Institution may evolve but integrity, independence and empathy constant, says Justice Bakhru as he bids adieu to Delhi HC
The Centre had confirmed the transfer of Justice Bakhru – the second seniormost judge at Delhi HC after Chief Justice (CJ) D K Upadhyaya – to the Karnataka High Court as its CJ on Monday, following the SC Collegium’s recommendation on May 26.
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Justice Bakhru had enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1990 and practiced in the Supreme Court, Delhi HC, Company Law Board and various other tribunals.Bidding farewell to the Delhi High Court, which he has served for more than three decades, Justice Vibhu Bakhru on Tuesday said that while the institution evolves, “at its core, integrity, independence and empathy, must remain constant”.
The Centre had confirmed the transfer of Justice Bakhru – the second seniormost judge at Delhi HC after Chief Justice (CJ) D K Upadhyaya – to the Karnataka High Court as its CJ on Monday, following the SC Collegium’s recommendation on May 26.
Justice Bakhru had also served as Acting Chief Justice of Delhi HC between December 2024 and January 2025 after then Delhi HC CJ Manmohan was elevated to the SC.
At a farewell event organised by the Delhi HC Bar Association, CJ Upadhyaya congratulated the bar association for “sending its emissary to Karnataka”.
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, remarking on Justice Bakhru’s quiet and “unflappable” demeanour, added, “We have seen you as one of the top lawyers on the commercial side, he is what I call, a silent assassin.”
Standing counsel of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Sameer Vashisht, speaking at the formal full court farewell, hailed Justice Bakhru for voluntarily disclosing his assets publicly. “By voluntarily disclosing your personal assets in the public domain, you led by example, demonstrating that integrity is not just a private virtue but a public assurance. He reminded us that the judiciary commands respect when it embraces openness alongside independence.”
Justice Bakhru had enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1990 and practiced in the Supreme Court, Delhi HC, Company Law Board and various other tribunals. Designated as a senior advocate by Delhi HC in July, 2011, he was elevated as an additional judge of Delhi HC in April 2013 and made permanent in March 2015.
The transfer of six other judges to Delhi HC, who were recommended by the SC Collegium on May 26, have also been confirmed by the Centre. They are likely to take oath on Monday. They include Justice V Kameswar Rao, who is being repatriated to his parent HC of Delhi from Karnataka HC; Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre from Bombay HC; Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Om Prakash Shukla from Allahabad HC; Justice Ani Kshetarpal from Punjab and Haryana HC; and Justice Arun Kumar Monga from Rajasthan HC.
With this, the Delhi HC’s strength will go up to 40 from the current 35.
Also, Delhi HC’s Collegium will see a reshuffle, with the CJ, along with Justices Rao and Sambre, being the three seniormost judges of the Delhi HC now. Additionally, the SC Collegium has recommended the elevation of three judicial officers — Shail Jain, Madhu Jain and Vinod Kumar — as Delhi HC judges on July 1 and 2.
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