Justice Uday Lalit - 49th Chief Justice of India | Jurist, Mentor, Reformer

Justice Uday Umesh Lalit's career embodies a rare blend of technical legal brilliance, ethical conviction, and reformist vision. Rising directly from the Bar to Supreme Court Bench a path reserved for only a select few. He brought with him the sharpness of a practicing lawyer, the discipline of courtroom advocacy, and the ability to see law not merely as text, but as a living tool of justice.

In this episode, he opens up to Senior Advocate Chetan Kapadia, Justice Lalit began his career in the Bombay High Court before moving to Delhi to work under the legendary Soli Sorabjee. His courtroom advocacy, especially in criminal law, earned him a stellar reputation for precision and restraint. Appointed Senior Advocate in 2004, he would go on to represent the CBI in the high-profile 2G spectrum cases before his elevation to the bench in 2014.

As a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Lalit was known for his lucid reasoning, respect for individual rights, and balanced approach to complex legal questions. Whether it was his stance on procedural safeguards in SC/ST Act cases, nuanced views on sentencing in death penalty matters, or his role in the landmark Triple Talaq judgment, his opinions always reflected a deep commitment to justice — not just in form, but in substance.

 

CREDITS:

Guest: Justice Uday Lalit

Host: Chetan Kapadia

 

Audio Podcast Narrator: Firoz Bharucha

 

Editorial Guidance: Nitin Thakker

Special Thanks: Farhan Dubash & Firoz Bharucha

Concept & Creative Producer: Aditya Bapat

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome

Creative Head: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Sound Designer & Mixing Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni

Sound Editors : Lakshman Parsuram & Nihar Temkar

Director and Editor: Jishnu Guha

Animation: Pratik Belote & Kurush Dubash

Camera Assistant: Ujjwal Lo

Project Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Assistant Producer: Quoyina Ghosh

Studio: Island City Studios