Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya

Some Lesser Known Facts About Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya

• Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya is an Indian legal practitioner, who is serving as a senior judge at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court. Additionally, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya serves as a Member of the Administrative Committee of the Allahabad High Court. On 5 July 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his appointment as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

• Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya’s father, RA Upadhyay, held a prominent position as a lawyer on the board of revenue and served as standing counsel to various departments such as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow Development Authority, UP Power Corporation, Reserve Bank of India, and National Thermal Power Corporation.

• D. K. Upadhyaya officially joined the legal profession by enrolling as an advocate at the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh on 11 May 1991.

• Previously, he worked as a freelance journalist and has contributed numerous articles to prominent newspapers.

• Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya embarked on his legal career in 1991 when he joined the chambers of senior advocate Mohd Arif Khan at the Allahabad High Court.

• In 1997, he transitioned to the chambers of senior advocate SK Kalia. Notably, Upadhyaya assumed the role of chief standing counsel for the Uttar Pradesh Government at the Lucknow bench in 2007.

• Throughout his legal practice, he specialised in civil and constitutional matters. Recognizing his expertise, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya was elevated to the position of additional judge at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on 21 November 2011.

• On 6 August 2013, he was sworn in as a permanent judge of the Allahabad High Court.

• In March 2023, Upadhyaya assumed the esteemed position of a senior judge at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, ranking as the third most senior judge in that division.

• Additionally, he serves as a member of the Administrative Committee of the Allahabad High Court.

• Notably, on 5 July 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium, comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, Justice S K Kaul, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, proposed the appointment of Justice Upadhyaya as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in their resolution. The resolution read,
  

  A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay has arisen recently consequent upon retirement of Mr Justice Ramesh D. Dhanuka. Therefore, appointment to that office is required to be made. It is proposed to appoint Mr Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay.”

  

• Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya has delivered several guest lectures at many renowned law institutions in India.

  

• His anticipated retirement date from his services is set for 15 June 2027.