Former Supreme Court Justice VR Krishna Iyer, who celebrated his 100th birthday this year 2014 was summoned to appear before his Judge, the God. He was treated in a Kochi hospital for pneumonia, but it went out of doctor’s hands in-due course of time. Justice VR Krishna Iyer expired at 3.30 pm on Dec 4, 2014.
He was the minister of law in the first communist government led by EMS Nampoothiripad in 1957 and was also the member of the second Kerala legislative assembly. He became a judge of the Kerala high court in 1968 and occupied the post till 1971 and also held post as member of the Law Commission for two years. He was honoured as a judge in the Supreme Court in 1973 and got retired in 1980.
Some of his achievements and memorable acts are as follows
- The only Supreme Court judge to been as a politician before his appointment to the apex court.
- In 1999, he was honoured with the second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan.
- Judgement on Sunil Batra case, directing orders for the improvement of all prison conditions and about the torture matter in the prisons.
- Wandering in Many Worlds – Iyer’s Autobiography.
- Former PM Indira Gandhi challenged the Allahabad High court judgement by Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha’s decision on Raj Narain’s election fraud petition in the Supreme Court. On 24 June 1975, Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer gave a landmark judgement of stay on the High court order and withdrew the privileges given to Indira Gandhi and made her sit in the parliament and speak but not to cast vote. A day after his judgement the famous 1975, 21 month Emergency rule was imposed. He is said to have triggered Indira Gandhi’s Emergency rule.
Current PM, Narendra Modi has tweeted in his social media showcasing condolences to Iyer’s death by appreciating his personality as “Fine lawyer, eminent jurist, incredible philosopher & above all a phenomenal human being”.