The Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi Foundation is a non-profit organization established in the memory of Hon'ble Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi. It aims to contribute to the development of the full spectrum of the new legal order in India. The Foundation shall endeavour to promote, foster, and maintain legal thought through the betterment of legal, judicial, and social infrastructure, promotion of discourse on legal and judicial education and reform, judicial impact assessment and judicial conscientiousness. These proposed initiatives will be complemented by bolstering a comprehensive understanding of legal principles in professionals and nurturing the present and future generations of the legal profession. The Foundation aspires to contribute to positive efforts that effect a long-lasting difference in the field of Law.
We have all transformed as observers as well as participants in light of what the world has been facing in its scale, scope and complexity these past two years of the pandemic. We are yet to comprehend how it will continue to unfold. It is a foregone conclusion that the response to it must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders of the global polity, from the public and private sectors, to academia and, the civil society including the legal sphere.
There is a monumental task at hand to revamp education from the point of entry to the highest ladder of legal learning.Students pursuing Legal Studies, and the legal and judicial workforce must train themselves to grapple with uncertainties and generate abilities for adaptability with alacrity. The new century will not allow us the luxury of time since we are also running against it.
A democratic society is more than political rhetoric. It works meaningfully only if the Rule of Law and Rule of Justice are prevalent. It is an inevitable and imperative conclusion that those who promote legal thought and education are the architects of the Law and Justice of the Republic.
Justice Tripathi’s vision towards the justice system of our nation aimed at ironing out and working towards systemic challenges such as lack of accessible justice to the vulnerable; judicial accountability in disposal rates and clearing pendency; better infrastructure for lower judiciary; making legal education inclusive, coherent, and accessible, to name a few.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi was born on November 12, 1957. He did his schooling from St. Xavier's School, Bokaro Steel City. He graduated with distinction in Economics (Hons.) from the reputed Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in 1978 and read Law at Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, where he served as the Joint Secretary of Delhi Law Faculty Students’ Union in the year 1978-1979. To commemorate his professional achievements, SRCC awarded him with the “Distinguished Alumni Award'' in 2014.
Justice Tripathi enrolled as an Advocate with the Hon’ble Patna High Court in the year 1981. His primary areas of practice were Service law, Constitutional law, Taxation, Excise and commercial litigation. Justice Tripathi served as the Vice President of the Hon’ble Patna High Court Bar Association in the year 1998; he held offices of the Standing Counsel for Union of India and Income Tax Department. He also represented many Public Sector Undertakings including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Inland Waterways Authority of India among others, in their important and contentious cases. Justice Tripathi served as an Additional Advocate General for the State of Bihar, and represented the State before the Hon’ble High Court in its litigations.
Justice Tripathi was elevated to the Hon’ble Patna High Court in 2006. He went on to deliver several landmark judgements, which reflected his fearless conviction for transparency, accountability, and compassion towards the common man. He was a strong votary against misuse of public office, which also reflected in his observations and judgements.
Justice Tripathi was actively involved in bringing quality legal education to the State of Bihar. He was keenly involved in the setting up of the Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) at Patna and was a member of the General and Academic Councils of the University. Justice Tripathi also served as a member of the Academic Council of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. He was a Special Invitee to the Education Committee, Bar Council of India.
Justice Tripathi was appointed the Chief Justice of Hon’ble Chhattisgarh High Court in 2018. By virtue of his office he also served as the Chancellor of the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur.
In 2019, Justice Tripathi took oath as Judicial Member, Lokpal of India. He played a pivotal role during the formative period of the institution of Lokpal of India with his innovative ideas and inputs. He authored an uncompromisingly direct and honest Opinion for The Pioneer, six months into his role as an ombudsman, on ensuring accountability.
Justice Tripathi was a keen and ardent golfer. He was a patron of the Patna Golf Club, which was established in 1916. He served as the President of Patna Golf Club between the years 2007-2009. Justice Tripathi, both participated and organised several golf tournaments, and four-balled with several eminent golfers and went on to win many amateur tournaments. On invitation from the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Justice Tripathi led Bihar at the inter-state golf tournaments at the Royal Springs Golf Club of Jammu and Kashmir.
Those close to him, knew his love for reading and music.
We, his family, friends and members of Foundation, deeply mourn his loss; but his spirit of simplicity, love, fairness and equality for all in the eyes of the law will live on forever.