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{{Infobox | {{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} | |||
{{Infobox Judge | |||
| honorific-prefix = | | honorific-prefix = | ||
| name = P. N. Bhagwati | | name = Prafullachandra Bhagwati | ||
| image = Justice P.N. Bhagwati.jpg | |||
| imagesize = | | imagesize = | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| order = 17th | | order = 17th | ||
| office = Chief Justice of India | | office = Chief Justice of India | ||
| Line 10: | Line 12: | ||
| termend = 20 December 1986 | | termend = 20 December 1986 | ||
| nominator = | | nominator = | ||
| appointer = Giani Zail Singh | | appointer = [[Giani Zail Singh]] | ||
| predecessor = [[Y. V. Chandrachud]] | | predecessor = [[Y. V. Chandrachud]] | ||
| successor = [[R. S. Pathak]] | | successor = [[R. S. Pathak]] | ||
| office2 = [[Gujarat High Court#Former Chief Justices|Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court]] | | office2 = [[Governor of Gujarat]] (acting) | ||
| | | term_start2 = 17 March 1973 | ||
| | | term_end2 = 4 April 1973 | ||
| | | predecessor2 = [[Shriman Narayan]] | ||
| | | successor2 = [[K. K. Viswanathan]] | ||
| office3 = [[Gujarat High Court#Former Chief Justices|Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court]] | |||
| term_start3 = 16 August 1967 | |||
| term_end3 = 17 July 1973 | |||
| predecessor3 = | |||
| successor3 = | |||
| office4 = [[Governor of Gujarat]] (acting) | |||
| term_start4 = 7 December 1967 | |||
| term_end4 = 26 December 1967 | |||
| predecessor4 = [[Nityanand Kanungo]] | |||
| successor4 = [[Shriman Narayan]] | |||
| birth_name = Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|12|21|df=y}} | | birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|12|21|df=y}} | ||
| birth_place =[[ | | birth_place = [[Ahmedabad]],<ref>[https://books.google.de/books?id=eoNmAAAAMAAJ&q=Bhagwati+1921+Ahmedabad&dq=Bhagwati+1921+Ahmedabad&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiT0N3Vg8jUAhVSPVAKHQmTAEMQ6AEINTAC Who's who in India 1986], Guide Publications, p. 57</ref> [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]] | ||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|6|15|1921|12|21|df=y}} | | death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|6|15|1921|12|21|df=y}} | ||
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], India | | death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]] | ||
| spouse = | | spouse = | ||
| alma_mater = [[Bombay University]], [[Government Law College, Bombay]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati''' (21 December 1921 – 15 June 2017) | '''Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati''' (21 December 1921 – 15 June 2017) was the 17th [[Chief Justice of India]], serving from 12 July 1985 until his retirement on 20 December 1986. He introduced the concepts of [[public interest litigation]] and [[absolute liability]] in India, and for this reason is held, along with Justice [[V. R. Krishna Iyer]], to be a pioneer of [[judicial activism]] in the country. | ||
Bhagwati | ==Early and personal life== | ||
P. N. Bhagwati was born in [[Gujarat]]. His father was Justice [[Natwarlal H. Bhagwati]], a Supreme Court judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/5_nhbhagwati.htm|title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice Natwarlal Harilal Bhagwati |work=Supreme Court of India |date=2014 |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> He was the brother of the economist [[Jagdish Bhagwati]] and the neurosurgeon S. N. Bhagwati.<ref name="age">{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/justice-p.n.-bhagwatis-appointment-as-chief-justice-of-india-widely-welcomed/1/354365.html |title=Age of activism |work=India Today |date=15 August 1985 |author=Sumit Mitra |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> He was married to Prabhavati (née Shethji) and the couple have three daughters, Parul, Pallavi, and Sonali.<ref name=sup/> Pallavi is currently the managing partner of leading Indian law firm [[ Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co]] and is married to [[Shardul S. Shroff]] | |||
== | Bhagwati received his education in Mumbai. He studied at [[Elphinstone College]], taking a Mathematics (Hons.) degree from [[Bombay University]] in 1941. In 1942, he courted arrest during the [[Indian Independence Movement]] and went underground for four months. He later received a law degree from [[Bombay University]] after studying at [[Government Law College, Bombay]].<ref name=sup>{{cite web |url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/pnbhagwati.htm |title=Judges Biography: P. N. Bhagwati |work=Supreme Court of India |access-date=16 June 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510210527/http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/pnbhagwati.htm |archive-date=10 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | ||
==Other | ==Career== | ||
* [http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/pnbhagwati.htm P. N. Bhagwati, Brief biography] at [[Supreme Court of India]] | Bhagwati began his career practicing at the [[Bombay High Court]].<ref name=sup/> In July 1960, he was appointed a judge of the [[Gujarat High Court]]. In September 1967, he was appointed the Chief Justice of that court. On two occasions, he acted temporarily as [[Governor of Gujarat]] (7 December 1967 to 25 December 1967 and 17 March 1973 to 3 April 1973<ref name=Gov>{{cite web|title= Information about the tenure of the Governors of Gujarat|url=http://www.rajbhavan.gujarat.gov.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=28|publisher=[[Raj Bhavan (Gujarat)]] (Govt. of Gujarat)|access-date=16 May 2012}}</ref> In July 1973, he was appointed a Judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]]. In August 1985, he became Chief Justice of India. | ||
As a supreme court judge, Bhagwati introduced the concepts of [[public interest litigation]] and [[absolute liability]] to the Indian judicial system. He is therefore held, along with Justice [[V. R. Krishna Iyer]], to have pioneered [[judicial activism]] in the country.<ref name="P.N. Bhagwati on the role of judicial activism">{{cite news | url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?200933 | title=P.N. Bhagwati on the role of judicial activism | date=6 Mar 1996 | access-date=25 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="Starting the PIL revolution">{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/starting-the-pil-revolution/571616/0 | title=Starting the PIL revolution | date=26 Jan 2010 | access-date=25 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
In 2007 Bhagwati was awarded the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in public affairs, India's second highest civilian award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954-2007)|url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs|access-date=7 December 2010}}</ref> | |||
== Judgements == | |||
===''Habeas corpus'' case controversy=== | |||
A controversial judgment of Bhagwati was in the ''[[ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla]]'' case (popularly referred to as the ''ADM Jabalpur case'' or the ''[[habeas corpus]]'' case) where he decreed that during [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] of 1975 to 1977, a person's right to not be unlawfully detained (i.e. ''habeas corpus'') can be suspended. This judgment received a lot of criticism since it reduced the importance attached to [[Fundamental rights in India|Fundamental Rights]] under the [[Indian Constitution]]. Going against the previous decision of High Courts, the bench which included Bhagwati concluded in favour of the [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|then Indira Gandhi government]] while only Justice [[Hans Raj Khanna]] was opposed to it. Bhagwati openly praised Indira Gandhi during the Emergency period, later criticized her when [[Premiership of Morarji Desai|Janata Party-led government]] was formed and again backed Gandhi when she got re-elected to form [[Third Indira Gandhi ministry|government in 1980]]. Bhagwati was criticized for these change of stands, favouring the ruling government, which were deemed as to have been taken to better his career prospects.<ref name="Sorry"/> Bhagwati later in 2011 agreed with popular opinion that this judgement was short-sighted and "apologised".<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Justice Bhagwati (2011)|url=http://mylaw.net/Article/The_darkest_hour_of_Indian_history/|work=Video on www.myLaw.net}}</ref><ref name="Sorry">{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/a-chief-justice-of-india-says-i-am-sorry-but-thirty-years-too-late-85799.html |title=A Chief Justice of India says "I am sorry" but 30 years too late |work=First Post |date= 16 September 2011 |first1=Shanmugham D |last1=Jayan |first2=Raghul |last2=Sudheesh |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> | |||
=== ''Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India'' === | |||
[[Maneka Gandhi]] was requested, through an official letter from the Regional Passport Officer, Delhi on 2 July 1977 to return her passport within seven days "in public interest" under section 10(3) of [[The Passports Act]] (1967). Gandhi, who had been issued Indian passport on 1 June 1976, in return asked the office to give statement of reason in accordance with section 10(5) to which the office replied that "in the interest of general public" the Government had decided to not furnish any such statement further. Under [[Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India#Right to Freedom|Article 21]] of the [[Indian Constitution]], which deals with Right to Freedom, Gandhi filed a writ petition in which Bhagwati and Justice [[V. R. Krishna Iyer]] ruled in favour of Gandhi.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CP03p-LiDCAC&pg=PA190 |page=190 |title= V.R. Krishna Iyer - A Living Legend |first1= Krishna |last1=Iyear |first2= Krishna |last2=Swamy |publisher= Universal Law Publishing |year= 2004 |isbn= 9788175341586 |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FSxmxVeWAcUC&pg=PA254 |page=254 |title= Censorship in India: Studies in Fundamentalism, Obscenity, and Law |author= Girja Kumar |publisher= Har Anand Publications |year= 2009 |isbn=9788124114148 |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> | |||
== Other activities == | |||
In 1982, Bhagwati was elected a fellow of the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]] while being affiliated with the [[Columbia University]].<ref name=AAAS>{{cite web|title=Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter B|url=http://www.amacad.org/publications/BookofMembers/ChapterB.pdf|publisher=American Academy of Arts and Sciences|access-date=25 June 2011}}</ref> He had been a member of the [[United Nations Human Rights Committee]] from 1995 to 2009, being re-elected after every two years on expiry of his term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/Membership/Membership1977_2014.pdf |title=United Nations Human Rights Committee Members (1977-2014) |format=PDF |work=United Nations Human Rights Committee |access-date=16 June 2017 |date=2014}}</ref> He was also chairman of the committee in 2001-03.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/Membership/MembersBureau1977_2014.pdf |title=United Nations Human Rights Committee Members of Bureau (1977-2014) |format=PDF |work=United Nations Human Rights Committee |access-date=16 June 2017 |date=2014}}</ref> {{As of|2006}}, he had also served as a member of the Committee of Experts of the [[International Labour Organization]] for over 27 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-justice-pn-bhagwati-re-elected-to-un-humanrights-committee-1052186 |title=Justice PN Bhagwati re-elected to UN human rights committee |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=10 September 2006 |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> He was appointed Chancellor of [[Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning]] on 6 May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press statement released by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam|url=http://media.radiosai.org/www/Special_Ann45.html|publisher=Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> | |||
== Death == | |||
Justice Bhagwati died on 15 June 2017 at the age of 95 after brief illness at his home in [[New Delhi]]. His funeral was held on 17 June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pn-bhagwati-former-chief-justice-of-india-dies-at-95-after-brief-illness/story-234YcRXDwFCCtIzVdHX6XM.html |title= PN Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India, dies at 95 after brief illness |work=Hindustan Times |date=15 June 2017 |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] condoled his death calling him "stalwart of India's legal fraternity".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-condoles-death-of-former-cji-p-n-bhagwati/articleshow/59173373.cms |title= PM Narendra Modi condoles death of former CJI P.N. Bhagwati |date=16 June 2017 |work=Economic Times |access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> | |||
== References == | |||
{{Reflist|30em}} | |||
==External links== | |||
{{wikiquote}} | |||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120510210527/http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/pnbhagwati.htm P. N. Bhagwati, Brief biography] at [[Supreme Court of India]] | |||
{{Chief Justices of India}} | |||
{{Governor of Gujarat}} | |||
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhagwati, P. N.}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Bhagwati, P. N.}} | ||
[[Category:1921 births]] | [[Category:1921 births]] | ||
[[Category:2017 deaths]] | [[Category:2017 deaths]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:20th-century Indian judges]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]] | ||
[[Category:Chief Justices of India]] | [[Category:Chief Justices of India]] | ||
[[Category:Elphinstone College alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences]] | |||
[[Category:Governors of Gujarat]] | |||
[[Category:Judges of the Gujarat High Court]] | |||
[[Category:People from Gujarat]] | |||
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs]] | |||
[[Category:United Nations Human Rights Committee members]] | |||
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Indian officials of the United Nations]] | |||
Revision as of 00:18, 28 January 2021
Prafullachandra Bhagwati | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 17th Chief Justice of India | |
| In office 12 July 1985 – 20 December 1986 | |
| Appointed by | Giani Zail Singh |
| Preceded by | Y. V. Chandrachud |
| Succeeded by | R. S. Pathak |
| Governor of Gujarat (acting) | |
| In office 17 March 1973 – 4 April 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Shriman Narayan |
| Succeeded by | K. K. Viswanathan |
| Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court | |
| In office 16 August 1967 – 17 July 1973 | |
| Governor of Gujarat (acting) | |
| In office 7 December 1967 – 26 December 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Nityanand Kanungo |
| Succeeded by | Shriman Narayan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati 21 December 1921 Ahmedabad,[1] Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Died | 15 June 2017 (aged 95) New Delhi, India |
| Alma mater | Bombay University, Government Law College, Bombay |
Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (21 December 1921 – 15 June 2017) was the 17th Chief Justice of India, serving from 12 July 1985 until his retirement on 20 December 1986. He introduced the concepts of public interest litigation and absolute liability in India, and for this reason is held, along with Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, to be a pioneer of judicial activism in the country.
Early and personal life
P. N. Bhagwati was born in Gujarat. His father was Justice Natwarlal H. Bhagwati, a Supreme Court judge.[2] He was the brother of the economist Jagdish Bhagwati and the neurosurgeon S. N. Bhagwati.[3] He was married to Prabhavati (née Shethji) and the couple have three daughters, Parul, Pallavi, and Sonali.[4] Pallavi is currently the managing partner of leading Indian law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co and is married to Shardul S. Shroff
Bhagwati received his education in Mumbai. He studied at Elphinstone College, taking a Mathematics (Hons.) degree from Bombay University in 1941. In 1942, he courted arrest during the Indian Independence Movement and went underground for four months. He later received a law degree from Bombay University after studying at Government Law College, Bombay.[4]
Career
Bhagwati began his career practicing at the Bombay High Court.[4] In July 1960, he was appointed a judge of the Gujarat High Court. In September 1967, he was appointed the Chief Justice of that court. On two occasions, he acted temporarily as Governor of Gujarat (7 December 1967 to 25 December 1967 and 17 March 1973 to 3 April 1973[5] In July 1973, he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. In August 1985, he became Chief Justice of India.
As a supreme court judge, Bhagwati introduced the concepts of public interest litigation and absolute liability to the Indian judicial system. He is therefore held, along with Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, to have pioneered judicial activism in the country.[6][7]
In 2007 Bhagwati was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs, India's second highest civilian award.[8]
Judgements
Habeas corpus case controversy
A controversial judgment of Bhagwati was in the ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla case (popularly referred to as the ADM Jabalpur case or the habeas corpus case) where he decreed that during the Emergency of 1975 to 1977, a person's right to not be unlawfully detained (i.e. habeas corpus) can be suspended. This judgment received a lot of criticism since it reduced the importance attached to Fundamental Rights under the Indian Constitution. Going against the previous decision of High Courts, the bench which included Bhagwati concluded in favour of the then Indira Gandhi government while only Justice Hans Raj Khanna was opposed to it. Bhagwati openly praised Indira Gandhi during the Emergency period, later criticized her when Janata Party-led government was formed and again backed Gandhi when she got re-elected to form government in 1980. Bhagwati was criticized for these change of stands, favouring the ruling government, which were deemed as to have been taken to better his career prospects.[9] Bhagwati later in 2011 agreed with popular opinion that this judgement was short-sighted and "apologised".[10][9]
Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India
Maneka Gandhi was requested, through an official letter from the Regional Passport Officer, Delhi on 2 July 1977 to return her passport within seven days "in public interest" under section 10(3) of The Passports Act (1967). Gandhi, who had been issued Indian passport on 1 June 1976, in return asked the office to give statement of reason in accordance with section 10(5) to which the office replied that "in the interest of general public" the Government had decided to not furnish any such statement further. Under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which deals with Right to Freedom, Gandhi filed a writ petition in which Bhagwati and Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer ruled in favour of Gandhi.[11][12]
Other activities
In 1982, Bhagwati was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences while being affiliated with the Columbia University.[13] He had been a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee from 1995 to 2009, being re-elected after every two years on expiry of his term.[14] He was also chairman of the committee in 2001-03.[15] As of 2006[update], he had also served as a member of the Committee of Experts of the International Labour Organization for over 27 years.[16] He was appointed Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning on 6 May 2011.[17]
Death
Justice Bhagwati died on 15 June 2017 at the age of 95 after brief illness at his home in New Delhi. His funeral was held on 17 June.[18] Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death calling him "stalwart of India's legal fraternity".[19]
References
- ↑ Who's who in India 1986, Guide Publications, p. 57
- ↑ "Hon'ble Mr. Justice Natwarlal Harilal Bhagwati". Supreme Court of India. 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ Sumit Mitra (15 August 1985). "Age of activism". India Today. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Judges Biography: P. N. Bhagwati". Supreme Court of India. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "Information about the tenure of the Governors of Gujarat". Raj Bhavan (Gujarat) (Govt. of Gujarat). Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ "P.N. Bhagwati on the role of judicial activism". 6 March 1996. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ↑ "Starting the PIL revolution". 26 January 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ↑ "Padma Awards Directory (1954-2007)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jayan, Shanmugham D; Sudheesh, Raghul (16 September 2011). "A Chief Justice of India says "I am sorry" but 30 years too late". First Post. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "Interview with Justice Bhagwati (2011)". Video on www.myLaw.net.
- ↑ Iyear, Krishna; Swamy, Krishna (2004). V.R. Krishna Iyer - A Living Legend. Universal Law Publishing. p. 190. ISBN 9788175341586. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ Girja Kumar (2009). Censorship in India: Studies in Fundamentalism, Obscenity, and Law. Har Anand Publications. p. 254. ISBN 9788124114148. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter B" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ↑ "United Nations Human Rights Committee Members (1977-2014)" (PDF). United Nations Human Rights Committee. 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "United Nations Human Rights Committee Members of Bureau (1977-2014)" (PDF). United Nations Human Rights Committee. 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "Justice PN Bhagwati re-elected to UN human rights committee". Daily News and Analysis. 10 September 2006. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "Press statement released by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam". Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "PN Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India, dies at 95 after brief illness". Hindustan Times. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "PM Narendra Modi condoles death of former CJI P.N. Bhagwati". Economic Times. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
