Eminent jurist Justice VR Krishna Iyer, a former Supreme Court judge, passed away today (4th December 2014) at Kochi in Kerala. Just a few days ago (on 15th November 2014), he had celebrated his 100th birthday.
Justice Krishna Iyer was the conscience keeper of the judicial system in India. Though he retired as Supreme Court judge about 34 years back in 1980, his was the most respected voice in legal circles. While serving as a judge of the Supreme Court from 1973 to 1980, he wrote several landmark judgments. His way of writing the judgments was unique and unparalleled. Justice Krishna Iyer was one of those judges who laid the foundation of the public interest (PIL) jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. He had a pro-people and liberal approach while interpreting the Constitution.
“Bail or jail?” – his famous words in the case of Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P., (1978) 1 SCC 240, which he decided, sitting singly, as a Chamber judge on 6th December 1977, still continue to be one of the foundation stones of a liberal bail jurisdiction in India.
He started his career as a politician, having been elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1952. He was a minister in the Kerala government from 1957 to 1959, looking after the departments of law, power, prisons, irrigation and social welfare. He was a judge of the Kerala high court from 1968 to 1971, and was also a member of the Law Commission for two years. He was a judge of the Supreme Court from 17th July 1973 to 14th November 1980.
Having authored about 100 books, Justice Krishna Iyer was a living legend. Till he breathed his last, he was quite active in public life and his views on any issue of law would attract the highest respect from everybody who mattered in the legal field. His sudden demise has left a huge vacuum in the legal field.
May his soul rest in peace.
