Supreme Court Justice Dedicates Judgment to Late Law Clerk

On 28 September 2026, an unconventional judgment was delivered in Court 6 of the Supreme Court of India, honouring the memory of a young law clerk who had recently passed away. The bench, comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu, expressed profound sorrow over the untimely demise of Ritwik Deswal, who worked as a Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate for Justice Datta.

The dedication came during the pronouncement of a judgment, where Justice Datta indicated that the heading would start with 'in memoriam.' He reflected on the fragility of human life, stating, "We have started our judgment acknowledging the efforts of someone who is very dear to us. The heading is in memoriam. Human life is fragile and yet in the ordinary course of living we seldom pause to recognise how fleeting it is."

Justice Datta recounted that Ritwik Deswal passed away just four days before his 27th birthday, which coincidentally was on the same day as the judgment. The Justice remarked, "As we pronounce the judgment which bears the quiet and indelible intent of his final labour, we wish to record our deep appreciation for his valuable assistance rendered by him in the build-up to the preparation of this judgment."

He further elaborated on the impact Deswal's death had on their lives, emphasising that his dedication remained focused on the pursuit of truth and the service of justice, even in his final hours. "It is therefore with profound personal sorrow and grief that we dedicate this final collaboration to his memory," he added.

The court case under review involved a petition challenging the detention of an individual under the National Security Act. The bench ultimately deemed the detention illegal, quashing it and imposing a cost of ₹10 lakh on the State of Uttar Pradesh.

This tribute highlights the often-overlooked contributions that law clerks and research associates make in the legal realm, as well as the emotional weight their untimely departures can leave behind.