Delhi High Court's 'Green Judge' Justice Najmi Waziri Retires Today: 'May Each Tree Extend Your Life', Say Lawyers
Nupur Thapliyal
14 July 2023 8:53 AM GMT
The Delhi High Court judge Justice Najmi Waziri, known for his contributions to the environment, particularly his orders directing planting of trees in the national capital, retires from service today.“I am a rich person today, I am very rich,” said Justice Waziri as various lawyers appeared in his courtroom, appreciating and thanking him for his valuable and significant efforts on the...
The Delhi High Court judge Justice Najmi Waziri, known for his contributions to the environment, particularly his orders directing planting of trees in the national capital, retires from service today.
“I am a rich person today, I am very rich,” said Justice Waziri as various lawyers appeared in his courtroom, appreciating and thanking him for his valuable and significant efforts on the bench, especially towards the environment.
“Who gets these expressions from the core of their heart? I have this court and all you people, insaan ke rooh ki awaaz hai jo aap keh rahe hain,” the judge remarked.
As one of the lawyers said that Justice Waziri “added voice to the voiceless”, the judge said:
“I believe that justice is all about listening to the silences. Agar hum khaamoshi ko na sune, toh apna kaam nahi kar paaenge. Bohot badi zimmedaari hain. Zimmedari ko nibhaane ke liye hume us khaamosh shaks ko dekhna hai jo last seat me baitha hua hain. Wo jo adaalat me nahi hain. Kyuki vakeel saahebaan kya kehte hain hume maalum nahi hain, kuch kehte hain, kuch pehlu saamne aate hain lekin wo pehlu jo chuph jaate hain, unhe dekhna bohot zaroori hain”.
He added: “Beherhaal wo aur baat hain ki wo daur mera khatam hogaya hain, lekin mai ye keh raha hu ki dil ki gehraaiyon se jo aap baatein keh rahe hain, wo taa-umar humaare saath rahengi. So much more I would like to say but sometimes log aur haalat aapko laajawaab kar dete hain, ye wo lamha hain. Aapki mohobbato ka bohot shukriya.”
Justice Waziri remembered how his constant efforts of improving Delhi’s green cover started from a small case regarding quashing of an FIR. “All this is the collateral benefit of my doing adjudication,” he said.
While passing his last order on preservation of trees in national capital, Justice Waziri called for monetary contributions from citizens, public spirited individuals and lawyers in “Green Delhi Account”. The fund was opened after his directions to facilitate plantation of trees in Delhi.
On July 13, Justice Waziri was informed by DDA’s counsel that the current balance in the account is over Rs. 2.38 crores and more money is pouring due to various judicial orders. Thereafter, the judge had directed that the monies deposited in the l account shall be used for plantation of trees.
Justice Najmi Waziri
Justice Waziri studied philosophy from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and later completed LLB Degree from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University. While he enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1987, he studied LLM from Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium in 1994-95.
As a lawyer, he practiced before the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, other High Courts and various tribunals and quasi judicial fora. He was also appointed Standing Counsel (Civil), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi; Central Government Pleader in the Delhi High Court; Standing Counsel, Delhi Wakf Board; and Standing Counsel, Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
On April 17 in 2013, he was elevated as a judge of the high court. Over the years, Justice Waziri's orders have made a significant contribution to the green cover of national capital. However, the judge didn't just stop at passing orders, he also ensured that the trees planted on court's orders are looked after and survive for a longer period. Justice Waziri also passed orders for periodic training to government officers "for their sensitization and duties to be discharged towards preservation and augmentation of the environment under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 and Indian Forest Act, 1927."
"While land may belong to individuals and land-owning agencies, the environment belongs to all humans, indeed to all living creatures. Each living being needs to be protected from damaged ecology. There is a hared duty and responsibility on each individual to protect the environment from harm. For Indian citizens, there is a constitutional exhortation and duty to do so under Article 51A (g)," Justice Waziri said in a recent verdict.
According to official data submitted before the court in September 2022, a total of 53,915 trees were planted in Insaf Bagh, Central Ridge on the directions of the court in past four years. Similarly, 80,234 trees were planted in Maufi Bagh, Southern Ridge. While proper data on the number of trees planted on Justice Waziri's order is not available, the figures submitted previously by the Delhi government is indicative of the contributions made by the judge.
People Gather Outside Court On Justice Waziri’s Farewell
“Standing tall in the shade of gratitude #JusticeWaziri 🌳,” read a poster which was carried by a few people who gathered outside the court to appreciate Justice Waziri’s work.
Lawyers On Justice Waziri’s Retirement
Appearing before Justice Waziri’s court, Senior Advocate Manish Vashisht thanked the judge for his contributions to the environment on behalf of his chamber and family.
“Mera saara chamber, mai personally sir, meri families, aapko bohot mubaarakbaad dete hain. Aapne din raat kuch nahi dekha, ek ek ped (tree) jo ab Delhi me hain aur humare rasto pe, wo humesha aapki yaad dilaaega. Apke jaisa nafeez aur bohot naram dil insaan milna bohot mushkil hain. You are one of the leading examples. Jaha bhi aap jaaye, ek ek ped aapki umar daraaz kare,” the senior lawyer said.
He added: “Jo aapne Delhi ke logo ke lie, aur un logo ke liye bhi jo Delhi me nahi rehte, aate hain, jitni oxygen ya jitni chhaya, jo aapke orders ki wajah se hui, wo sab ka shubh apke aur aapke parivaar ko lage.”
Another lawyer who was appearing before the bench said that the “sense of justice and insaaf” in Justice Waziri’s court is what touched her and encourage all the lawyers.
Another counsel said that all the lawyers are blessed that they got the judge’s guidance throughout.
“All the judicial orders were given the highest pedestal and the dignity of court was maintained. Your Lordship, insofar as the holistic development of the entire city, your Lordship has taken care of in all capacities, whether it was environment or anything else… and we could see it everywhere. Even when I used to come through the Vikas Marg, I do feel that this is just like another Chandni Chowk which has developed now, it is very beautiful. We have got the balance now, very clean road, plantation is being done. So it has become a very clean area and we could see that there is another Chandni Chowk in Delhi,” he said.
The lawyer added that not only Justice Waziri made efforts to improve the condition of flora and fauna but also the animals.
“Your lordships has taken care of not only flora and fauna but also taken care of the speechless that is particularly in the case where an animal was to be shifted to other State and somewhere government was absolutely reluctant to shift….Your Lordship has shown indulgence and compassion towards an animal. So this shows your lordship was so graceful and heart touching under the sky and taken care of each and every one of which has been made by the God,” he said.
Advocate MA Niyazi, who has been appearing before Justice Waziri in various tree matters, said that Justice Waziri was equally articulate even when in silence.
“So the articulation by demeanor and silence was equally effective. Especially in my case, I used to be over speaking in some of the matters, and I used to just see the face. I used to read the face and to be silent on the matters that I didn't know or need not speak further. In educational institutions, we have a concept like Professor Emeritus. We wish that we should have judges emeritus also,” he added.
Advocate Aditya N Prasad, who has represented various litigants in matters concerning damage to trees in Delhi, said that Justice Waziri’s repeated orders have empowered the citizens to come forward and pay attention to such cases.
“There was no law laid down by this court on DPTA until now, since 1994. Till now there was no law laid down. There was no infrastructure with the forest department, there was no empowering of citizens. That has happened in at least in this past six months, a lot of orders have come through from this bench, which have empowered citizens to come forth and look at tree matters,” Prasad said.
He added: “And there were people standing outside the High Court with a banner and I made passes for them and I told them to come inside, because they were not being allowed to come inside.”
As Justice Waziri got emotional seeing those people carrying the poster to his courtroom, Prasad said:
“And in the end, there is no end. It is a continuity and there will be no other Justice Bhagwati, there was no other Justice Dileep Singh, and there will be no other Justice Waziri. We know it for sure.”
Lawyers To Justice Waziri Before Ceremonial Bench
Many lawyers also praised Justice Waziri as he was sitting in a ceremonial bench with Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma in the morning.
“Your lordships are an epitome of grace,” said ASG Balbir Singh, adding that Justice Waziri handled key issues with a lot of sensitivity and respect for seniors.
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh said that Justice Waziri was very firm, decisive and polite on the bench and the way he conducted his court is something which should be followed by others.
“The best part is that even on the last day, your lordships is ready to decide the matter and pass a final order. This is a lesson for judges and also this profession,” Singh added.
Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, who argued various cases pertaining to sports before Justice Waziri, said that the judge also ensured that substantial justice is put out forward while adjudicating the case.
“On behalf of all the wrestlers, sportspersons and others, I take this opportunity to thank your lordships for doing what was necessary and for those who could not be seen or heard and that’s what justice is all about at the end of the day,” Mehra said.
Hearing the lawyers, Justice Waziri said:
“From the past few days, since the court has reopened, there has been an outpouring of affection from the Bar….It has been an emotional roller coster ride for me. All I can say is, I am humbled and honoured simultaneously.”
