Hon’ble Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit, the former Chief Justice of India, had a distinguished career in the legal field. He assumed office as the Chief Justice on August 27, 2022, and retired on November 8, 2022. His legal journey began in June 1983 when he enrolled as an advocate. Notably, he specialized in criminal law and practiced at the Bombay High Court from 1983 to 1985. He then worked in the chambers of the Attorney General of India, Soli Sorabjee, from 1986 to 1992.

In April 2004, he was designated as a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India. His contributions included serving as an amicus curiae in crucial cases and as the Special Public Prosecutor in the 2G Spectrum scam case. He was also a member of the Supreme Court’s Legal Services Committee for two terms.

Justice Lalit made history by being elevated as a Supreme Court Judge directly from the Bar on August 13, 2014. During his tenure, he recused himself from several cases due to his prior legal involvement, showcasing his commitment to ethical considerations.

As a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, he authored 297 judgments and was part of 950 benches. The majority of his judgments were in the realm of criminal law, reflecting his background.

Some notable judgments in which he played a pivotal role include introducing safeguards to prevent misuse of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, participating in the landmark Triple Talaq case, and upholding the rights of the Travancore royal family in managing the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. He also led a significant decision reversing a controversial Bombay High Court ruling on sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.