Meet Justice Vikram Nath and his Notable judicial decisions
- ByPravleen Kaur --
- 20 May 2025 --
- 0 Comments
Justice Vikram Nath, born on 24 September 1962 in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, is a distinguished judge of the Supreme Court of India and a fourth-generation legal professional in his family. He graduated in Science in 1983 and obtained his law degree from the University of Lucknow in 1986. After enrolling as an advocate in 1987, he practiced at the Allahabad High Court for 17 years before being elevated as an Additional Judge of the same court in 2004 and later as a Permanent Judge in 2006. Justice Nath served as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court from 2019 to 2021, where he made history as the first Chief Justice in India to live stream court proceedings on YouTube, enhancing transparency and accessibility in the judiciary.
In August 2021, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India, where he is set to serve until September 2027. Justice Nath is expected to become the Chief Justice of India for seven months in 2027, following the convention of seniority.
Landmark Judgement: Barun Chandra Thakur v. Master Bholu (2022)
Among Justice Vikram Nath’s many significant contributions to Indian jurisprudence, his role in the Supreme Court’s decision in Barun Chandra Thakur v. Master Bholu (2022) stands out as a landmark judgement in juvenile justice. In this case, the Court addressed the critical issue of how children in conflict with law should be treated differently from adults. Justice Nath, along with Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, clarified that “mental capacity and the ability to understand consequences of acts” are not the same. The judgement emphasized that while a child may be aware of the consequences of their actions, they often lack the emotional competence to control their impulses, especially in situations involving thrill-seeking or peer pressure. This nuanced understanding reinforced the principle that juvenile offenders require a rehabilitative rather than a punitive approach, aligning Indian law with global standards on juvenile justice.
Other Notable Judgements
Justice Nath has authored and contributed to several other important decisions:
In Loknath Chakrapanidas Mahant v. State of Gujarat (2021), he was part of the bench that struck down the Gujarat Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2019, as unconstitutional, affirming the importance of equality before the law.
In Harendra Rai v. State of Bihar (2023), Justice Nath was part of a bench that reversed the acquittal of a former MP in a double murder case, holding state authorities accountable for failures in the criminal justice process.
Justice Vikram Nath’s judgements reflect a deep commitment to constitutional values, procedural fairness, and the progressive evolution of Indian law, especially in matters concerning individual rights and social justice
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