3 key judiciary appts a point of pride for Nagpur | Mumbai News
It’s a different kind of coincidence. Three leading legal luminaries from Nagpur are holding key posts in the judiciary in the national capital. Bhushan Gavai (64) is the Chief Justice of India, Atul Chandurkar (60) has been appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court, while Nitin Sambre (58) has been picked as a judge of Delhi high court.Gavai is probably the first judge of the apex court to publicly declare that he will not take up any post-retirement assignment. In the past, several CJIs had accepted key jobs after retirement; a few of them were nominated to Rajya Sabha or picked as governor or head of the human rights commission.CJI Gavai has taken the view that a judge contesting elections for political office immediately after retirement or resignation could lead to doubts about the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.CJI Gavai had given landmark verdicts in cases on demonetisation, electoral bonds scheme, demolitions by bulldozers, Article 379 abrogation, and extension of Enforcement Directorate chief’s tenure.Justice Chandurkar belongs to Pune but shifted to Nagpur in 1992. Among the important orders he delivered include rulings against govt fact check units whose validity was challenged by standup comic Kunal Kamra and on the appointment of consumer forum members. The order in the Kamra case was widely appreciated for reaffirming the core principle of free speech.Justice Sambre was among the popular and powerful judges of Bombay HC’s Nagpur bench. He took a firm stand on civic accountability and environmental issues. When Nagpur witnessed massive floods for two years, he took to task not only the state govt but even the Nagpur Municipal Corporation for their dismal preparedness and set a deadline for restoration of normalcy. Justice Sambre played a crucial role in tackling public interest litigations pertaining to urban governance.In the pink of healthPublic health secretary Nipun Vinayak has embarked on a new mission: to check the health of his staff as well as visitors. In addition, ever since he took over the reins of the health department, he has established dialogue with one and all in the entire department across the state.As one enters the 10th floor of the department, Vinayak has put up a huge board with employees’ birth dates. It has created a sense of belonging. Above all, all those who come to meet Vinayak, they have to compulsorily fill up a simple questionnaire dealing with the life and health of the visitors. Vinayak is keen to know whether visitors have exercised in the morning on that day, have consumed tobacco or liquor, face stress, take care of their parents’ health and, above all, how much time they give their children. These days, many people are not able to provide quality time to their children as well as their elderly parents.Vinayak said he expects the questionnaire will create awareness on individuals’ health and family status.
