Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer

Justice Vaidyanathapuram Rama Iyer Krishna Iyer (15 November 1915 – 4 December 2014) was a noted judge[1] who became a pioneer of judicial activism in India. He pioneered the legal-aid movement in the country. Before that, he was a state minister & politician.[citation needed] As an activist lawyer, he served jail terms for the cause of his poor and underprivileged clients.[2][3] He was seen as an ardent human-rights activist.[4] In addition, he campaigned for social justice & the environment.[5] A sports enthusiast and a prolific author,[6] he was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. His judgements continue to be cited in the higher judiciary.

Birth, early life and work in politics

Vaidyanathapuram Rama Ayyar Krishna Iyer was born in 1915 in Vaidyanathapuram village in Palakkad, which was the part of the then Malabar region of the then Madras State, to a lawyer father, named Rama Iyer. He inherited from his father the qualities of taking an avid interest in the community around and using the law for the benefit of those more in need.[7] He studied law from Madras, and started practice in his father's chamber in 1938 at Thalassery, Malabar.[3] In 1948, when he protested the evil of torture by police for interrogation, he was imprisoned for a month on a fabricated charge of giving legal assistance to communists.[6] He was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1952, from Thalassery as a non-party, independent candidate.[3] He became the first minister of law, justice, home, irrigation, power, prisons, social welfare and inland navigation in the first communist government in Kerala headed by E. M. S. Namboodiripad that came to power in 1957. He initiated legal-aid to the poor, jail reforms incorporating the rights of prisoners, and set up more courts and rescue homes for women and children.[3][6] He got several labour and land reform laws passed. He resolved an inter-state water dispute between the newly formed neighbouring states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. When this government was dismissed by the central government, he resumed legal practice in August 1959. He lost the 1965 assembly election, which he again contested as an independent candidate.

Retirement and death

He retired as a judge on 14 November 1980 but, continued to advocate the cause of justice, on every forum and through his writings, participating in street protests,[31] and his house would always remain open, bustling with all who sought his help[32] or advice.[33] He stood for the nation's President in 1987, as the Opposition's candidate against R. Venkataraman, the ruling Congress's nominee who won. In 2002, he inquired into the Gujarat riots as part of a citizens' panel, with retired Justice P. B. Sawant among others. He also headed the Kerala Law Reform Commission in 2009. He had been active, almost till a few weeks before his death, when ill-health and advancing age took their toll on him. He died on 4 December 2014 at the age of 99.[34][35] and was cremated with state honours. His wife, who would listen to him talk about his work, when on occasion he would change his mind after she gave her opinion on it,[36] had predeceased him.

Awards and distinctions

Soviet Land Nehru Award, 1968.
Sri. Jehangir Gandhi Medal and Award for Industrial Peace, 1982.
Distinguished Fellow, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi.
The Kumarappa – Reckless Award, 1988. (The Indian Society of Criminology)
Baba Saheb B.R. Ambedkar National Award by the Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi.
Ramasramam Award 1992.
Justice Krishna iyer awarded the*Title of 'Living Legend of Law"by the International Bar Association in 1995 in recognition of outstanding service to the legal profession internationally and for commitment to the Rule of Law.
M. A. Thomas National Human Rights Award for 1998.
Padma Vibhushan Award by the President of India in 1999 (the Highest Award next to Bharath Ratna).
Recipient of Vyloppilli Award 1999 for the meritorious service in the fields Human Rights, law, administration etc. The Award was given in February 2000 by the Sahrudaya Vedi, Thrissur.
'The Order of Friendship', by President Putin in October 2000, Russia's high state honour for personal contribution in strengthening the ties of traditional and time-tested friendship, co-operation and everlasting affection between the two nations

Justice P. N. Bhagwati

Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (21 December 1921 – 15 June 2017) was the 17th Chief Justice of India, serving from 12 July 1985 until his retirement on 20 December 1986. He introduced the concepts of public interest litigation and absolute liability in India, and for this reason is held, along with Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, to be a pioneer of judicial activism in the country.

Early and personal life

P. N. Bhagwati was born in Gujarat. His father was Justice Natwarlal H. Bhagwati, a Supreme Court judge. He was the brother of the economist Jagdish Bhagwati and the neurosurgeon S. N. Bhagwati. He was married to Prabhavati (née Shethji) and the couple have three daughters, Parul, Pallavi, and Sonali. Bhagwati received his education in Mumbai. He studied at Elphinstone College, taking a Mathematics (Hons.) degree from Bombay University in 1941. In 1942, he courted arrest during the Indian Independence Movement and went underground for four months. He later received a law degree from Bombay University after studying at Government Law College, Bombay.

Career

Bhagwati began his career practicing at the Bombay High Court. In July 1960, he was appointed a judge of the Gujarat High Court. In September 1967, he was appointed the Chief Justice of that court. On two occasions, he acted temporarily as Governor of Gujarat (7 December 1967 to 25 December 1967 and 17 March 1973 to 3 April 1973 In July 1973, he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. In August 1985, he became Chief Justice of India. As a supreme court judge, Bhagwati introduced the concepts of public interest litigation and absolute liability to the Indian judicial system. He is therefore held, along with Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, to have pioneered judicial activism in the country. In 2007 Bhagwati was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs, India's second highest civilian award.

Other activities

In 1982, Bhagwati was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences while being affiliated with the Columbia University.[13] He had been a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee from 1995 to 2009, being reelected after every two year on expiry of his term.[14] He was also chairman of the committee in 2001-03.[15] As of 2006, he had also served as a member of the Committee of Experts of the International Labour Organization for over 27 years.[16] He was appointed Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning on 6 May 2011.

Death

Justice Bhagwati died on 15 June 2017 at the age of 95 after brief illness at this home in New Delhi. His funeral was held on 17 June.[18] Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death calling him "stalwart of India's legal fraternity".