Silver Jubilee Ceremony of Chhattisgarh High Court

Constitution’s interpreter, protector of citizens’ rights and vigilant guardian of justice is the High Court: Governor Shri Ramen Deka

With the availability of infrastructure and resources, the State Government is committed to providing timely justice: Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai

Winning the trust of common people is the ultimate objective of the judiciary: Judge Shri Maheshwari

Raipur, 27 September 2025 : The Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Establishment of Chhattisgarh High Court was organized in the chief hospitality of His Excellency Governor Shri Ramen Deka. Guests inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp. Judges of the High Court welcomed and felicitated Chief Guest Governor Shri Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, and Union Minister of State Shri Tokhan Sahu by presenting a plant and a memento. Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Arun Saw and Shri Vijay Sharma, Finance Minister Shri O.P. Choudhary, Law Minister Shri Gajendra Yadav, and former Governor Shri Ramesh Bais were also present on the occasion. A souvenir focused on the Silver Jubilee ceremony was also released in the program.

Governor Shri Deka, as chief guest, said that it is a matter of great honor and pride for me to address you all at this glorious occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Chhattisgarh High Court. On 1 November 2000, when the state of Chhattisgarh was established, along with governance, a new beginning was also made in the field of justice. With the birth of this state, this great institution—Chhattisgarh High Court, Bilaspur—was also established. Since then, this Court has stood as the interpreter of the Constitution, protector of citizens’ rights, and guardian of justice. Governor Shri Ramen Deka praised the judiciary for the speedy disposal of pending cases under Lok Adalats. He spoke of strengthening ethics, reducing pendency, and ensuring timely justice to common people. He said justice should not be available only for the powerful, but also easily accessible to the poor, villagers, and common people—only then will the role of the judiciary in democracy become meaningful.

The Governor said that we gratefully bow to those visionary personalities and founders who laid the foundation of this Court. The first Chief Justice, Hon’ble Justice W.A. Shishak, and his successors gave dignity, credibility, and a strong judicial tradition to this newly formed Court. Similarly, the dedication and hard work of advocates, court officers, and employees kept this institution strong for 25 years. In these years, the Court gave decisions on many important subjects like constitutional morality, civil liberties, tribal rights, environmental protection, good governance, and social justice. It took a sensitive approach towards Chhattisgarh’s unique identity—its forests, minerals, culture, and deprived communities. Balancing development and rights, it ensured that progress never came at the cost of justice.

Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, present as distinguished guest, said that our state Chhattisgarh is celebrating its Silver Jubilee of establishment. This auspicious occasion is also the Silver Jubilee of our High Court. This year is also the Silver Jubilee year of our Assembly. On all these auspicious occasions, I extend my heartfelt congratulations. He said that Chhattisgarh High Court has given a new identity to Bilaspur city. On this auspicious occasion, we pay homage to Bharat Ratna, former Prime Minister, and creator of our state, revered Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, whose farsightedness made the establishment of Chhattisgarh state and Chhattisgarh High Court possible.

The Chief Minister said that along with infrastructure and resources, we are committed to provide timely justice under any circumstances. In this sequence, compared to 2023–24, we increased the budget of Law and Legislative Department by 25 percent last year and by 29 percent this year. It is a matter of pride that judges of this bench such as Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, Justice Navin Sinha, Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice Bhupesh Gupta, and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra reached the Supreme Court of the country. To promote transparency in judicial processes, Chhattisgarh High Court encouraged digital innovations like virtual court and live streaming. Digital record rooms, Aadhaar-based search, and new modules of judicial training are also being adopted. In its 25 years of glorious journey, Chhattisgarh High Court has given such remarkable decisions which are presented as precedents all over the country. After the establishment of the High Court, inclination of Chhattisgarh’s youth towards the law profession has also increased, giving them new career opportunities. The Chief Minister said that our successful Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has abolished the Penal Code of British times and implemented the Indian Justice Code. The British Penal Code was focused on punishment, while the Indian Justice Code is focused on justice. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s effort is to include new technological changes of modern times. Forensic science aspects are given importance in it. For strengthening judiciary and ensuring speedy and easy justice for people, recommendations made from time to time have been effectively implemented in the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.

Supreme Court Judge Shri J.K. Maheshwari said that Chhattisgarh is called the bowl of rice and it is taken towards fullness of grain. Where there is Dharma, there is victory. Our true action and thought is Dharma. Consciousness connects with simple Dharma. The time has come to think and plan where we want to place the judiciary in the next 25 years. The common man comes to the court’s door with trust—work with that basic feeling. He inspired bench, bar, and lawyers connected with justice system to move forward with vision. He said all should create an integrated vision so that judiciary can reach its ultimate objective of public welfare. Judge Shri Maheshwari said that for the rule of law in India’s Constitution to be fulfilled, everyone must work, and with the thought of reaching justice to the person at the last rung of society, move forward. He said that gaining the trust of common people is the ultimate purpose of judiciary. Supreme Court Judge Shri Prashant Kumar Mishra, who witnessed the establishment of the High Court, congratulated and gave best wishes for the Silver Jubilee program of Chhattisgarh High Court and shared his memories connected with the Court.

Addressing the Silver Jubilee program, Union Minister of State Shri Tokhan Sahu said that today is not just a celebration of 25 years of judiciary’s journey but also respect to that strong tradition of judiciary which has continuously contributed in protecting Constitution and democracy. In the last 25 years, Chhattisgarh High Court has done unprecedented work in making justice accessible to common people, ensuring transparency, and adopting technology like a revolution.

Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court Shri Ramesh Sinha gave the welcome speech. He congratulated and gave best wishes to all guests and attendees on the occasion of Silver Jubilee of the Court’s establishment. He said that the Silver Jubilee program of Chhattisgarh High Court is surely a moment of pride for all of us. In the last 25 years, the Court has done better work in establishing rule of law. He made the gathering aware of achievements and positive changes in working since the establishment of the Court.

At the end of the ceremony, Judge Shri Sanjay K. Agrawal gave the vote of thanks. On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw, Shri Vijay Sharma, Finance Minister Shri O.P. Choudhary, Law and Legislative Minister Shri Gajendra Yadav, Chief Justice of Madras High Court Shri M.M. Srivastava, Chief Justice of Telangana High Court Shri P. Sam Kosi, former judges of Chhattisgarh High Court Shri Yatindra Singh, former Governor Shri Ramesh Bais, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, DGP Shri Arundeo Gautam, Advocate General Shri Prafull Bharat, MLAs Shri Dharamlal Kaushik and Shri Amar Agrawal, Chhattisgarh High Court Bar Association President Shri Chandel, along with other judges, advocates, public representatives, and judicial officers were present.