HMJ Deepak Gupta delivers 1st Apanshu Mohan Lodh Memorial Public Lecture on 9th March 2025 at NLU Tripura

NLU Tripura successfully hosted the 1st Apanshu Mohan Lodh Memorial Public Lecture, established as part of the endowment created by Tripura Times. The event was graced by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and the first Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura (established in 2013), as the Chief Guest. Justice Gupta delivered a compelling lecture on “Rule of Law and the Role of High Courts.” Quoting Aristotle “Law should govern” he emphasized the law’s individual-centric nature and its foundational role in modern democracies. He highlighted the significance of a written constitution in upholding the rule of law and traced its historical roots to the “Magna Carta of 1215,” which established the principle that no one, not even the king, is above the law. He further elaborated on the Indian Constitution’s Preamble, stressing the High Courts’ role in upholding secularism, liberty, and justice. Notably, he emphasized Article 226, which empowers High Courts to issue writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights. Citing Justice K.N. Wanchoo, he reaffirmed the judiciary’s duty to remain impartial, fair, and independent. Further, expressing concern over diminishing legal literacy in Tripura, Justice Gupta proposed initiatives to enhance awareness and accessibility to legal education. His address provided valuable insights into the rule of law and the pivotal role of High Courts in maintaining constitutional integrity.

The event was also graced by Mr. Justice Arindam Lodh and his family. Justice Lodh, son of Lt. Apanshu Mohan Lodh, delivered an emotional tribute to his father’s contributions to Tripura’s legal landscape. Lt. Lodh, a towering legal figure, was the founding editor of Tripura Times (est. 1960) and played a crucial role in shaping public discourse and the Memorial Public Lecture was organized to honor his memory in the legal field. The Founding Vice-Chancellor of NLU Tripura, Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Pratap Singh, in his welcome address highlighted NLU Tripura’s ongoing academic initiatives, including collaborations with UNICEF and the Directorate of Panchayat Tripura. He also shared updates on the university’s infrastructure expansion, which includes a state-of-the-art library to elevate legal education. The Lt. Apanshu Mohan Lodh Memorial Public Lecture is a key part of these efforts. The event was attended by Judges of the High Court, Senior Advocates, High Court Registry, Judicial Officers, Tripura Judicial Academy Staff, faculty, staff, students of NLU Tripura, and Government officials. It concluded with an engaging Q&A session and a heartfelt vote of thanks by Prof. (Dr.) Nachiketa Mittal, Registrar, NLU Tripura.