Ahmedabad: Even as India is passing through a transitional phase, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today said that judiciary would continue to perform its significant role.

Speaking at a function at the Gujarat High Court here to felicitate appointment of Justice M.R. Shah as a Supreme Court Judge and Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General of India, Rupani said that appointment of both the Gujaratis would provide a new direction to India passing through that transitional phase.

Rupani said that when the right person gets the right opportunity the nation gets the right leadership. He congratulated both the dignitaries on behalf of 6.50-crore Gujaratis and said that their appointments would prove significant.

He recalled how Gujarat has been providing the leadership to the nation from the time of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel for freedom, and later against corruption during Navnirman Andolan (1974). The way Gujarat took leadership in social and spiritual fields, he said, it would now provide guidance and direction in the field of judiciary as well.

The Chief Minister recounted how Gujarat’s courts had taken several pro-people fast-track steps to provide justice to the people during their difficulties in the past, notably the Lok Adalats to reduce the pendency of cases.

Reciprocating to the felicitation, Justice M.R. Shah recounted his reminiscence in Gujarat and appealed to young lawyers to maintain decorum and dignity of the courts and commitments towards the judiciary.

Tushar Mehta expressed his gratitude towards the lessons he learnt in Gujarat. He said that Gujarat respects its sons, literally carry them on their shoulder to ensure they rise high.

The Acting Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Justice Anant S. Dave wished both Supreme Court Justice M.R. Shah and Solicitor General Tushar Dave would set new benchmarks.

Gujarat’s Law Minister Bhupendra Chudasma said that a successful lawyer is one who can convince the court and not confuse. He said the State’s budgetary allocation for the Law and Legal Department has been increased manifold. It is also building district courts that look like high court. He said the State is conscious about modernization of the judiciary.

Advocate General Kamal Trivedi said that it is a matter of pride to have Gujaratis as Supreme Court Judge and Solicitor General, to take Gujarat’s voice to Delhi.

Noted lawyer and poet Bakul Joshipura said that Justice M.R. Shah has the characteristics of an impartial, restrained and seasoned judge, and Tushar Mehta has the oratorical powers of a lawyer.

Bar Council of Gujarat Chairman Dipenbhai Dave said that the Council would start series of tutorial lectures for lawyers through YouTube from January 1, 2019.

Those present on the occasion included sitting and retired High Court Judges, Yatin Oza, Government Pleader Manisha Lavkumar, Members of the Bar Council, lawyers and a large number of people associated with the judiciary.

-Information