Distinguished Jurist and Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India
PROFESSION : Former Senior Advocate of Delhi High Court, Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and Panjab and Haryana High Court, Former Judge of the Indian Supreme Court
BORN: 7 March, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH: Delhi
FATHER’S NAME: Sarv Mittra Sikri (13th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India)
SPOUSE: Madhu Sikri
CHILDREN: Saket Sikri
EDUCATION: B.Com. (Hons.) – Sri Ram College of Commerce
LL.B. – Faculty of law, Delhi University
LL.M. – Faculty of Law, Delhi University
AWARDS: Justice Sikri was conferred Doctorate of Law, Honoris Causa by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow.
SPECIALISATION: Constitutional cases, Labour Laws and Arbitration.
COMMITTEE/PANEL HEADED:
Executive member of International Law Association (India Branch)
Member of General Body as well as Academic Council of National Judicial Academy
Member of governing Council of Bangalore Law University
Member of the Directorate of Legal Studies and Law Reforms Committee set up by BCI
Nominated as member of Committee on Restatement of Law by the Chief Justice of India
Collegium member during the tenure if the previous CJI Dipak Mishra and CJI Ranjan Gogoi
Chancellor of the NLU, Delhi
Patron-in-chief and Executive Chairman of Legal Services Authority, Delhi.
UPBRINGING & EDUCATION: Justice Sikri was born to Sarv Mittra Sikri, who was the former CJI. Sikri was a bright student from the very beginning. He completed his graduation from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi in 1974. He received a Gold Medal for attaining the 1st position in LL.B.in 1974. He did his master’s in law from Faculty of Law, Delhi University. He was also awarded a special prize for getting highest marks in Constitutional Law.
WALK OF LIFE:
After pursuing LL.M. Sikri enrolled as an Advocate in 1977 and started his legal profession by practicing in Delhi.
CAREER TIMELINE: Sikri specialised in Constitutional cases, Arbitration and Labour-Service matters. While practising as an advocate he has been counsel for various PSUs, Banks and Financial Institution, Educational institutions, and even Private sector Corporations.
From 1994-95 he was the Vice President of Delhi High Court Bar Association and before that he also used to work as a part-time lecturer in Delhi University. After this, he was appointed as the Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court.
After being a Senior Advocate, he was appointed as the judge of the Delhi High Court and also served as the Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and in 2013 he became the Judge of the Indian Supreme Court.
LANDMARK CASES: Some notable judgements given by him:
A three judge bench including Justice Sikri, acquitted six men charged with rape and murder and had awarded death sentence.
A two judge bench headed by Justice Sikri was able to quash the impossible conditions laid down in the Maharashtra law (provisions imposed a ban on serving alcohol where dances were staged and CCTV camera installation in such spaces, and to give licence to only people having ‘good character’). ‘Good Character’ was held by the court as vague criteria and CCTV installation as violation of privacy.
He was also a part of the bench which heard the PIL seeking restrictions on use of firecrackers in Delhi. He also gave a significant judgement and recognised transgenders as ‘third gender’.
REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT: In a survey conducted by Managing Intellectual Property Association for 2007, he was chosen as one of the 50 most influential persons in Intellectual Property in the world.