December, 2010 to March, 2015. His Lordship was also In-charge of Judicial Education & Training and also Chairman of M P State Judicial Academy. He was also Chairman of M P State Legal Services Authority from March 2015 till 14th March 2017.
Elevated as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 15th March 2017 and remained as Chief Justice of Patna High Court till 7th August, 2018.
Sworn in as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court on 09.08.2018.
Retired on 06.06.2019.
Justice S. Ravindra Bhat
Justice S. Ravindra Bhat
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Born on 21st October 1958, at Mysore. Educated in Bangalore and Gwalior. Finished schooling from Central School, Faridabad. Thereafter completed graduation in B.A.(.Hons) in English literature from Hindu College, Delhi University, 1979. Graduated in law (LL.B) from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University (1982). Enrolled with Delhi Bar Council in August, (1982).
Commenced law practice in 1982.Practised before the Delhi High Court, Supreme Court, and before various other- judicial fora.
During the course of law practice, had exposure in different branches of law as Public Law, Banking, Education, Labour and Service, and Indirect Taxation.
Assumed office as Additional Judge, Delhi High Court on 16th July, 2004, and Permanent Judge of Delhi High Court on 20th February, 2006.
Elevated as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court w.e.f. 05.05.2019.
Justice Valmiki J Mehta
Justice Valmiki J Mehta
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Born on 6th June, 1959 at Mumbai. Educated in Vishakhapatnam and Delhi. Finished schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Vishakhapatnam. Thereafter completed graduation in B.Com(H) from Sri Venkateshwara College, Delhi University & LL.B. from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University. Enrolled with Delhi Bar Council in 1982.
Started law practice in 1982. Practised in Delhi High Court, District Courts and various Tribunals in Civil Matters. Designated as a Senior Advocate on 22.9.2001 at the age of 42 years.
Assumed office as Additional Judge, Delhi High Court on 15th April, 2009 and as Permanent Judge on 12.04.2013. He expired on 01.03.2019.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Justice Sanjiv Khanna
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Justice Sanjiv Khanna was born on 14th May, 1960 and finished his schooling from Delhi in 1977. After graduating in the year 1980 from Delhi University, he studied law at Delhi University and was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. His practice of law included taxation, arbitration, commercial, environment & pollution and writ jurisdiction matters in the Delhi High Court. As an advocate, he had also handled several matters of medical negligence under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and company law matters before the Company Law Board and the Delhi High Court. He had represented the Government of Delhi as an Additional Public Prosecutor in criminal law matters. He was a Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department for about seven years and in 2004 he was appointed as a Standing Counsel (civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi in the Delhi High Court. On 24th June 2005 he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court and became a permanent judge on 20th February, 2006.
Elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 18th January, 2019.
Justice Pratibha Rani
Justice Pratibha Rani
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Born on 25th August, 1956. Graduated from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University in 1975. Obtained LL.B. Degree from Law Faculty, University of Delhi in 1978. Joined Delhi Judicial Service in 1979. Worked as Metropolitan Magistrate, Civil Judge, Presiding Officer of the Labour Court before being promoted to Delhi Higher Judicial Service in July, 1996. Worked as Special Judge (NDPS), Additional District & Sessions Judge, Special Judge (CBI) and District Judge (West). Became District & Sessions Judge on 1st March, 2011. Elevated to the Bench of High Court of Delhi as an Additional Judge on 17th October, 2011.
Retired on 24.08.2018.
Justice P.S. Teji
Justice P.S. Teji
//echo $plan['JDesig'] ?>
Justice P.S. Teji born on 14th August 1956 in Punjab State, did graduation from Faridkot, Post Graduation from Punjab University, Chandigarh and LLB (First Division) from Punjab University, Chandigarh. In the year 1983, started career as Advocate in Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, represented Union of India in Civil, Criminal, Land Acquisition and Service Matter, represented Chandigarh Administration to conduct criminal cases, appointed as Assistant Advocate General, Punjab from February, 1991 to July, 1993 and conducted Constitutional Law, Civil, Criminal and Service Law matters.
In 1995, joined Delhi Higher Judicial Service. He presided over as Additional District Judge, Additional Sessions Judge, Special Judge (NDPS), Essential Commodity Act, CBI Trial, Presiding Officer Industrial Tribunal, cases investigated by DRI and Customs.
In May 2009, was appointed as District Judge-cum-Special Judge, PC Act (CBI), became District & Sessions Judge (East) and contributed substantially in various projects at Karkardooma Courts Complex including Construction and Distribution of 480 Lawyers Chambers, Construction and Function of 1st Paperless E-Court of India, Model Lock-up, First Child Witness Court of India and First Vulnerable Witness Examination Court till elevation to High Court as an Additional Judge with effect from 15th December, 2014.
Retired on 13.08.2018.