On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, September 5, National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi) bestowed the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award upon Prof. (Dr) Upendra Baxi. Recognized for his significant contributions to legal scholarship, Prof. Baxi holds the position of Distinguished Professor at NLU Delhi and has been a Professor of Law at Warwick University since 1996. His illustrious career includes serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University (DU) from 1990 to 1994, following over 20 years as a faculty member. Before this tenure, he was also the Vice Chancellor of the University of South Gujarat. In 2011, Prof. Baxi received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors.
The award ceremony took place at the University’s Moot Court Hall and saw the presence of notable dignitaries, including former Supreme Court Judge Justice (Dr) AK Sikri, former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice UU Lalit, Delhi High Court Chief Justice and NLU Delhi Chancellor Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Attorney General (AG) R Venkataramani, and Justice Vijay Bishnoi of the Supreme Court.
Prof. (Dr) GS Bajpai, Vice Chancellor of NLU Delhi, commenced the event with a welcome address. Following this, Prof. (Dr) MK Bhandari, Founder Director of GALTER, highlighted the significance of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony featured reflections on Prof. Baxi’s profound impact on legal academia. Justice Sikri shared his experiences as a student learning from Baxi, while Justice Lalit highlighted Baxi’s pivotal role in steering cases towards justice. AG Venkataramani reminisced about attending Baxi’s classes as a guest student. Justice Upadhyaya spoke on Baxi’s expansive influence on legal education, and Justice Bishnoi described the judicial inspiration drawn from Baxi’s work.
The award was ceremonially presented to Prof. Baxi by the esteemed guests, acknowledging his enduring contribution to legal thought and scholarship. Prof. Baxi graciously accepted the award and delivered his acceptance speech, expressing gratitude and reflecting on his journey.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. (Dr) Niraj Kumar, followed by the rendition of the National Anthem, marking a fitting end to a memorable celebration of academic excellence.
