Former Chief Justice India
NAME – Raghunandan Swarup Pathak
PROFESSION- Advocate, Judge
BORN – 25/11/1924
PLACE OF BIRTH – Prayagraj
FATHER‘S NAME – Gopal Swarup Pathak
MOTHER‘S NAME – N/A
SPOUSE – N/A
SIBLINGS – N/A
CHILDREN – N/A
EDUCATION –
Educated at St. Joseph’s High School , Allahabad
Completed his B.A. and M.A at Ewing Christian College, Allahabad
Completed his LL.B. from Allahabad University
AWARDS – N/A
SPECIALISATION- Constitutional Law, Income-tax, Sales Tax and other Taxation Laws
COMMITTEE/ PANEL HEADED-
R.S. Pathak was head of inquiry committee into matters relating to Volcker Committee Report which is regarding the alleged Indian links in the UN Oil-for-Food Programme.
BACKGROUND –
R.S. Pathak was appointed as a judge at Supreme Court of India in 1978 and became its 18th Chief Justice on 21/12/1986. R.S. Pathak is held up as an example of a judge’s judge. Setting consistently high standards for himself, he makes no attempt to play to the gallery.
While adopting as humane attitude as possible he will interpret the law consistently. The son of former vice-president G.S. Pathak, he gave up a flourishing practice because he believed it was his duty to take up a judgeship when offered.
He was elected as a judge of the International Court of Justice and served in that position from 1989 to 1991. He was venerated by his colleagues. He died of heart attack on 17/11/2007 (Age 82).
Pathak was born on 25/11/1924. Educated at St. Joseph’s High School, Allahabad; Ewing Christian College, Allahabad; Allahabad University. He enrolled himself as an Advocate of the Allahabad High Court on 8/12/1948. He started practicing at Allahabad High Court in Constitutional Law, Income-tax, Sales Tax and other Taxation Laws; Civil Law, Company Law and Industrial Disputes cases.
Appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court for a period of two years with effect from 1/10/1962; appointed as a permanent Judge of that High Court on 23/07/1963; appointed as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court on 18/03/1972.
He was then appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 20/02/1978, and later appointed as Chief Justice of India on 21/12/1986.
He Resigned from the office of the Chief Justice of India on 18/06/1989 on appointment as a Judge at International Court of Justice.
CAREER TIMELINE –
1948- Enrolled as an Advocate of the Allahabad High Court
1962- Appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court
1963- Appointed as a permanent Judge of Allahabad High Court
1972- Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court
1978- Judge of the Supreme Court of India
1986- Chief Justice of India
1989- Judge at International Court of Justice, Hague, Netherland.
LANDMARK JUDGEMENTS-
Deena Dayal vs Union Of India
The 3 Judge bench which consist of Y.V. Chandrachud , R.S. Pathak and Mukharji Sabyasachi heard this plea. The petitioner, who had been sentenced to death, pleaded that hanging by rope is a cruel and barbarous method of executing of the sentence and section 354(5) Cr. P.C. which prescribes that method is violative of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The Bench dismissed the petition replying that the method prescribed by Section 354(5), Cr.P.C. for executing the death sentence does not violate Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
CONTROVERSIES – N/A