Kareena Eugene
On Monday, 26 April 2021, the Supreme Court announced that it was suspending the judicial business as a mark of respect for Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar, who had passed away on 24th April, 2021.
All matters listed today are said to be taken up tomorrow, 27th April, 2021. The Court observed a two-minute silence to offer condolences to Justice Shantanagoudar.
Chief Justice Ramana said, “We are deeply saddened by untimely demise of our brother who passed away in late evening hours of April 24th. As mark of respect in memory of the departed soul, we observe a two-minute silence Supreme Court.”
To mourn the demise of Justice Shantanagoudar, the High Courts of Allahabad, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh were closed today. The subordinate Courts of Punjab and Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh will also remain closed today.
CJI Ramana, on expressing his grief for Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar, said that, “I was hoping for his speedy and complete recovery and his return to the Bench at the earliest. The news of his passing has come as a rude shock. I have lost a valued colleague. In the last four years of my association with him in the Supreme Court, I have benefitted immensely from his amazing legal acumen”.
The Chief Justice of India spoke to Justice Shantanagoudar’s son and offered condolences to the family on behalf of himself and, on the behalf of the brothers and sister Judges of the Supreme Court.
Justice Ramana had shared a Bench with Justice Shantanagoudar for a long time to deal with several important cases.
On the night of April 24th, Justice Shantanagoudar breathed his last at a private Hospital in Gurugram, succumbing to prolonged illness.
On February 2017, Justice Shantanagoudar was elevated to the Supreme Court and had a term till 5th May, 2023. Before this, Justice Shantanagoudar was the Chief Justice at the Kerala High Court. His parent High Court was Karnataka High Court.