HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK GUPTA
FORMER JUDGE, SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta holds a distinguished legal career marked by his unwavering commitment to justice. Graduating from Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre in 1978, he practiced constitutional, civil, and corporate law in the Himachal Pradesh High Court for over 26 years, during which he has counsel for Himachal Pradesh’s Road Transport Corporation, Housing Board, and New India Assurance companies.
Elevated as a Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in October 2004, Justice Gupta later served as the first Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court in 2013 and subsequently as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court in 2016. His career culminated in his appointment to the Supreme Court in February 2017.
In the Supreme Court, Justice Gupta authored 139 judgments, with a primary focus on criminal law matters, property, civil, and service law cases. His contributions extended to various legal domains, including family law, constitutional law, and consumer law. Noteworthy among his judgments, in “The Home Secretary and Ors. v H Nilofer Nisha,” he clarified the scope of a High Court’s power to issue habeas corpus for prisoners, emphasizing that such intervention is limited to cases of illegal detention.
Justice Gupta’s legacy also includes a significant decision in an unreported case involving bail under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, highlighting the need for a balanced approach in granting bail. In “Rakesh Kumar Paul v State of Assam,” his majority opinion secured statutory bail for accused individuals if the police fail to file a charge-sheet within 60 days of arrest for offenses punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years.
Justice Deepak Gupta’s illustrious career exemplifies his dedication to upholding the rule of law, leaving an enduring imprint on Indian jurisprudence. He retired from the Supreme Court on May 6, 2020, leaving behind a legacy of legal wisdom and unwavering commitment to justice.