Delhi High Court's 'Green Judge' Justice Najmi Waziri Retires Today: 'May Each Tree Extend Your Life', Say Lawyers

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 WaziriJustice 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 RetirementAppearing 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...

Delhi High Court's 'Green Judge' Justice Najmi Waziri Retires Today: 'May Each Tree Extend Your Life', Say Lawyers

Nupur Thapliyal

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