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