Retired Justice A B Naik passes away

Aurangabad, July 16:

Retired Justice of Bombay High Court (Aurangabad Bench), Anil Bhalchandra Naik, has died of prolonged illness today. He was 78. The last rites upon him were performed at N-6 Crematorium today afternoon. He is survived by a wife Shobha, two married daughters - Mekhala Hemant Kulkarni and Ashwini Newasekar - sons-in-law and grandchildren.

After enrolling as an advocate on August 18, 1970, Justice Naik started his practice in the Bombay High Court till August 26, 1981. He also worked as a part-time lecturer in KC College Mumbai from 1977 to 1980. He also functioned as an assistant government pleader from 1980 to 1985 and as an ' A' panel counsel of the Government of Maharashtra (GoM) from 1986 to 1989. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on January 22, 2001, and a permanent judge on January 21, 2003. He retired from his service on October 27, 2005. As an acknowledgment of his service, the government appointed him as the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) chairman from October 10, 2005, to October 26, 2008.

Justice Naik was born in Jath village in Sangli district on October 27, 1943. He completed his school education from Ramrao Vidyamandir. Later on, his father Bhalchandra Shriniwas Naik shifted to Latur in connection with his job. As a result, he completed his college education at Latur's Dayanand College. He made an outstanding contribution to NCC and Cricket during his college days. He had conducted an NCC camp successfully in Darjeeling. Later on, he obtained a degree in law from Mumbai University and joined as a junior with Ambajogai's High Court lawyer Justice Sudhakar Kurdukar. He was also teaching for some time in Government Law College Mumbai. In 1981, the Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court got established. As a result, he shifted and settled in Aurangabad.

Justice Naik was studious and possess in-depth knowledge of the law. He has carved a niche in the Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court. He protected the client's interest and had displayed his studiousness in different acts like Rent Control, Revenue, Criminal, etc. He was one of the few lawyers who fight for justice without giving priority to the money. He also made a valuable contribution as Government Pleader in the Bombay High Court. The veteran lawyer also enacted as an amicus curiae in many cases and helped the Justices in resolving them in the Aurangabad Bench.

His MAT's verdict given in connection with the injustice meted out by the government upon government servants is a milestone. He had also disposed of many pending cases by calling the senior or competent officers of the concerned department if he would see any injustice.