Today, On 25th April, The Bombay High Court departed from its traditional farewell ceremony for retiring judges by holding a full court reference in honor of Justice Gautam Patel. This special event, held in a packed central courtroom, marked a new tradition in recognition of Justice Patel’s contributions. He expressed deep gratitude for this honor, emphasizing his emotional attachment to the court’s historic building.
Bombay: On Thursday, the Bombay High Court broke with its traditional approach for bidding farewell to retiring judges, which typically involves a ceremonial bench alongside the Chief Justice. Instead, a full court reference organized to honor Justice Gautam Patel. The central courtroom filled with judges, senior counsels, and advocates who came to participate in this significant event.
During the farewell, an emotional Justice Patel expressed his gratitude towards both the bar and the bench for establishing this new tradition in his honor, describing it as a profound honor. He also reflected on the heritage of the Bombay High Court, which dates back 150 years.
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Justice Patel emphasized the special significance the historic building holds for him, highlighting its importance not just as a structure but as a symbol of the judicial legacy he was part of.
Justice Patel fondly remembered the special times he spent in his chambers, especially near two interconnected trees outside, which he described as representing the bond between the legal bar and the judiciary.
Justice Patel passionately appealed to his audience, saying,
“I would implore everyone to never abandon this institution. Should a new high court building be established in another location in the future, let us ensure that a part of this heritage remains. Take a stone from this building and use it as the foundation stone there.”
Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya praised Justice Patel, describing him as “a scholar judge who perfectly embodied both justice and compassion.”
Chief Justice Upadhyaya reflected on an emotional moment, stating,
“During our lunch session, Justice Patel became emotional, and it was not merely because he would no longer serve as a judge. His emotions stemmed from a deep attachment to this institution and its historic building. His commitment and passion are truly unwavering.”
Justice Gautam Patel, born in Mumbai in 1962, began his legal career in 1987 after being admitted to the bar. His journey in law led to his appointment as a judge at the high court in 2013, marking the start of a significant judicial tenure.
Justice Upadhyaya expressed optimism that Justice Patel would now be able to dedicate more time to his other interests, like teaching, to positively impact students and upcoming legal professionals.
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Bar members, including Advocate General Birendra Saraf, Senior Advocate Nitin Thakker, Advocate Uday Warunjikar, and Advocate Farhana Behramkamdin, recalled Justice Patel‘s efforts to enhance the legal system through technological advancements, his unique style of writing judgments, his empathy and humor, and his proactive approach to problem-solving, not limited to judicial decisions but also through alternative methods
Throughout his time on the bench, Justice Patel responsible for several landmark rulings. These included his decision on the recently amended Information Technology Rules, which address the issue of fake news. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in resolving the succession dispute within the Dawoodi Bohra community, among other important cases. His judgments often been noted for their depth and their impact on the legal landscape.
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