Meet Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and his Notable Judicial decisions
- ByPravleen Kaur --
- 17 Jun 2025 --
- 0 Comments
Justice Uday Umesh Lalit served as the 49th Chief Justice of India from August 27, 2022, to November 8, 2022. Though his tenure as CJI was brief, his impact on Indian jurisprudence is significant due to his involvement in several landmark Supreme Court verdicts, both as a judge and as the head of benches.
Judicial Career and Philosophy
Justice Lalit was known for his expertise in criminal law, his emphasis on procedural fairness, and his commitment to judicial efficiency. Before joining the bench, he was a prominent senior advocate and served as Special Public Prosecutor for the CBI in the 2G spectrum cases. As CJI, he introduced reforms to streamline the listing and hearing of cases, ensuring urgent matters received prompt attention.
Landmark Judgments
1. Triple Talaq (Shayara Bano v. Union of India, 2017)
Justice Lalit was part of the five-judge Constitution Bench that, by a 3:2 majority, declared the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat) unconstitutional and void. The judgment was a watershed moment for gender justice and Muslim women’s rights, holding the practice violative of the Constitution and the right to equality.
2. POCSO Act – “Skin-to-Skin” Contact Ruling (2021)
Justice Lalit led the bench that reversed the controversial Bombay High Court decision which held that “skin-to-skin” contact was necessary to constitute sexual assault under the POCSO Act. The Supreme Court clarified that any physical contact with sexual intent amounts to sexual assault, thus broadening the scope of child protection under the law.
3. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Case (2020)
Justice Lalit, with Justice Indu Malhotra, upheld the rights of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore to manage the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala. The bench ruled that the hereditary rights of temple management could not be altered by the courts, reinforcing religious and property rights.
4. Safeguards Against Misuse of SC/ST Act (Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra, 2018)
Justice Lalit was part of the bench that introduced procedural safeguards to prevent misuse of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The judgment mandated preliminary inquiries before registering FIRs and allowed for anticipatory bail, though it was later reviewed following public and legislative backlash.
5. Vijay Mallya Contempt Case (2022)
Justice Lalit was on the bench that sentenced fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to four months’ imprisonment for contempt of court, reinforcing the authority of the judiciary in enforcing its orders.
6. EWS Reservation Dissent (2022)
On his last working day, Justice Lalit delivered a dissenting opinion in the constitutional challenge to the 10% EWS reservation, arguing that excluding SCs, STs, and OBCs from its ambit was discriminatory.
Legacy
Justice U.U. Lalit’s judicial legacy is marked by progressive rulings on gender justice, child protection, religious rights, and procedural safeguards. His tenure as CJI, though short, was characterized by administrative reform and a focus on expediting justice. His judgments continue to influence debates on equality, minority rights, and the balance between procedural safeguards and substantive justice in India.
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