Deepak Verma (judge)

Deepak Verma
Judge of the Supreme Court of India
In office 11 May 2009 – 27 August 2012
Nominated by	K. G. Balakrishnan
Appointed by	Pratibha Patil
Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court
In office 4 March 2009 – 10 May 2009
Nominated by	K. G. Balakrishnan
Appointed by	Pratibha Patil
Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court
Acting
In office 2 January 2008 – 3 March 2009
Nominated by	K. G. Balakrishnan
Appointed by	Pratibha Patil
Personal details
Born	(1947-08-28) 28 August 1947 Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
Spouse	Shevanti Verma
Children	2
Occupation	Independent arbitrator, mediator

Deepak Verma is an Indian jurist and a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India. His career in the Indian judiciary includes serving as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, and holding the position of a judge in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. After retiring from the Supreme Court, Justice Verma has become known for his work as an international arbitrator and mediator, and he has acted as an expert on matters of Indian law in several high profile cases before foreign courts and international tribunals including the Enrica Lexie incident and the multi-billion dollar Vijay Mallya case. He has also assumed the role of a sports ombudsman in India. Additionally, he has chaired significant High-Powered Committees appointed by the High Court and the Supreme Court of India.

Early Life and Education

Born on 28 August 1947 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, to Late Mr. R.P. Verma, who was an eminent lawyer of his time in Madhya Pradesh, he pursued his legal education with a passion for justice. After completing his bachelor's degree in law and humanities, he embarked on a career that would become a hallmark of dedication to the law.

Legal Career

Justice Verma's legal career spans over five decades and combines extensive practice at the bar with distinguished service in the Indian judiciary. After being admitted to the bar in 1972, he began practicing predominantly before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, where he quickly gained recognition for his legal acumen and commitment to justice. He was frequently called upon to represent clients in complex and challenging disputes, often handling cases referred by renowned law firms.

Notably, Justice Verma's legal practice was characterized by his unwavering dedication to representing the interests of underprivileged litigants. He became a strong advocate for the cause of the marginalized within the legal system, earning him immense respect and accolades from peers and clients alike.

During his legal practice, he also served as the Administrative Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in 2005, overseeing critical matters, and also served as the Welfare Commissioner for the victims of the Bhopal disaster. In 2008, he was transferred to the High Court of Karnataka as the senior-most judge on the bench and served as the Acting Chief Justice until his appointment as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court. His legal practice before being elevated to the judiciary made a lasting impact on the legal landscape of India.

Judicial Career

Justice Verma's illustrious judicial career culminated with his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India in 2009. During his tenure on the bench, he delivered numerous landmark judgments in a wide array of legal areas, including administrative law, arbitration law, criminal law, constitutional law, insurance law, family law, company law, service law, and taxation, among others. His judgments continue to serve as precedents in various legal matters.

Moreover, during his tenure as a judge of the highest court in India, Justice Verma was renowned for his compassion towards underprivileged litigants. He played a pivotal role in several benches of the Supreme Court dealing with critical issues such as the Right to Food, which aimed to ensure the distribution of grain at "no cost" or "very low cost" as part of the efforts to streamline the Public Distribution System. Additionally, he redefined medical negligence to include cases involving overdose of medicines, failure to inform patients about potential side-effects of drugs, lack of extra care in cases with a high mortality rate, and hospitals failing to provide fundamental amenities to patients. Notably, he also presided over the appeal in the high-profile 1999 Delhi hit-and-run case, among other significant cases, leaving an indelible mark on the Indian legal landscape.

Arbitration and Mediation

Post-retirement from the Indian judiciary, Justice Deepak Verma established himself as a prominent arbitrator and mediator in both domestic and international disputes. He has presided over more than 200 domestic and international arbitrations, rendering awards in complex cases valued at several billion dollars. His expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including construction, energy, insurance, maritime, international trade, and more. Additionally, he has provided expert opinions before international tribunals and courts worldwide.

Expert in Indian Law

Justice Verma is widely recognized as an expert in matters of Indian law. His legal opinions are sought after by leading national and international law firms and global corporations on complex legal situations relating to various areas of law such as arbitration, banking and finance, constitutional law, corporate law and governance, criminal law, insolvency, securities law, trusts, taxation, and more. He has acted as an expert witness in several precedent-setting multijurisdictional disputes before the Federal Courts in the United States, the Senior Courts in England and Wales, the Commission for Control of INTERPOL Files (CCF),and the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. He has also acted as the inquiry authority and overseen internal investigations for several multinational corporations and banking and financial institutions.

Philanthropy

Justice Deepak Verma is not only known for his legal acumen but also for his philanthropic contributions to society. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made a generous contribution of Rs. 51 lakh to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund to support the welfare of laborers and migrants.

Professional Memberships and Appointments

Justice Deepak Verma holds memberships in several prestigious arbitration and mediation institutions worldwide. He has also been entrusted with significant appointments, including chairing high-powered committees and serving as an ombudsman for cricket associations.

Notable Appointments

- Chairperson: High Powered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to oversee import, transfer, procurement, rescue, and rehabilitation of wild animals, including those in captivity, across India (2022). - Ombudsman: Delhi & District Cricket Association (2020). - Ombudsman: Hyderabad Cricket Association (2021). - Electoral Officer: Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (2022). - Chairman: Justice Deepak Verma Committee constituted by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in a Public Interest Litigation (2018). - Chairman: Three-Member High-Level Committee of the All-India Tennis Association (AITA) (2013). - Chairperson: High Powered Committee constituted by the High Court of Agartala in a Public Interest Litigation (2022).

References

1. Deeply Pained By The Plight Of Labourers': Former SC Judge Justice Deepak Verma Contributes Rs. 51 Lakh To PM's Relief Fund - Published on LiveLaw.in. 2. Committee to oversee transfer and import of captive wild animals in India: Supreme Court - Published in The Hindu. 3. Justice Deepak Verma Profile - Published on the website of Technocrats Institute of Technology, Bhopal. 4. Justice Deepak Verma - AIAC Panellist Profile - Published on the AIAC (Asian International Arbitration Centre) website. 5. Justice Deepak Verma Profile (PDF) - Published on the website of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). 6. SC Expands Ambit of Pan-India High-Powered Committee to Curb Capturing of Wild Elephants - Published in The Wire.