BBD University Commemorates Justice D. P. Gupta’s Birth Centenary, Celebrates Excellence in Legal Education
Lucknow: Babu Banarasi Das (BBD) University commemorated the birth centenary of the late Hon’ble Justice D. P. Gupta, former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, with a grand ceremony held at the Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta Auditorium on Saturday. Organised under the guidance of Mrs. Alka Das Gupta, Chancellor, and Mr. Viraj Sagar Das, Pro-Chancellor, the event brought together eminent members of the judiciary, legal fraternity, academia and students to celebrate the life and legacy of one of India’s distinguished jurists while reaffirming the University’s commitment to advancing legal education and constitutional values.
Justice D. P. Gupta served with distinction as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and later as Acting Lokayukta and Acting Governor of Rajasthan. Widely respected for his integrity, scholarship and commitment to public service, he left behind a judicial legacy that continues to inspire generations of legal professionals.
Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Mrs. Alka Das Gupta, Chancellor, BBD University, said the centenary was not merely a remembrance of an accomplished jurist but a celebration of the principles that shaped his life. “Justice D. P. Gupta believed that the strength of the judiciary rests on integrity, fairness and an unwavering commitment to constitutional values. As an institution, we are privileged to honour his legacy through initiatives that encourage young minds to pursue excellence while carrying forward the ideals he lived by,” she said.
The commemorative programme was attended by Hon’ble Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Chairman of the 23rd Law Commission of India, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Hon’ble Justice M. N. Bhandari, former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and Chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal under SAFEMA and PMLA, New Delhi, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Shamim Ahmed, Judge, Madras High Court and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pramod Kumar Srivastava, Judge, Allahabad High Court attended as the Guest of Honour. A commemorative volume documenting Justice D. P. Gupta’s life, judicial contributions and enduring influence on India’s legal system was also released during the ceremony, offering a lasting tribute to his distinguished public service.
The celebrations also marked the culmination of the inaugural Justice D. P. Gupta Moot Court Competition 2026, with the grand finale and prize distribution recognising outstanding student advocacy. The competition witnessed participation from 54 teams representing National Law Universities, Central Universities, State Universities and leading law colleges from across the country. With a prize pool comprising cash awards of approximately ₹1,00,000 and SCC Online subscriptions worth ₹96,000, the competition provided aspiring lawyers with an opportunity to demonstrate their advocacy, legal research and analytical abilities on a national platform.
Describing the competition as an important step towards strengthening experiential legal education, Mr. Viraj Sagar Das, Pro-Chancellor, BBD University, said the enthusiastic participation from institutions across the country reflected the growing importance of platforms that bridge classroom learning with courtroom practice. “Legal education must prepare students to understand the law and also to apply it with clarity, responsibility and conviction. Through initiatives such as the Justice D. P. Gupta Moot Court Competition, we hope to create opportunities that encourage rigorous legal scholarship and equip future professionals to contribute meaningfully to the justice delivery system,” he said.
The birth centenary celebrations and the successful conclusion of the inaugural moot court competition reflected BBD University’s continued efforts to preserve the legacy of eminent legal luminaries while creating meaningful academic platforms that promote legal scholarship, advocacy and public service. Together, the two initiatives reinforced the University’s vision of nurturing future legal professionals grounded in constitutional values and committed to excellence.
