INTRODUCTION
A retired Supreme Court judge and great stalwart of Indian jurisprudence,Justice Harjit Singh Bedi passed away on 21 November 2024. He was 78. He is a highly respected figure, admired for his unwavering integrity and significant contributions to Indian jurisprudence. In a long judicial and administrative career, he has held many important posts.
BACKGROUND
Justice Bedi was born on 5th September 1946. He had an extraordinary legacy of distinguished legal traditions; his father followed the profession of a judge in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Justice Tikka Jagjit Singh Bedi. In 1972 he joined the Indian Judicial Services as an advocate with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. He held many positions under his office during the period.From 1983 to 1987, he was the Deputy Advocate General of Punjab while in1987 he was made a Senior Advocate.In 1990, he became the Advocate General of Punjab. In the year 1991, he joined the Judiciary as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
He joined the judicial services of India, and in 1992, he attained permanent judge status, and his career concluded with appointments as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court during 2006 and Judge of the Supreme Court of India between 2007 and 2011.
KEY ASPECTS
Investigation into fake encounters in Gujarat was one of the most vital activities in the career of Justice Bedi. He was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Court Monitoring Authority in 2012. He has scrutinized 17 cases and sent back three of them with a recommendation for further scrutiny with a lot of neutrality and caution so that miscarriage of justice would not take place.
His report concluded that there was nothing to indicate that Muslims were singled out. He did much more than appearing in court. From 1974 to1983, he taught law part-time, feeding the young legal minds, which not only assisted them academically but also morally. Interestingly, his tenures all through such judicial and administrative positions were fair and rigorous enough to the highest beacon of constitutional values.
Conclusion
Justice Bedi will be missed and shall always be remembered as an icon in the legal fraternity. In the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where the Bar Association suspended work to remember Justice Bedi, there is a legacy of integrity besides legal excellence enough to keep inspiring future generations. Justice Bedi leaves behind his wife and son Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi, and daughter-in-law Shruti Bedi.
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WRITTEN BY RICHA PANDEY
