Bilaspur : A warm and dignified farewell ceremony was organised on Friday at the High Court of Chhattisgarh to honour Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari on the eve of his superannuation. Justice Tiwari is scheduled to retire on January 10, 2026, and since it was the final working day of the week, the ceremony was held at 3.30 pm in the court hall of the Chief Justice.
Presiding over the event, Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha paid glowing tribute to Justice Tiwari’s long and distinguished judicial journey. In his address, the Chief Justice highlighted Justice Tiwari’s sharp legal mind, fairness on the Bench, administrative competence, and unwavering commitment to constitutional values. He described Justice Tiwari as a judge who combined discipline with empathy, and wished him good health and a purposeful life after retirement.
Justice Sinha observed that Justice Tiwari earned deep respect across the Bar and the Bench for his clarity of thought and balanced judicial approach. His courtroom conduct, marked by dignity and institutional integrity, was described as a model for younger members of the judiciary. The Chief Justice noted that Justice Tiwari’s judgments consistently reflected sound legal reasoning along with a humane understanding of justice, strengthening public faith in the justice delivery system.
The ceremony also featured addresses by Vivek Sharma, Advocate General of Chhattisgarh, Rajesh Kesharwani, Administrator of the High Court Bar Association, and Ramakant Mishra, Deputy Solicitor General. Each speaker recalled Justice Tiwari’s courteous demeanour, deep legal insight, and significant contribution to the smooth functioning of the High Court, while extending best wishes for a peaceful and fulfilling post-retirement life.
Extensive Judicial Work and Case Disposal
Over the course of his judicial career, Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari disposed of more than 10,000 cases. Of these, 141 judgments were approved for reporting, reflecting not only the volume of work handled but also the quality and precedential value of his decisions.
Between 2021 and 2025, Justice Tiwari was associated with a total of 473 cases. He authored 370 judgments and was part of the Bench in 471 matters during this period, underscoring his sustained judicial output and consistent engagement with complex legal questions.
Year-wise Judgments Pronounced
Justice Tiwari’s year-wise judicial contribution shows a steady and disciplined work pattern. In 2021, he authored 22 judgments and was part of the Bench in 22 cases. His workload rose sharply in 2022, when he authored 66 judgments and participated in 100 matters. In 2023, he authored 97 judgments and was part of the Bench in 130 cases. The year 2024 marked one of his most productive phases, with 120 judgments authored and participation in 123 cases. In 2025 alone, he authored 65 judgments and was part of the Bench in 96 matters.
Bench-wise Composition
Justice Tiwari predominantly functioned as a Single Judge, deciding 324 cases independently. He was also part of Division Benches in 148 matters, contributing to decisions involving broader legal and constitutional questions. Additionally, he sat on larger bench combinations in a small but significant number of cases, reflecting his involvement in matters of institutional and legal importance.
Subject-wise Judicial Contribution
Justice Tiwari’s judicial work covered an exceptionally wide range of subjects. Criminal matters formed the largest segment of his docket, with 184 cases handled overall and 141 reported judgments. Civil cases followed closely, with 92 matters adjudicated. He also dealt extensively with family law, deciding 68 cases, and property disputes, with 50 cases.
His contribution extended to motor accident claims, with 26 cases, service matters involving public employment with 31 cases, and banking disputes numbering 18. He handled 18 cases relating to direct taxation and 7 matters under the Goods and Services Tax regime. His docket further included 16 labour and industrial disputes, 13 insurance cases, 7 arbitration matters, 6 narcotics cases, and 5 contract law disputes.
Justice Tiwari also decided cases in specialised and emerging areas of law, including election disputes (3), electricity matters (3), education-related cases (1), company law (1), constitutional law (1), land acquisition (1), excise (1), sales tax and VAT (1), tenancy matters (2), and trusts and societies (3). This breadth of subject coverage reflects a judge with both versatility and depth in judicial decision-making.
Professional Journey
Born on January 11, 1964, at Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari completed his B.Com., LL.B., and LL.M. degrees from Raipur. In 1987, he became the first student of Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, to obtain an LL.M. in Constitutional Law. He joined the judicial service in 1990 as a Civil Judge (Class II) and served at Jagdalpur, Sarangarh, Janjgir, and Rajnandgaon. He later served as District and Sessions Judge at Rajnandgaon and Balod, becoming the first District and Sessions Judge of the newly created Balod district.
Justice Tiwari also held several key administrative positions in the High Court, including Registrar General. He was appointed as a Judge of the High Court on October 8, 2021, and took oath as a permanent Judge on July 31, 2023.
The farewell ceremony was attended by judges of the High Court, family members of Justice Tiwari, the Advocate General, office-bearers of the High Court Bar Association, the Deputy Solicitor General, senior advocates, members of the Bar, senior government officials, judicial officers, and officers and staff of the High Court and allied institutions, making it a fitting tribute to a judge whose career blended efficiency, integrity, and humanity.