4 min readChandigarhJan 22, 2026 10:54 AM IST
First published on: Jan 22, 2026 at 10:54 AM IST
Dr Balram K Gupta
Late Justice J.L. Gupta was born on January 22, 1942, and expired on January 3, 2016. He spent 35 years at the Bar and 15 years on the Bench. A courtroom genius, this short piece seeks to share the last three and a half years of his life journey, from June 2012 to January 2016.
Justice J.L. Gupta and his family went on a holiday to Scotland in June 2012. Scotch is a matter of pride for the Scots, and he himself had his first peg of scotch in 1963, enjoying his drink over the years. Surprisingly, while in Scotland, he did not feel like having a drink at all. He wondered why. Scotland is also the Mecca of golf, yet he felt no desire to step onto the course. The family returned in early July.
On July 10, 2012, he worked through the day as usual. The next morning, July 11, everything changed. He developed a severe headache and nausea and could not go to court. MRI scans and other tests were conducted. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The neurosurgeon advised that it needed to be removed at the earliest. It was glioblastoma. JLG remained calm, though the family was deeply anxious.
Ultimately, surgery was performed on August 28. After a gruelling surgery lasting over nine hours, the surgeon shared that Justice Gupta had encouraged him, saying, “You are competent. I am confident. You will make history.” He was shifted to a private room. On September 2, a lumbar puncture confirmed meningitis, and he was moved back to the ICU. Two infusion pumps continuously administered antibiotics. After several days, he returned to his private room and was later discharged home. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy cycles followed. They caused side effects and posed significant challenges.
On January 22, 2014, he completed 72 years of his life journey. I sent him a book, Legends in Law, with a handwritten message: “Tough times do not last. Tough people do. May you go on forever. Happy Birthday.” His own prescription for life was courage and conviction. He firmly believed that the desire to live is the recipe to destroy disease. A cancer patient, he felt, must keep the mind happy.
By early 2015, he was doing well. He was writing blogs, though his immunity remained low. He visited Chandigarh, where he was invited by the Rotary Club Chandigarh Midtown, faculty at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, and the Association of British Scholars. He shared his story with audiences. He inspired many, laughed, and made others laugh. We all felt he had conquered the disease. His urge to enjoy his drink returned. He decided to put his journey into print and wrote the book The Ringside View – The Story of a Fight Against Cancer.
On December 16, 2015, this book, along with another titled Of Life and Me, a collection of his selected writings, was released by the then Chief Justice of India, Justice T.S. Thakur. He greeted everyone with a warm handshake.
Within a couple of days, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and hospitalised. Doctors fought a second battle with utmost effort. Despite everything, he passed away on January 3, 2016. He conquered cancer but succumbed to pneumonia. How sad.
We fondly, dearly, and lovingly miss him. Today, January 22, 2026, he would have completed his 84th milestone. May his soul rest in peace. May God continue to keep him in His warm embrace.
(Balram Gupta is former director of of National Judicial Acadeny, Indore, and prof emeritus is law at PU)
Justice J.L. Gupta and his family went on a holiday to Scotland in June 2012. (Express Photo) 
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