CJI to inaugurate High Court Bar library refurbished in memory of ‘Green Judge’ Justice Kuldip Singh
Justice Kuldip Singh is widely remembered for pioneering environmental jurisprudence in India
The library of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, extensively refurbished in memory of the legendary “Green Judge” of the Supreme Court, Justice Kuldip Singh, will be inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, on Saturday.
The function at the High Court Bar Association’s main hall will be presided over by the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sheel Nagu.
Justice Kuldip Singh is widely remembered for pioneering environmental jurisprudence in India.
The initiative has been undertaken by senior advocate Paramjit Singh Patwalia, son of Justice Kuldip Singh, who is hosting the event in honour of his father’s enduring legacy in the field of law and environmental protection.
Justice Kuldip Singh, affectionately known as the “Green Judge”, left an indelible imprint on the country’s legal framework through a series of landmark rulings that shaped India’s environmental jurisprudence. During his tenure on the Supreme Court Bench, he introduced and strengthened key environmental doctrines such as the “polluter pays” and “precautionary” principles, which later became foundational to environmental governance in India.
Among his most celebrated interventions were directions aimed at protecting the Taj Mahal from industrial pollution—orders that reflected his belief that environmental protection was integral to constitutional governance.
Born on January 1, 1932, Justice Kuldip Singh studied at Col. Brown Cambridge School before pursuing law at Panjab University and later at the University of London. A barrister-at-law from Lincoln’s Inn, he went on to serve as Punjab’s Advocate-General in 1987 and as Additional Solicitor-General of India before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 1988.
On the Bench, Justice Kuldip Singh became known for transforming public interest litigation into a powerful instrument for social and environmental justice. His insistence on effective implementation of judicial directions often saw him hold the executive accountable when compliance faltered.
Justice Kuldip Singh also formed part of the nine-judge Bench that delivered the landmark judgment in the Mandal Commission case on reservations.
Even after retiring from the Supreme Court in 1996, he continued to serve public causes. He later chaired the Delimitation Commission in 2002 and headed a tribunal in 2012 to investigate alleged land grab cases in Punjab. He breathed his last in November 2024.
Remembered for his fearless voice in the courtroom and unwavering commitment to justice, Justice Kuldip Singh’s legacy continues to influence generations of lawyers and judges. The refurbishment of the High Court Bar library in his memory is being seen as a tribute to a jurist whose work reshaped the contours of environmental law and strengthened the role of courts in protecting public interest.
