July 12,2019:

Name of legal stalwart: Mr. Kuldeep Kumar Thakur.

Office Address: A-104 Ivory Towers sector 70, Mohali

Contact Number: +91-9417687976, +91-9814016539

Area of Practice: Mainly practices in Service Law before Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh.

Enrollment Number: P/969/1991

The interviewer, Rishab Bhandari is a student of 3rd Year, student of Chandigarh University, Mohali. He currently interning with LatestLaws.com.

Introduction

Mr. KK Thakur is a Senior Panel Counsel for Government of India, UPSC, ESIC, EPFO, BSNL & UT Adminstration. He worked with Late Sh. Ravinder Chopra Advocate and started his practice before Punjab and Haryana High Court as a Junior Advocate on 3.Dec.1991 and he believe that an individual learning can take him to the heights where he wants to be and his daily learning made him achieve whatever he wished too and currently he is Senior Panel Counsel in Central Adminstration Tribunal and have completed his 30 years of age in a legal Profession.

Q1 Tell us about your schooling and early childhood?

Ans. I was born and brought up in Chandigarh. I did my schooling from D.A.V Sr. Secondary School, Sector 8, Chandigarh. I was a mediocre student.

Q2. Are you a first generation lawyer?

Ans. Yes, I am a first generation lawyer. I overcame the difficulties being a first generation lawyer. I started my practice as a junior (03/12/1991) with Late Sh. Ravinder Chopra Advocate before Punjab and Haryana High Court Chandigarh. I got opportunity to appear in almost every sphere of litigation while as junior. I am indebted to such great personality for making me what I am today.

Q.3. When did you decide pursue law as profession and why?

Ans. Initially one of my Law College friend Late Sh. Sudhir Nehra whose father was sitting Judge of High Court inspired me to join as an Advocate when I completed my Law Degree in 1991. The charm and Grace attached to this profession also attracted me towards that. During the initial years of practice, being first generation lawyer lot of hurdles and frustrations compelled me to leave the profession and  opt for Judicial Services and I indeed tried for that. But one such incident changed my thinking for Judicial Services and I determined to practice as an Advocate, when I met Sh B S Bedi (the then District & Session Judge, Chandigarh) and he convinced me by citing his experiences as Judicial Officer for last 30 years.

Q.4. How was your experience in Law School?

Ans. The experience in Law College was fantastic as one thing was clear in my mind that either I will be practicing as an Advocate or as Judicial Officer after my Law Degree is over. I will not be searching for job in case of other Degree holders.

Q.5. How do you think that the Law School education has changed since then?

Ans. The Law School education has certainly changed today as compared to 35 years ago when I studied law. With the change of Technology and Socio-Economic phenomenon many new subjects has been added as per the need of the hour. For Example Professional Ethics, Environment Laws etc.

Q.6. Would you like to share any experience of your first day/case in court?

Ans. When we say, I am Practising Advocate it means you are daily learning and it is an on going process and we learn daily as we are practising. I was watching the proceedings in the court of Hon,ble Mr Justice S S Grewal. His Lordship told one Advocate that it will take 10 years to understand the provisions of CPC. I was surprised so I asked my Senior  who in turn told me that since we practices so we learn daily and it might take ten years or more to get the cases covered under all the provisions of CPC.

Q.7. Please share two or three memorable cases you dealt in your professional journey?

Ans. In my Professional journey of about 30 years I have conducted more then 10,000 cases and irrespective of the fees I got my efforts were equal to the best of my ability so giving importance to 2 or 3 such cases will be not fair on my part.

Q.8.Please share three strengths of the Indian Legal System which make it strongest pillar of democracy?

Ans. (a) Independence of Judiciary:- The best part of Indian Democracy is that Courts are not subordinate to any wing of the Parliament/Administration so that they can work without pressure or fear and impart justice.

(b) Judicial Review:- The court can invalidate the wrong law passed by the Parliament as well as wrong orders passed by the Executive.

(c) PIL/Court on its own Motion :- Even in the need of the hour Court on its own motion or by way of Public Interest Litigation can pass orders where the Parliament as well as Executive has failed to do its duties.

Q.9. What according to you are the areas where legal system in our country need to improve?

Ans. The Law to be implemented is made by the Parliament and the Parliamentarians are elected by the Public. Public need to be educated about it so that intelligent and competent persons are elected and sent to the Parliament. The Courts only examines the Laws made by the Parliament and declares it valid or invalid. If the Courts declare a law bad in the eyes of Law then again the Parliament’s turn comes to make Law. So the calibre/knowledge of the electorate needs to be improved.

Q.10. What is your wisdom and success mantra for young legal professionals?

Ans. (a) Be specific about your profession, whether you want to practice law or join a job. Most of the youngsters fails to be specific in this regard and it leads them nowhere which ultimately causes frustration. You can’t excel in any field until and unless you are specific about.

(b)  To utilise the free time during court hours by watching proceedings conducted by Senior Lawyers and studying Journals available in the Bar Library. As youngster neither one has much work nor resources to afford for journals. By this one can learn a lot and excel in their own cases.

(c) Youngsters should be fully aware of the contents of the petition/brief they are holding whether of their own or of Seniors. Knowledge on merits is not necessary. The courts appreciate the juniors/youngsters who are aware of the contents of the case.

(d) Be sincere towards clients and fair to the court. This is the ultimate Mantras which makes your reputation before the clients and Court.

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