Proven Merit Should Be The Consideration, Equally Applicable For The Bench And The Bar

Legal Era Magazine in conversation with Amarjit Singh Chandhiok President, INSOL India

LE: You have risen very high in your domain and have even been called the “King of the Delhi High Court” apart from being named among India’s top legal luminaries. Has it been quite a struggle?

I would not say it has been a struggle. I tried to do my job with enthusiasm, passion, and dedication, with a keen spirit of learning and keeping in view the service the profession demands.

LE: The media has often written about how meeting late Justice R.S. Narula, a legend of law, made you enter law as your chosen vocation. Please elaborate.

I had the occasion to see Narula Saheb handling a family related matter. The way he handled difficult situations and complex questions of law coupled with his analytical approach made a great impact on me. Above all, his scholarship astonished me. He was the one who deeply influenced me to make my choice. I also had the occasion to brief him, and on every occasion, I learned something new.

LE: What would be your advice to young graduates at crossroads whether to enter litigation or the corporate world?

Litigation has the benefit of public exposure and the ensuing popularity. It sharpens the mind and intellect, broadens the vision, and helps one in many ways. It is competitive learning as well. In a corporate job, the picture may be different, but experience of litigation certainly helps.

LE: What qualities have helped you reach where you are today?

Simply put, the quest to learn, respect for equality, and human dignity. And then, being modest and ever willing to be further instructed.

LE: Hasn’t making a mark in such a high pressure profession come with its fair share of personal and familial challenges? Also, is work-life balance a misnomer, given the challenging nature of your work?