‘Entire complexion of Delhi HC is changing': Justice Dharmesh Sharma, who held Kuldeep Sengar guilty in Unnao rape case, retires
Terming it a positive change, Justice Dharmesh Sharma of the Delhi High Court said Friday that 'the entire complexion of the HC is changing' with 'so many outsiders coming'. He was speaking at a farewell organised for him by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) ahead of his official retirement on June 8, when the court will be on vacation.
The remarks come at a time when the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on May 26 recommended the transfer of three judges to the Delhi High Court, including Justice Nitin Sambre of the Bombay High Court, Justice Vivek Chaudhary from the Allahabad High Court, and Justice V Kameswar Rao, who is being repatriated to his parent high court of Delhi from Karnataka High Court. Incumbent Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya too took charge in January after being transferred from the Bombay High Court.
As a judge of the trial court and the special court to hear cases under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, Justice Sharma had in 2019 held former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar guilty of rape of a minor girl in Unnao in 2017.
Stating that he will join the Bar 'soon', Justice Sharma said, 'A lot many things are happening, if I'm allowed to say. The entire complexion of the (Delhi) HC is also changing and…sometimes now this high court is looking like an IPL franchise because so many outsider players are coming and (will) come in future. I think it's a good thing…'
'I don't know how to end my note because it is a little emotional for me… I'm thankful… The justice delivery system needs some overhauling, some changes, yes. You may please bring about some objectivity to whatever is happening around… We can do more about it,' he added.
Speaking at the full court farewell reference of Justice Sharma, Chief Justice Upadhyaya said on Friday, 'He was deeply involved in the institutionalising of legal aid framework, infrastructure development and streaming of various legal awareness programmes across the Capital…He is known to be a judge of great practical wisdom and he always remained oriented to grant relief to litigants in the court.'
Justice Sharma had, in September 2024, dismissed a petition by the Shahi Idgah (Waqf) managing committee opposing the installation of a Rani of Jhansi statue inside the Shahi Idgah Park in Sadar Bazar and sought that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) be restrained from such encroachments.
Earning his law degree in 1987, he practised at trial courts in Delhi, mainly in civil matters. He was also appointed as the additional standing counsel of the Centre during this time before joining the Delhi Judicial Services in 1992. After serving a little over a decade, he was elevated to the Delhi Higher Judicial Services in August 2003. From 2017-19, he served as a principal judge of the family court and was later appointed as principal district judge of New Delhi till he was elevated to the Delhi High Court in May 2023.
He served as secretary of the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee during 2007-08 and also as member secretary of Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) during 2014-17.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
She died in my arms: Poonch mourns lives lost in Pak shelling
She died in my arms: Poonch mourns lives lost in Pak shelling POONCH: Shells screamed through the early morning darkness of May 7, tearing through homes and lives in Poonch district, close to the LoC in J&K. At Sukha Kattha, a cluster of small homes on a mountainside, Javid Iqbal's five-year-old daughter Mariyam lay in his lap, her stomach ripped open by shrapnel. 'She died in my arms,' he said on May 30, showing her photo, voice choked. His eight-year-old daughter Iram Naaz was wounded too. In another part of the district, at Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom, a 52-year-old seminary that doubles as a boarding school, Qari Mohammad Iqbal had just started his day. A shell exploded near an under-construction building beside his room, sending metal splinters flying. Four students were wounded. Qari Iqbal, a 46-year-old Quran teacher, was declared dead on arrival at the district hospital. As bombs rained on Poonch for three days, 14 civilians lost their lives, including students, religious teachers, shopkeepers, homemakers, and former soldiers. Over 65 were wounded — many with life-altering scars. Panic spread faster than the blasts. Families fled, streets emptied, The district fell silent under fear. 'Not even in 1965 did we witness this kind of bombardment,' said Zulfikhar Ali, a shopkeeper in Poonch town's main market. 'Everyone who could afford to leave, left.' From May 6 night to May 10, five shells landed outside BJP functionary Pradeep Sharma's home. 'It began at 1.45 am and didn't stop for days,' Sharma said. 'Doctors worked tirelessly, but if we had ventilators, we might have saved six to eight more. We need a trauma hospital here, a govt medical college.' Sharma said 80% of Poonch fled by May 10. He demanded bunkers for every household and government jobs, not just for families of the dead but also for those wounded in the shelling. 'Thirty-five of them have lifelong wounds,' he said. 'They're living with trauma too.' Amid loss and grief, another wound cut deep — one of defamation. Hours after Qari Iqbal's death, Delhi-based news channels flashed his photo on screen, calling him a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist killed in Operation Sindoor. At Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom on May 30, his brother Farooq Ahmad sat quietly, his face sunken. 'We were already mourning, and then we got WhatsApp forwards. Friends asked, 'Why are news channels calling your brother a terrorist?' He had a beard and a Muslim name. That was enough for them to brand him something he wasn't. Even in death, he was humiliated.' Authorities moved quickly. Poonch police and district officials called the reports 'baseless and misleading'. Legal action was threatened against any outlet or person spreading false claims. Both CM Omar Abdullah and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited the Jamia and were briefed about the slander. Nazira Kousar, a mother from Poonch, rushed through falling shells to the hospital on May 7. Her 14-year-old son had been wounded at the seminary. 'Nothing could stop me,' she said. 'He survived, but now hides under a blanket, afraid to go outside. My husband has liver disease. We can't afford treatment.' She came back on May 30, hoping someone would listen. On May 31, Union home minister Amit Shah handed job appointment letters to the next of kin. Dalbir Singh, who lost his brother Ranjit Singh, a grocery shop owner, received one. 'He never married. He was calm and lovable,' Dalbir said. 'I feel the sky has fallen on us. I just want this to end.' At least five members of the local Sikh community died, including former Army officer Amarjeet Singh, homemaker Ruby Kaur, and neighbour Amreek Singh. A gurdwara wall was damaged in the shelling. As Poonch recovers from three days of unrelenting fire, scars remain — carved in stone and memory.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Dial 112 workshop stresses emergency response to crisis
Lucknow: The Lucknow Police Commissionerate on Saturday conducted a comprehensive training and sensitisation workshop for Dial 112 staff at the Reserve Police Lines auditorium, aiming to improve emergency response services. A total of 130 Police Response Vehicle (PRV) personnel participated in the session, which also featured inputs from Unicef. Assistant commissioner of Police Saumya Pandey told TOI that the objective was to strengthen the emergency response system (ERS) by reducing response time, improving police-citizen interactions and fostering a citizen-centric approach in policing. "Emphasis was placed on timely deployment, disciplined conduct and the effective use of tools like body worn cameras and riot control kits. Efficient and empathetic service delivery was crucial for maintaining public confidence," she said. Pandey said one of the highlights was a special training session on workplace conduct and gender sensitivity led by Unicef expert Rizwana Parveen. The session addressed gender biases, respectful conduct towards women — both within the force and among citizens —and the appropriate handling of cases involving sexual violence. Participants were also educated on the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Lucknow's Dial 112 service recently ranked among the top 25 districts in UP in terms of emergency response performance. Despite receiving the highest volume of calls and events in the state, the city's response teams maintained an impressive standard. Pandey noted that personnel received instructions on maintaining polite public interactions, taking complaints seriously, and ensuring swift resolution of emergency calls. "These measures aim not just to improve efficiency but to strengthen public trust and ensure that emergency services are citizen-centric," she added.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gehlot meets gig workers at his home
Jaipur: Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot met gig workers at his residence Saturday. He discussed with them the pioneering Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2023, which was brought under his administration. He said that after the BJP came to power in the state, the law was not implemented, leading to dissatisfaction among gig workers. "Today I met with gig workers at my residence to discuss their issues. During our Congress govt, the first Gig Workers Welfare Act in the country was established in Rajasthan, which included a law for the social security of gig workers. It covered insurance, set working hours, and prevented unjust dismissals," said Gehlot on X. "The law also provided for a Rs 200-crore Gig Workers Welfare Fund and Board. It aimed to curb the arbitrary practices of internet-based companies," he added. Gehlot said society should empathise with gig workers who work 14-18 hours a day. "They mentioned that in many residential societies, gig workers are prohibited from using the elevator, which is unfair. These workers, who come to serve the residents, face difficulties climbing stairs with their belongings. After the change in state govt, this law was not implemented," he said.
