New Delhi, Sep 29: In a rare gesture, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dedicated a judgment to its law clerk-cum-research associate, who died four days before his 27th birthday and assisted in a case relating to the detention of an accused under the National Security Act.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu expressed grief over the untimely demise of Ritwik Deswal, who worked as a law clerk-cum-research associate in Justice Datta’s office.
“Human life is fragile. Yet, in the ordinary course of living, we seldom pause to recognise just how fleeting it is; and when life finally confronts us with that fragility, the realisation often comes too late. On that note, at the very outset, we begin on an unconventional premise.
“One of our dearest law clerks-cum-research associates, Ritwik Deswal, left for his heavenly abode four days short of his 27th birthday, which happens to be today. As we pronounce this judgment, which bears the quiet and indelible imprint of his final labours, we wish to record our deep appreciation for the invaluable research assistance rendered by him in the build-up to the preparation of this judgment,” the bench said.
The top court said Deswal’s untimely demise has left an excruciatingly deep void.
“Even in his final hours, his thoughts remained firmly anchored in the pursuit of truth and the service of justice. It is, therefore, with profound personal sorrow and grief that we dedicate this final collaboration to his memory, his integrity, his enduring commitment to the law, his love for academia, and his other great qualities of head and heart,” the bench said.
The apex court ruled that the confession statement of an accused made before a police officer cannot be the basis for detaining him under the National Security Act (NSA).
It said preventive detention has always been regarded as an exceptional measure and, therefore, must be invoked with the utmost circumspection and only in those rarest of rare cases where the circumstances genuinely warrant such an exercise. (PTI)
