Justice Ashutosh Kumar’s farewell ceremony at Patna High Court marked his elevation as Gauhati Chief Justice with the powerful message: “Justice is not a possession—it is a direction.”
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PATNA: Hon’ble Justice Ashutosh Kumar, during his farewell address at the Patna High Court, echoed the essence of his remarkable judicial journey, one marked by integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of justice.
He said, “Justice is not a possession—it is a direction to walk in.”
Justice Ashutosh Kumar’s ascent to the judiciary is as inspiring as it is rooted in simplicity and sincerity. Born on 1st October 1966, his path began in Patna, leading him through the corridors of St. Michael’s High School, St. Stephen’s College, and Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre. Enrolled as an advocate in 1991, he made his mark in criminal, constitutional, and service law.
Elevated as a judge of the Patna High Court in 2014, he was briefly transferred to the Delhi High Court in 2015 before returning home to Patna in 2017. Each chapter of this journey was marked by intellectual rigour, judicial integrity, and an ever-present sense of duty.
The recent gathering at the Patna High Court was the legal fraternity’s way of honouring a judge who served with humility, intellect, and restraint. Now appointed Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, Justice Kumar leaves behind not just a vacancy, but a rich legacy.
A legacy built through over 17,000 judgments, including more than 1,100 reported decisions, notable among them Mohd. Farooqi v. State, Shivji Tiwari v. State of Bihar, Babita Punia, and the Gandhi Maidan blast case. His rulings are celebrated not for their grandeur, but for their clarity, compassion, and constitutional depth.
Known for his patience, humility, and grace, Justice Kumar’s courtroom was a sanctuary of fairness. He extended full hearings, never rushed an argument, and upheld the dignity of even the most junior member of the Bar. Adjournments were neither a rule nor taboo; they were considered with balance and need.
His judicial conduct reflected the wisdom of restraint. He said,
“In a world that rewards immediacy, we are taught to reflect. In a world quick to judge, we are trained to listen.”
Beyond the Bench, Justice Kumar’s leadership was transformative. As Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Committee, the Bihar Judicial Academy, the High Court Legal Services Committee, and the Bihar State Legal Services Authority, he expanded access to justice and institutional reform. His leadership of the East Zone Regional Conference at Gaya earned nationwide praise, setting a benchmark in judicial collaboration.
He was also a strong protector of the independence of the district judiciary, shielding it from undue interference and empowering it to function with dignity and autonomy.
Justice Kumar’s judicial philosophy finds resonance in the writings of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes and Justice Benjamin Cardozo, both of whom he quoted in his farewell.
“The life of law is not logic, it is experience.”
He recalled,
“We are in the end humans, shaped by our tides, yet striving to remain anchored in enduring principles.”
His values were not limited to the Bench. A student of literature and cinema, a devotee of Lord Shiva, and a humble family man, he led by quiet example. Even on the day of his wedding, he reported to work. That rare blend of discipline, scholarship, and devotion shaped him into more than a judge; it made him a role model.
He extended his gratitude deeply to his family, his late father, a respected senior advocate; his wife, Dr. Tanuja; his daughters Shivangi and Satakshi; and his brother, an IRS officer. Their sacrifices, he said, were the invisible pillars of his journey.
As he takes up his new role in the Gauhati High Court, Justice Kumar carries Patna not just in memory, but in temperament. He said,
“The values I have imbibed here, the civility of the Bar, the depth of my brothers, and the soul of its courtroom traditions, shall remain with me.”
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Justice Kumar reminded us in his parting remarks that the judge does not seek applause nor fears disapproval, but one who remains true to the Constitution, to the oath, and the sacred task of balancing.
“Behind every fight lies a fragile dream, a broken promise, or a plea for dignity.”
And in the Northeast, where challenges and cultures converge, he does not go with fanfare, but with a student’s heart, saying:
“I go there not with any sense of arrival, but with the same spirit in which I first stepped into the courtroom more than three decades ago, as a student of justice.”
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