Former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court and Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta (VK Gupta), passed away after a prolonged illness. He breathed his last on February 15.
His last rites will be performed today (Sunday) in Delhi. Justice VK Gupta was born on September 10, 1947, and was 78 years old at the time of his passing.
His demise has sent shockwaves through the legal fraternity. Justice Gupta was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court on November 15, 2000, following the state’s formation.
He is survived by his wife, Usha Gupta, daughter, Ruchira Gupta, and son, Gaurav Gupta.
Born on September 10, 1947, Justice Gupta delivered several landmark judgments on key issues, including domicile and reservation policies, during Jharkhand’s early years after its separation from Bihar on November 15, 2000. He is also remembered for his significant contributions to strengthening the state and district judiciary’s infrastructure in record time.
Justice Gupta received his early education in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. He earned his LL.B. from Delhi University and was enrolled as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council on July 23, 1970. He practised on both the original and appellate sides of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court.
He also served as the Advocate General of Jammu & Kashmir and was a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Jammu. Actively involved in bar activities, he held various positions, including President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Bar Association.
In 1990, he was designated as a Senior Advocate and was elevated to a permanent judgeship of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on November 7, 1990. He was later transferred to the Calcutta High Court on May 6, 1996.
On November 15, 2000, Justice Gupta was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the newly formed Jharkhand High Court and was officially designated as its Chief Justice on December 5, 2000.
He was later transferred as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on March 8, 2003, and subsequently to Uttarakhand, where he assumed charge as Chief Justice on February 2, 2008. He retired on September 9, 2009.
News of his passing has deeply saddened his friends, former colleagues from the Bar and the Bench, and members of the legal community in Jammu, where he began his illustrious career.
A man of great intellect and affability, Justice Gupta was known for his deep sense of fairness, his commitment to upholding the rule of law, and his social nature. A widely traveled and well-respected personality, he touched many lives with his wisdom and humility. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of legal professionals.