On March 14, Badar Durrez Ahmed completed his stint as the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir. He has served since April 2017. Son of Dr Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, former President of India (24 August 1974 – 11 February 1977), and Abida Begum, a lady from Haldoi, Ahmed was born in 1956.
His family is related to the royal family of Loharu and to the famous Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. An economics lecturer in St Stephen’s College, Justice Ahmed was enrolled as an Advocate in 1980 with the Bar Council of Delhi and started practice in the Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court. He was appointed a Judge of the Delhi High Court in December 2002. Prior to that, Ahmad was Secretary of Ghalib Institute, Delhi. He has been acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court twice. To bid adieu to Justice Ahmed, a full Court farewell reference was held in the Chief Justice’s Court at High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu on March 15, 2018, were people were all praises for his intellect, etiquette and humble nature.
“In my experience here, I have found that the members of the bar at both places, Srinagar and Jammu, are extremely competent,” he said while thanking everyone present in the Full Court Reference.
He said advocates have an important role to play in Justice Delivery System (JDS). The role of advocates is not limited to mark your attendance in the court but the ultimate goal must be to make justice available to the common people and help judicial system to deliver it to the doorsteps of people.
Earlier, Ahmed in his tenure as Chief Justice, said the law enforcing agencies need to be extra cautious and sensitive in Jammu and Kashmir while dealing with the juveniles as the children in the state have been brought up in a very violent atmosphere that has affected their mental as well as the physical growth. He said the juveniles have to be treated differently and the one dealing with juveniles should have a great understanding and extra sensitive towards the children.
Stating that the children are the backbone of human civilization and shall shape its destiny in future, Ahmed said regardless of the political, economic or social philosophy of a government, welfare of the children is of the utmost importance and must be given top priority.
While identifying that in the disturbed socio-political climate of J&K, the problem is magnified; Ahmed stressed on the state government to adopt effective and proactive measures to, not only rehabilitate the juveniles who do come into conflict with law, but also prevent juveniles from coming into conflict with the law.
During his farewell speech, Ahmed expressed his gratitude and affection for the entire judicial system of the magnificently diverse state of J&K.
In his response to the reference stated in his address, Ahmed said that he is very proud of the fact that the introduction of paperless e-Courts in the High Court was facilitated in large measure by his colleagues on the Bench and welcomed by members of the bar. The fact that this Court is now a front-runner in the adoption and use of technology in the courtrooms is the result of a huge collaborative effort.
Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar has been appointed as acting Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court after the retirement of Justice Ahmed.
– Tahir Bhat
