People should think whether his tenure is only for giving justice. The judgment should be given by you the people,” Justice Bharat P Deshpande said while addressing a gathering at the Bombay High Court in Goa on Friday.
“I am not sitting here today to pass judgment or judgement… I believe that justice is not only a matter of legal process but also a matter of goodwill, dignity and fairness. The role of a judge is not only to give laws, but to ensure that the people are served,’ he said.
Reflecting on her career as a lawyer and judicial officer, Justice Deshpande said her mother’s dream was to pursue law.
“After completing 28 years of my judicial career… looking back, it was my mother’s dream that I should join a law course and start practicing as an advocate. My father was a doctor. My elder sister and my elder brother helped me a lot to continue my studies. Even after becoming an advocate at the bar, I can proudly say that my parents, sisters and brother supported me at every step and helped me make decisions,” he said.
Born in Nagpur in 1962, Justice Deshpande did his graduation from GS College of Commerce and LLB. from University College of Law, Nagpur. He joined the bar in 1987 and practiced as an advocate in Nagpur, appearing before various courts.
He was selected for the post of Civil Judge, Senior Division in the Goa Judicial Service in 1996 and joined at Ponda, Goa. Thereafter, he presided over various courts and was Chief District and Sessions Judge of South Goa from April 2017 to June 2021 and Chief District and Sessions Judge of North Goa from June 2021 to June 2022. He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court. On June 6, 2022.
Justice Deshpande said that he was a witness to the harsh reality faced by the workers when he appeared as a lawyer in industrial and labor court cases.
“I found that the laid-off workers could not even pay their fees and did not have money to go to court. This reality changed my personality to look differently and do better for them, for their lives,” he said.
“While working as a Judge of this High Court, I had the opportunity to work in Goa, as well as the Principal’s seat in Bombay and the Benches of Nagpur and Aurangabad. We, as judges, generally observe that these four places are considered ‘Char Dham’. Justice Because I consider the above four places as holy places and the holy book that guides us is our constitution, he said.