Honoring Dr. Balram K. Gupta: Collection of Essays on Judicial Shaping
In 1991, Prof. (Dr.) Balram K. Gupta made an unusual shift by beginning full-time practice as an advocate. This marked a new chapter in the life of a man who was born in 1944 and earned his law degree in 1966 and a master's degree in 1968.
His career in academia commenced in 1969, where he excelled as a law teacher. His scholarship and teaching skills earned him recognition not only in his home state of Punjab, but throughout the country. His rapid rise in the legal profession led to his designation as a Senior Advocate in 2002.
In 1986, he became the youngest professor and later the Chairman of the Department of Law at Punjab University, a position he held until 1989. His influence in the legal and judicial field continued to grow, leading to his appointment as the Director of the National Judicial Academy at Bhopal and later the Director of the Chandigarh Judicial Academy.
The book titled "Shaping the Judges: Essays in Honour of Dr. Balram K. Gupta" is a testament to his impact on the judiciary. This volume, set to be released on August 2, 2025, at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy, is a collection of thought-provoking essays contributed by India's leading judicial minds.
The book is divided into two parts. Part-A focuses on essays, covering a wide variety of topics including legal issues, artificial intelligence, judicial stress, humor in judgement writing, and creative judicial thinking. The essays in Part-A are written by sitting and retired Supreme Court and High Courts judges, as well as other eminent figures in the field of law.
Part-B of the book consists of tributes and testimonies by judges and academic scholars who had a close association with Dr. Gupta. These heartfelt tributes highlight his sterling qualities as a human being. The Introduction in the book is written by Dr. Gupta's daughter, Dr. Shruti Bedi, and reveals his role as a devoted husband and father.
The book appears to be a tribute to Prof. Gupta’s influence in the legal and judicial field. The essays in Part-A of the book make a case for more humane and witty judges, emphasising themes such as humanity, humor, and heart in judges. This volume is a must-read for every lawyer and judge, due to its wide range of topics and the eminence of those who have written them.
Arvind P. Datar, a Senior Advocate, has written a book review for 'Shaping The Judges'. As of now, no specific publisher information or ISBN details have been found, but the release date and thematic contents are confirmed by the Tribune India article dated August 2, 2025. The book deserves to be on the bookshelf of every lawyer and judge for its wide range of topics and the eminence of those who have written them.
Prof. Gupta's contributions extend beyond his legal career, as he also prioritized education-and-self-development and personal-growth. This is evident in the book "Shaping the Judges," where essays focus on learning, emphasizing themes such as humanitarianism, humor, and creative thinking.
For every lawyer and judge, the book "Shaping The Judges" is a valuable resource for exploring diverse topics, highlighting the importance of personal-growth and learning in the field of law.
