OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM
Justice Ahmadi’s legacy was not confined to his contributions within the courtroom. Committed to reducing case pendency and ensuring quick disposal of cases, he remained a staunch advocate of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, encouraging the widespread adoption of Lok Adalats in India and advocating for their effectiveness in dispute resolution. Furthermore, his initiatives, notably through the Indo-US team formed during his Chief Justiceship, culminated in the incorporation of mediation as an alternative to traditional court-based processes. This initiative further resulted in the amendment of the Civil Procedure Code, incorporating section 89 to include mediation as an ADR method. Notably, in 2023, the Mediation Act was passed in both houses of the Parliament, receiving Presidential assent on 14.09.2023.
Equally, he advocated for the right of all citizens, whether residing in India or abroad, to have access to legal representation through the Legal Aid scheme. During his tenure as Chief Justice of India, Justice Ahmadi spearheaded the establishment of the Indo-British Legal Aid initiative, formalizing a reciprocal arrangement between the two countries.
Justice Ahmadi’s contributions to jurisprudence include landmark cases that reshaped legal frameworks in India. Notable amongst these was the S. R. Bommai v India case, which dealt with the delicate balance of power between central and state governments. Justice Ahmadi authored a separate 37-page judgement, in which he emphasised the importance of secularism, accommodation, and tolerance towards vulnerable religious, social, and linguistic groups.
Recognizing the imperative to sensitize the judiciary to the plight of victims of sexual violence, Justice Ahmadi lent his support to Sakshi, an NGO that sought to revolutionise judicial trainings in the space of gender equality. Their work ultimately culminated in in the Vishakha guidelines, the foundational judge-made law on Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace instituted by the Supreme Court in 1997.
Upon his retirement, Justice Ahmadi became one of the most highly sought-after arbitrators of his time, involved in several high-profile domestic and international arbitrations. He was also called upon by the National Human Rights Commission to lead an Advisory Committee tasked with reviewing and suggesting amendments to the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993. The formation of the Ahmadi Committee was prompted by concerns surrounding the Commission’s autonomy and effectiveness, particularly highlighted by incidents like the Bijbehara tragedy in Jammu & Kashmir and challenges posed by TADA. This high-powered committee was established to address skepticism regarding the Commission’s capacity to operate independently and maintain integrity under the existing Act.
Additionally, once retired, his services were requested by prestigious international bodies.
In 1998, Justice Ahmadi led a mission from the International Court of Justice to Liberia, to assess the nation’s judicial requirements. His expertise was again requested in 1999 when the United Nations appointed him to the Commission of Inquiry on East Timor, tasked with investigating post-referendum human rights abuses. Additionally, Justice Ahmadi provided consultancy services for judicial reforms in Bangladesh under the auspices of the World Bank. Amid the political upheaval in Zimbabwe, he evaluated legal and human rights issues in collaboration with the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI).
Simultaneously, he was appointed by the Supreme Court as Chairman of the Bhopal Memorial Hospital Trust (BMHT), a position he held for 12 years. Under his leadership and guidance, the hospital was set up in the record time of one year and achieved recognition as a world class facility.
A keen academic, Justice Ahmadi served two terms as Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. Even in retirement, he remained actively engaged in academia and public discourse, sharing his extensive knowledge and advocating for communal harmony, minority rights, compulsory education, technological advancements in law, the importance of lok adalats, and fundamental values of liberty and democracy. He has also authored several papers on a variety of subjects ranging from human rights, equality, gender justice and preservation of the environment to Legal Education, Legal Aid, Arbitration-Mediation and Judicial Reforms.
In recognition of his contributions to the legal fraternity, Justice Ahmadi was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, conferred upon him by the Institute of Objective Studies.
Internationally too, he was honoured with membership in the American Inn of Laws (1995) and was felicitated as Honorary Master and Bencher of the Middle Temple Inn of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple in London (1996). The University of Leicester conferred upon him the esteemed degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa). Six Indian universities too bestowed upon him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa).