Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati
Encyclopedia
Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati shortly P. N. Bhagwati (born December 21, 1921) was the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of India
from 12-July-1985 until his retirement on December 20, 1986. He was awarded India's second highest civilian honour Padma Vibhushan
in 2007. He is the oldest List of Chief Justices in India
.
in July 1960. In September 1967 he was appointed as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court
.
In July 1973, he was appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of India and he became Chief Justice of India in August 1985. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 2001.
He introduced Public Interest Litigation
in Indian Judicial system.
He has a list of remarkable and out of the way judgements one can experience in his lifetime. He is the one to give civil justice and introduce absolute liability in India. He with Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer introduced Judicial Activism in the country and made the Supreme Court available to the common man.
He has been sympathetic to the People's Union for Democratic Rights in court cases.
He was appointed the Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be University) by the Board of Trustees of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Public Charitable Trust) on May 6, 2011.http://media.radiosai.org/www/Special_Ann45.html Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba had been the Chancellor of the Institute since its inception on November 22, 1981, until His departure on April 24, 2011.
He has most recently been in news for his judgment on the ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla case (popularly referred to as ADM Jabalpur) where he decreed that during Emergency, a person's right to not be unlawfully detained (Habeas Corpus ) can be suspended. This judgment gained a lot of criticism since it reduces the importance attached to Fundamental Rights under the Indian Constitution. Justice P.N. Bhagwati later agreed with the popular opinion that this judgement was short-sighted and "apologised" for the same.
Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
of the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
from 12-July-1985 until his retirement on December 20, 1986. He was awarded India's second highest civilian honour Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
in 2007. He is the oldest List of Chief Justices in India
Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
.
Career
He became Judge of Gujarat High CourtGujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...
in July 1960. In September 1967 he was appointed as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court
Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...
.
In July 1973, he was appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of India and he became Chief Justice of India in August 1985. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 2001.
He introduced Public Interest Litigation
Public interest litigation
In Indian law, Public Interest Litigation OR जनहित याचिका means litigation for the protection of the public interest. It is litigation introduced in a court of law, not by the aggrieved party but by the court itself or by any other private party...
in Indian Judicial system.
He has a list of remarkable and out of the way judgements one can experience in his lifetime. He is the one to give civil justice and introduce absolute liability in India. He with Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer introduced Judicial Activism in the country and made the Supreme Court available to the common man.
He has been sympathetic to the People's Union for Democratic Rights in court cases.
He was appointed the Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be University) by the Board of Trustees of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Public Charitable Trust) on May 6, 2011.http://media.radiosai.org/www/Special_Ann45.html Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba had been the Chancellor of the Institute since its inception on November 22, 1981, until His departure on April 24, 2011.
He has most recently been in news for his judgment on the ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla case (popularly referred to as ADM Jabalpur) where he decreed that during Emergency, a person's right to not be unlawfully detained (Habeas Corpus ) can be suspended. This judgment gained a lot of criticism since it reduces the importance attached to Fundamental Rights under the Indian Constitution. Justice P.N. Bhagwati later agreed with the popular opinion that this judgement was short-sighted and "apologised" for the same.