A distinguished jurist in the Indian legal system, Justice H.L. Gokhale served with distinction in various high courts and ultimately the Supreme Court of India, leaving behind a legacy of legal expertise and judicial integrity.
Born on March 10, 1949, in Baroda, Justice Gokhale's academic journey began at Bal Mohan Vidya Mandir and continued at Ramnarain Ruia College, Govt. Law College, and the University of Mumbai. He earned an M.A. in Economics and Political Science, followed by an LL.M. with a specialization in Constitutional and International Law, achieving the top rank in his LL.M. examination at the University of Mumbai.
Justice Gokhale enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra on January 20, 1973. His practice encompassed civil, constitutional, labor, and service laws, with a focus on industrial and service matters. He also served as a part-time Professor of Law at the Government Law College, Mumbai, from 1977 to 1984. From 1984 to 1989, he worked as an Assistant Government Pleader for the State of Maharashtra in the Bombay High Court.
Justice Gokhale's judicial career commenced with his appointment as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on January 20, 1994, followed by an immediate transfer to the Gujarat High Court on February 4, 1994. He became a permanent Judge of the Gujarat High Court on January 23, 1995, and later returned to the Bombay High Court on February 25, 1999. He served as Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court starting January 7, 2007. Subsequently, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court on March 7, 2007, and transferred to the Madras High Court on March 9, 2009. Justice Gokhale was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on April 30, 2010.
