Sabyasachi Mukharji - Revision history

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	'''Sabyasachi Mukharji''' (1 June 1927 – 25 September 1990) was an ~~[[India]]n~~ jurist, who was the twentieth [[Chief Justice of India]].<ref name="SC-CJ-list">{{Cite web \|title=Retired Hon'ble Chief Justices (Arranged According to Seniority) \|publisher=Supreme Court of India \|url=http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/list_retired_chief_justices.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113152854/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/list_retired_chief_justices.htm \|archive-date=13 November 2014 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy-all }}</ref> He also previously served as the acting Chief Justice of the [[Calcutta High Court]].		'''Sabyasachi Mukharji''' (1 June 1927 – 25 September 1990) was an Indian jurist, who was the twentieth [[Chief Justice of India]].<ref name="SC-CJ-list">{{Cite web \|title=Retired Hon'ble Chief Justices (Arranged According to Seniority) \|publisher=Supreme Court of India \|url=http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/list_retired_chief_justices.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113152854/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/list_retired_chief_justices.htm \|archive-date=13 November 2014 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy-all }}</ref> He also previously served as the acting Chief Justice of the [[Calcutta High Court]].

	==Family Background==		==Family Background==
	Sabyasachi Mukharji was born in Calcutta, the third son of Rai Bahadur Bejoy Bihari Mukharji, first Indian Director General of Land Records, Bengal Presidency. His elder brothers were Justice [[Prasanta Bihari Mukharji]], Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and the eminent cardiologist, Dr. Aurobindo Bihari Mukharji.<ref name="Misra">{{Cite journal \|author=Misra, Ranganath \|year=1990 \|title=Full Court Reference on the passing away of the Hon'ble Mr Justice Sabyasachi Mukharji, Chief Justice of India on October 1, 1990 \|journal=Supreme Court Cases \|volume=4 \|pages=1–8 \|url=http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/90v4a1.htm \|archive-url=https://~~www~~.~~webcitation~~.org/~~6bkM3MPTW?url=~~http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/90v4a1.htm \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live \|display-authors=etal \|df=dmy-all }}</ref>		Sabyasachi Mukharji was born in Calcutta, the third son of Rai Bahadur Bejoy Bihari Mukharji, first Indian Director General of Land Records, Bengal Presidency. His elder brothers were Justice [[Prasanta Bihari Mukharji]], Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and the eminent cardiologist, Dr. Aurobindo Bihari Mukharji.<ref name="Misra">{{Cite journal \|author=Misra, Ranganath \|year=1990 \|title=Full Court Reference on the passing away of the Hon'ble Mr Justice Sabyasachi Mukharji, Chief Justice of India on October 1, 1990 \|journal=Supreme Court Cases \|volume=4 \|pages=1–8 \|url=http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/90v4a1.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232737/http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/90v4a1.htm \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live \|display-authors=etal \|df=dmy-all }}</ref>

	==Education==		==Education==
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	==Career==		==Career==
	He began his legal career in 1949 as an advocate at the [[Calcutta High Court]] where he did primarily civil, revenue and constitutional cases.<ref name="SC-bio" /> Under the first [[Administrative Reforms Commission]] (ARC), he served on the Study Team on Administrative Tribunals.<ref name="SC-bio" /> In July 1968, he was appointed as a judge on the Calcutta High Court.<ref name="Misra" /> Starting in June 1982 he worked as a member on the 8th Finance Commission.<ref name="Misra" /><ref name="SC-bio" /><ref>{{Cite web\|title=Report of the eighth finance commission: Chapter 1 \|year=1984 \|publisher=Finance Commission, Government of India \|url=http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/oldcommission_html/fcreport/Report_of_the_eighth_finance_commission_1984/introduction%20ch-1.pdf \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923052311/http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/oldcommission_html/fcreport/Report_of_the_eighth_finance_commission_1984/introduction%20ch-1.pdf \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> While on the court Mukharji made a ruling on an election rolls issue that delayed an election. The Election Commission sought superintending control from the Supreme Court which ordered him to hear the case immediately and issue his ruling within five days. While complying with the order he made it quite clear that timing and such issues were within the discretion of the sitting judge and not subject to superintending control. He confirmed his earlier order.<ref>{{Cite book \|editor=Mookerjee, Chittatosh \|year=2012 \|title=The High Court at Calcutta, 150 Years : An Overview \|location=Kolkata, India \|publisher=The Indian Law Institute \|pages=126–127 \|url=http://iliwbsu.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-High-Court-at-Calcutta.pdf \|archive-url=https://~~www~~.~~webcitation~~.org/~~6bkbiZOfs?url=~~http://iliwbsu.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-High-Court-at-Calcutta.pdf \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live \|display-editors=etal \|df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 1 March 1983, he became acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.<ref name="Misra" /><ref name="SC-bio" />		He began his legal career in 1949 as an advocate at the [[Calcutta High Court]] where he did primarily civil, revenue and constitutional cases.<ref name="SC-bio" /> Under the first [[Administrative Reforms Commission]] (ARC), he served on the Study Team on Administrative Tribunals.<ref name="SC-bio" /> In July 1968, he was appointed as a judge on the Calcutta High Court.<ref name="Misra" /> Starting in June 1982 he worked as a member on the 8th Finance Commission.<ref name="Misra" /><ref name="SC-bio" /><ref>{{Cite web\|title=Report of the eighth finance commission: Chapter 1 \|year=1984 \|publisher=Finance Commission, Government of India \|url=http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/oldcommission_html/fcreport/Report_of_the_eighth_finance_commission_1984/introduction%20ch-1.pdf \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923052311/http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/oldcommission_html/fcreport/Report_of_the_eighth_finance_commission_1984/introduction%20ch-1.pdf \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> While on the court Mukharji made a ruling on an election rolls issue that delayed an election. The Election Commission sought superintending control from the Supreme Court which ordered him to hear the case immediately and issue his ruling within five days. While complying with the order he made it quite clear that timing and such issues were within the discretion of the sitting judge and not subject to superintending control. He confirmed his earlier order.<ref>{{Cite book \|editor=Mookerjee, Chittatosh \|year=2012 \|title=The High Court at Calcutta, 150 Years : An Overview \|location=Kolkata, India \|publisher=The Indian Law Institute \|pages=126–127 \|url=http://iliwbsu.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-High-Court-at-Calcutta.pdf \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923171721/http://iliwbsu.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-High-Court-at-Calcutta.pdf \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live \|display-editors=etal \|df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 1 March 1983, he became acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.<ref name="Misra" /><ref name="SC-bio" />

	On 15 March 1983, Mukharji was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, and he became Chief Justice of India on 18 December 1989.<ref name="SC-bio" /> In March 1989, Mukharji became involved with the [[Bhopal disaster\|Bhopal gas incident]] when he was appointed to head the Supreme Court's panel to examine the vadility of the "Bhopal Gas Leak Act" ("Bhopal Settlement Act").<ref>{{Cite news\|author=Singh, Ramindar \|date=31 March 1989 \|title=Rough recoil \|newspaper=India Today \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/supreme-court-justice-venkataramiah-wants-to-dissociate-himself-from-union-carbide-judgement/1/323284.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923041015/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/supreme-court-justice-venkataramiah-wants-to-dissociate-himself-from-union-carbide-judgement/1/323284.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> He issued his initial opinion just five days after becoming Chief Justice,<ref>{{Cite news\|author1=Devadas, David \|author2=Singh, N. K. \|name-list-style=amp \|date=15 February 1990 \|title=Bhopal gas disaster: Unsettling the verdict \|newspaper=India Today \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/new-government-promises-better-deal-for-bhopal-gas-victims/1/314872.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923041012/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/new-government-promises-better-deal-for-bhopal-gas-victims/1/314872.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> but did not live to see the court's final disposition of the matter.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=January 2001 \|title=Bhopal Chronology \|publisher=Bhopal.com Information Center \|location=Houston, Texas \|url=http://www.bhopal.com/chrono.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010924010814/http://www.bhopal.com/chrono.htm \|archive-date=24 September 2001 \|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also during his term in the summer of 1990 that corruption charges surfaced against judges on the [[Bombay High Court]], which caused a "crisis of credibility" in the judiciary for the whole country.<ref name="Chengappa-1">{{Cite news\|author=Chengappa, Raj \|date=15 July 1990 \|title='I feel sorry and very perturbed' \|newspaper=[[India Today]] \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/there-are-no-set-rules-for-hearing-appeals-cji-sabyasachi-mukharji/1/316205.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923033542/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/there-are-no-set-rules-for-hearing-appeals-cji-sabyasachi-mukharji/1/316205.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chengappa-2">{{Cite news\|author1=Chengappa, Raj \|author2=Rahman, M. \|name-list-style=amp \|date=15 July 1990 \|title=Crisis of credibility \|newspaper=[[India Today]] \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/scandals-involving-judges-rock-bombay-high-court-shock-waves-felt-across-india-judiciary/1/315329.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923033602/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/scandals-involving-judges-rock-bombay-high-court-shock-waves-felt-across-india-judiciary/1/315329.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Charges of corruption, nepotism, casteism and politicisation of appointments for most of the high courts began to make the news.<ref name="Chengappa-2" /> Mukharji worked to keep the judiciary independent and worked to solve the problems.<ref name="Chengappa-1" /><ref>{{Cite news\|author=Nariman, Fali S. \|date=20 January 2003 \|title=Wanted: A bench code \|newspaper=[[India Today]] \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/independence-of-higher-judiciary-is-best-safeguarded-by-judges-themselves-fali-s.-nariman/1/207144.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923034511/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/independence-of-higher-judiciary-is-best-safeguarded-by-judges-themselves-fali-s.-nariman/1/207144.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Justice Mukharji has received criticism for his handling of the V. Ramaswami case, where his appointment of a committee did not result in corrective action, although Parliament was almost unable to resolve that case.<ref>{{Cite news\|author=Dhavan, Rajeev \|date=5 December 2011 \|title=Judges must look within \|newspaper=India Today \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/judges-must-look-within/1/162792.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207112250/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/judges-must-look-within/1/162792.html \|archive-date=7 December 2011 \|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|author=Bhushan, Prashant \|date=4 June 1993 \|title=''Frontline'': A historic non-impeachment, An all-round system failure \|publisher=Campaign for Judicial Accountability & Judicial Reforms (CJAR) \|url=http://bharatiyas.in/cjarold/files/cover_story_ramaswami.pdf \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209164542/http://bharatiyas.in/cjarold/files/cover_story_ramaswami.pdf \|archive-date=9 December 2014 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Regarding the conduct of judges, Mukharji said: ''The Judges either of the Supreme Court or the High Courts and the Chief Justice are subject to the rule of law like any other citizen of this country and must abide by the norms and regulations prescribed in as much as these and to the extent are applicable to them. I always thought this was clear and need no reiteration. We must therefore, ensure that there is no conduct of the Judges which affects the faith of the people that Judges do not live according to law."<ref>Quoted by Somanath Chatterjee in parliamentary debate. {{Cite web\|title=Motion for Presenting an Address to the President under Clause (4) of Article 124 of the Constitution for Removal from Office of Justice V. Ramaswami of the Supreme Court of India for His Acts of Misbehavior \|date=10 May 1993 \|publisher=Parliament of India \|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls10/ses6/1810059303.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221074359/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls10/ses6/1810059303.htm \|archive-date=21 February 2009 \|url-status=live}}</ref>		On 15 March 1983, Mukharji was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, and he became Chief Justice of India on 18 December 1989.<ref name="SC-bio" /> In March 1989, Mukharji became involved with the [[Bhopal disaster\|Bhopal gas incident]] when he was appointed to head the Supreme Court's panel to examine the vadility of the "Bhopal Gas Leak Act" ("Bhopal Settlement Act").<ref>{{Cite news\|author=Singh, Ramindar \|date=31 March 1989 \|title=Rough recoil \|newspaper=India Today \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/supreme-court-justice-venkataramiah-wants-to-dissociate-himself-from-union-carbide-judgement/1/323284.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923041015/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/supreme-court-justice-venkataramiah-wants-to-dissociate-himself-from-union-carbide-judgement/1/323284.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> He issued his initial opinion just five days after becoming Chief Justice,<ref>{{Cite news\|author1=Devadas, David \|author2=Singh, N. K. \|name-list-style=amp \|date=15 February 1990 \|title=Bhopal gas disaster: Unsettling the verdict \|newspaper=India Today \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/new-government-promises-better-deal-for-bhopal-gas-victims/1/314872.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923041012/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/new-government-promises-better-deal-for-bhopal-gas-victims/1/314872.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> but did not live to see the court's final disposition of the matter.<ref>{{Cite web\|date=January 2001 \|title=Bhopal Chronology \|publisher=Bhopal.com Information Center \|location=Houston, Texas \|url=http://www.bhopal.com/chrono.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010924010814/http://www.bhopal.com/chrono.htm \|archive-date=24 September 2001 \|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also during his term in the summer of 1990 that corruption charges surfaced against judges on the [[Bombay High Court]], which caused a "crisis of credibility" in the judiciary for the whole country.<ref name="Chengappa-1">{{Cite news\|author=Chengappa, Raj \|date=15 July 1990 \|title='I feel sorry and very perturbed' \|newspaper=[[India Today]] \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/there-are-no-set-rules-for-hearing-appeals-cji-sabyasachi-mukharji/1/316205.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923033542/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/there-are-no-set-rules-for-hearing-appeals-cji-sabyasachi-mukharji/1/316205.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chengappa-2">{{Cite news\|author1=Chengappa, Raj \|author2=Rahman, M. \|name-list-style=amp \|date=15 July 1990 \|title=Crisis of credibility \|newspaper=[[India Today]] \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/scandals-involving-judges-rock-bombay-high-court-shock-waves-felt-across-india-judiciary/1/315329.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923033602/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/scandals-involving-judges-rock-bombay-high-court-shock-waves-felt-across-india-judiciary/1/315329.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Charges of corruption, nepotism, casteism and politicisation of appointments for most of the high courts began to make the news.<ref name="Chengappa-2" /> Mukharji worked to keep the judiciary independent and worked to solve the problems.<ref name="Chengappa-1" /><ref>{{Cite news\|author=Nariman, Fali S. \|date=20 January 2003 \|title=Wanted: A bench code \|newspaper=[[India Today]] \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/independence-of-higher-judiciary-is-best-safeguarded-by-judges-themselves-fali-s.-nariman/1/207144.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923034511/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/independence-of-higher-judiciary-is-best-safeguarded-by-judges-themselves-fali-s.-nariman/1/207144.html \|archive-date=23 September 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Justice Mukharji has received criticism for his handling of the V. Ramaswami case, where his appointment of a committee did not result in corrective action, although Parliament was almost unable to resolve that case.<ref>{{Cite news\|author=Dhavan, Rajeev \|date=5 December 2011 \|title=Judges must look within \|newspaper=India Today \|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/judges-must-look-within/1/162792.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207112250/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/judges-must-look-within/1/162792.html \|archive-date=7 December 2011 \|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|author=Bhushan, Prashant \|date=4 June 1993 \|title=''Frontline'': A historic non-impeachment, An all-round system failure \|publisher=Campaign for Judicial Accountability & Judicial Reforms (CJAR) \|url=http://bharatiyas.in/cjarold/files/cover_story_ramaswami.pdf \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209164542/http://bharatiyas.in/cjarold/files/cover_story_ramaswami.pdf \|archive-date=9 December 2014 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Regarding the conduct of judges, Mukharji said: ''The Judges either of the Supreme Court or the High Courts and the Chief Justice are subject to the rule of law like any other citizen of this country and must abide by the norms and regulations prescribed in as much as these and to the extent are applicable to them. I always thought this was clear and need no reiteration. We must therefore, ensure that there is no conduct of the Judges which affects the faith of the people that Judges do not live according to law."<ref>Quoted by Somanath Chatterjee in parliamentary debate. {{Cite web\|title=Motion for Presenting an Address to the President under Clause (4) of Article 124 of the Constitution for Removal from Office of Justice V. Ramaswami of the Supreme Court of India for His Acts of Misbehavior \|date=10 May 1993 \|publisher=Parliament of India \|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls10/ses6/1810059303.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221074359/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls10/ses6/1810059303.htm \|archive-date=21 February 2009 \|url-status=live}}</ref>

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{{short description|20th Chief Justice of India (1927–1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Sabyasachi Mukharji
| image = Justice Sabyasachi Mukherjee.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| order = 20th
| office = Chief Justice of India
| term_start = 18 December 1989
| term_end = 25 September 1990
| nominator = Collegium of judges headed by [[Chief Justice of India|CJI]] [[E. S. Venkataramiah]]
| appointer = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]]
| predecessor = [[Engalaguppe Seetharamiah Venkataramiah|E. S. Venkataramiah]]
| successor = [[Ranganath Misra]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|6|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Calcutta
| death_date = {{death date and age|1990|09|25|1927|06|01|df=y}}
| death_place = London<ref name="De-Sarkar" />
}}

'''Sabyasachi Mukharji''' (1 June 1927 – 25 September 1990) was an [[India]]n jurist, who was the twentieth [[Chief Justice of India]].<ref name="SC-CJ-list">{{Cite web |title=Retired Hon'ble Chief Justices (Arranged According to Seniority) |publisher=Supreme Court of India |url=http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/list_retired_chief_justices.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113152854/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/list_retired_chief_justices.htm |archive-date=13 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He also previously served as the acting Chief Justice of the [[Calcutta High Court]].

==Family Background==
Sabyasachi Mukharji was born in Calcutta, the third son of Rai Bahadur Bejoy Bihari Mukharji, first Indian Director General of Land Records, Bengal Presidency. His elder brothers were Justice [[Prasanta Bihari Mukharji]], Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and the eminent cardiologist, Dr. Aurobindo Bihari Mukharji.<ref name="Misra">{{Cite journal |author=Misra, Ranganath |year=1990 |title=Full Court Reference on the passing away of the Hon'ble Mr Justice Sabyasachi Mukharji, Chief Justice of India on October 1, 1990 |journal=Supreme Court Cases |volume=4 |pages=1–8 |url=http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/90v4a1.htm |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6bkM3MPTW?url=http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/90v4a1.htm |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live |display-authors=etal |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Education==
He received his secondary education at the Mitra Institution, [[Bhowanipore]], [[Calcutta]]; then a degree from [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]], Calcutta, followed by a degree in Economics with honours from [[Calcutta University]] in 1946.<ref name="Misra" /><ref name="SC-bio">{{Cite web |title=Former Hon'ble Chief Justices' of India: Hon'ble Mr. Justice S. Mukharji |publisher=Supreme Court of India |url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/rcji/20smukherjee.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130071336/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/rcji/20smukherjee.htm |archive-date=30 November 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He was called to the bar by the Society of the Middle Temple.<ref name="Misra" />

During his student years he was also involved in student politics. In 1945 he was elected General Secretary of the Presidency College Student Union.<ref name="Misra" /> Later, while studying for the bar in London he was elected General Secretary of the Indian Socialist Group in 1948-49 as well as becoming a member of the Committee of the Inns of Court Student Union representing the Middle Temple.<ref name="Misra" />

==Career==
He began his legal career in 1949 as an advocate at the [[Calcutta High Court]] where he did primarily civil, revenue and constitutional cases.<ref name="SC-bio" /> Under the first [[Administrative Reforms Commission]] (ARC), he served on the Study Team on Administrative Tribunals.<ref name="SC-bio" /> In July 1968, he was appointed as a judge on the Calcutta High Court.<ref name="Misra" /> Starting in June 1982 he worked as a member on the 8th Finance Commission.<ref name="Misra" /><ref name="SC-bio" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Report of the eighth finance commission: Chapter 1 |year=1984 |publisher=Finance Commission, Government of India |url=http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/oldcommission_html/fcreport/Report_of_the_eighth_finance_commission_1984/introduction%20ch-1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923052311/http://fincomindia.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/oldcommission_html/fcreport/Report_of_the_eighth_finance_commission_1984/introduction%20ch-1.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> While on the court Mukharji made a ruling on an election rolls issue that delayed an election. The Election Commission sought superintending control from the Supreme Court which ordered him to hear the case immediately and issue his ruling within five days. While complying with the order he made it quite clear that timing and such issues were within the discretion of the sitting judge and not subject to superintending control. He confirmed his earlier order.<ref>{{Cite book |editor=Mookerjee, Chittatosh |year=2012 |title=The High Court at Calcutta, 150 Years : An Overview |location=Kolkata, India |publisher=The Indian Law Institute |pages=126–127 |url=http://iliwbsu.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-High-Court-at-Calcutta.pdf |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6bkbiZOfs?url=http://iliwbsu.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The-High-Court-at-Calcutta.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live |display-editors=etal |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 1 March 1983, he became acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.<ref name="Misra" /><ref name="SC-bio" />

On 15 March 1983, Mukharji was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, and he became Chief Justice of India on 18 December 1989.<ref name="SC-bio" /> In March 1989, Mukharji became involved with the [[Bhopal disaster|Bhopal gas incident]] when he was appointed to head the Supreme Court's panel to examine the vadility of the "Bhopal Gas Leak Act" ("Bhopal Settlement Act").<ref>{{Cite news|author=Singh, Ramindar |date=31 March 1989 |title=Rough recoil |newspaper=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/supreme-court-justice-venkataramiah-wants-to-dissociate-himself-from-union-carbide-judgement/1/323284.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923041015/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/supreme-court-justice-venkataramiah-wants-to-dissociate-himself-from-union-carbide-judgement/1/323284.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> He issued his initial opinion just five days after becoming Chief Justice,<ref>{{Cite news|author1=Devadas, David |author2=Singh, N. K. |name-list-style=amp |date=15 February 1990 |title=Bhopal gas disaster: Unsettling the verdict |newspaper=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/new-government-promises-better-deal-for-bhopal-gas-victims/1/314872.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923041012/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/new-government-promises-better-deal-for-bhopal-gas-victims/1/314872.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> but did not live to see the court's final disposition of the matter.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 2001 |title=Bhopal Chronology |publisher=Bhopal.com Information Center |location=Houston, Texas |url=http://www.bhopal.com/chrono.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010924010814/http://www.bhopal.com/chrono.htm |archive-date=24 September 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also during his term in the summer of 1990 that corruption charges surfaced against judges on the [[Bombay High Court]], which caused a "crisis of credibility" in the judiciary for the whole country.<ref name="Chengappa-1">{{Cite news|author=Chengappa, Raj |date=15 July 1990 |title='I feel sorry and very perturbed' |newspaper=[[India Today]] |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/there-are-no-set-rules-for-hearing-appeals-cji-sabyasachi-mukharji/1/316205.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923033542/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/there-are-no-set-rules-for-hearing-appeals-cji-sabyasachi-mukharji/1/316205.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chengappa-2">{{Cite news|author1=Chengappa, Raj |author2=Rahman, M. |name-list-style=amp |date=15 July 1990 |title=Crisis of credibility |newspaper=[[India Today]] |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/scandals-involving-judges-rock-bombay-high-court-shock-waves-felt-across-india-judiciary/1/315329.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923033602/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/scandals-involving-judges-rock-bombay-high-court-shock-waves-felt-across-india-judiciary/1/315329.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Charges of corruption, nepotism, casteism and politicisation of appointments for most of the high courts began to make the news.<ref name="Chengappa-2" /> Mukharji worked to keep the judiciary independent and worked to solve the problems.<ref name="Chengappa-1" /><ref>{{Cite news|author=Nariman, Fali S. |date=20 January 2003 |title=Wanted: A bench code |newspaper=[[India Today]] |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/independence-of-higher-judiciary-is-best-safeguarded-by-judges-themselves-fali-s.-nariman/1/207144.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923034511/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/money/story/independence-of-higher-judiciary-is-best-safeguarded-by-judges-themselves-fali-s.-nariman/1/207144.html |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Justice Mukharji has received criticism for his handling of the V. Ramaswami case, where his appointment of a committee did not result in corrective action, although Parliament was almost unable to resolve that case.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Dhavan, Rajeev |date=5 December 2011 |title=Judges must look within |newspaper=India Today |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/judges-must-look-within/1/162792.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207112250/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/judges-must-look-within/1/162792.html |archive-date=7 December 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Bhushan, Prashant |date=4 June 1993 |title=''Frontline'': A historic non-impeachment, An all-round system failure |publisher=Campaign for Judicial Accountability & Judicial Reforms (CJAR) |url=http://bharatiyas.in/cjarold/files/cover_story_ramaswami.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209164542/http://bharatiyas.in/cjarold/files/cover_story_ramaswami.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Regarding the conduct of judges, Mukharji said: ''The Judges either of the Supreme Court or the High Courts and the Chief Justice are subject to the rule of law like any other citizen of this country and must abide by the norms and regulations prescribed in as much as these and to the extent are applicable to them. I always thought this was clear and need no reiteration. We must therefore, ensure that there is no conduct of the Judges which affects the faith of the people that Judges do not live according to law."<ref>Quoted by Somanath Chatterjee in parliamentary debate. {{Cite web|title=Motion for Presenting an Address to the President under Clause (4) of Article 124 of the Constitution for Removal from Office of Justice V. Ramaswami of the Supreme Court of India for His Acts of Misbehavior |date=10 May 1993 |publisher=Parliament of India |url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls10/ses6/1810059303.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221074359/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/lsdeb/ls10/ses6/1810059303.htm |archive-date=21 February 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Mukharji died of a heart attack complicated by diabetes on 25 September 1990 in London, having just arrived from a lecture tour of the United States.<ref name="De-Sarkar">{{Cite news|author=De Sarkar, Dipankar |date=October 1990 |title=Diplomatic dispute |newspaper=[[India Today]] |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-high-commission-dragged-into-unseemly-row-in-uk/1/315733.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022170748/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-high-commission-dragged-into-unseemly-row-in-uk/1/315733.html |archive-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was the second Chief Justice to die in office, the first have been Chief Justice [[H. J. Kania]].<ref name="SC-CJ-list" />

==References==
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{{succession box | before = [[Engalaguppe Seetharamiah Venkataramiah]] | title = [[Chief Justice of India]] | years =December 18, 1989– September 25, 1990| after =[[Ranganath Misra]]}}
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{{Chief Justices of India}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mukharji, Sabyasachi}}
[[Category:Chief Justices of India]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian judges]]