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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox Judge
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = M. Patanjali Sastri
| name                = Mandalokathur Patanjali Sastri
| image              = Justice M. Patanjali Sastri.jpg
| image              = Justice M. Patanjali Sastri.jpg
| imagesize          = 200px
| imagesize          = 200px
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| order              = [[List of chief justices of India|2nd]]
| office              = Member of [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Council|Madras Legislative Council]]
| office             = Chief Justice of India
| termstart          = July 1958
| termstart          = 7 November 1951
| termend            = April 1962
| termend            = 3 January 1954
| order1             = 2nd
| nominator          =
| office1            = Chief Justice of India
| appointer          = [[Rajendra Prasad]]
| termstart1          = 7 November 1951
| predecessor        = [[H. J. Kania]]
| termend1            = 3 January 1954
| successor          = [[Mehr Chand Mahajan]]
| appointer1          = [[Rajendra Prasad]]
| predecessor1        = [[H. J. Kania]]
| successor1          = [[Mehr Chand Mahajan]]
| office2            = Judge of [[Supreme Court of India]]
| termstart2          = 28 January 1950
| termend2            = 6 November 1951
| appointer2          = [[Rajendra Prasad]]
| office3            = Judge of [[Federal Court of India]]
| termstart3          = 6 December 1947
| termend3            = 27 January 1950
| appointer3          = [[C. Rajagopalachari]]
| office4            = Judge of [[Madras High Court]]
| termstart4          = 15 March 1939
| termend4            = 5 December 1947
| appointer4          = [[George VI]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1889|1|4|df=y}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1889|1|4|df=y}}
| birth_place        = Mandakolathur, [[Madras Presidency]] (present-day [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Sastri-was-first-Tamilian-Supreme-Court-Chief-Justice/2013/07/03/article1664712.ece |title=Sastri was first Tamilian Supreme Court Chief Justice |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=3 July 2013 |access-date=23 July 2013}}</ref>
| birth_place        = Mandakolathur, [[Madras Presidency]] (present-day [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Sastri-was-first-Tamilian-Supreme-Court-Chief-Justice/2013/07/03/article1664712.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706194815/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Sastri-was-first-Tamilian-Supreme-Court-Chief-Justice/2013/07/03/article1664712.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 July 2013 |title=Sastri was first Tamilian Supreme Court Chief Justice |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=3 July 2013 |access-date=23 July 2013}}</ref>
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1963|3|16|1889|1|4|df=y}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1963|3|16|1889|1|4|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Delhi]], India
| death_place        = [[Delhi]], India
| relatives          = [[Avanidhar Subrahmanyam]] (great grandson)
| children            = 7
| children            = 7
| alma_mater          = [[Madras Law College]], [[Madras University]]
}}
}}
'''Mandakolathur Patanjali Sastri''' (4 January 1889 – 16 March 1963) was the second [[Chief Justice of India]], serving in the post from 7 November 1951 to 3 January 1954.
'''Mandakolathur Patanjali Sastri''' (4 January 1889 – 16 March 1963) was the second [[Chief Justice of India]], serving in the post from 7 November 1951 to 3 January 1954.


==Early life==
==Early life==
He was the son of Pandit Krishna Sastri, senior Sanskrit ''pandit'' of [[Pachaiyappa's College]], Madras. He graduated in B.A. from [[Madras University]] in around 1910 before taking an LL.B in 1912 and becoming an advocate.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
He was the son of Pandit Krishna Sastri, senior Sanskrit ''pandit'' of [[Pachaiyappa's College]], Madras. He graduated in B.A. from [[Madras University]] around 1910 before taking an LL.B in 1912 and becoming an advocate.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}


==Career==
==Career==
Sastri began his career as an advocate in the [[Madras High Court]] in 1914 and practised for some time, gaining repute as having special expertise in tax law, particularly with Chettiar clients. In 1922, he was appointed standing counsel to the Commissioner of Income Tax in recognition of his abilities in this field; he held the position until his elevation to the Bench on 15 March 1939. During this time, he, along with Sir [[Sidney Wadsworth]] notably tried complicated cases that followed after the passing of the Madras Agriculturists Debt Relief Act.<ref name="death">{{cite news|title=Homage to Patanjali Sastri|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19630317&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=6 February 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=17 March 1963|page=7}}</ref> He replaced his close friend Sir Srinivasa Varadachariar, who had been appointed to the Federal Court of India.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gardbois Jr. |first=George H. |title=Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989 |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-807061-0 |pages=20–30}}</ref>
Sastri began his career as an advocate in the [[Madras High Court]] in 1914 and practised for some time, gaining repute as having special expertise in tax law, particularly with Chettiar clients. In 1922, he was appointed standing counsel to the Commissioner of Income Tax in recognition of his abilities in this field; he held the position until his elevation to the Bench of [[Madras High Court]] on 15 March 1939. During this time, he, along with Sir [[Sidney Wadsworth]] notably tried complicated cases that followed after the passing of the Madras Agriculturists Debt Relief Act.<ref name="death">{{cite news|title=Homage to Patanjali Sastri|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19630317&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=6 February 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=17 March 1963|page=7}}</ref> He replaced his close friend Sir [[Srinivasa Varadachariar]], who had been appointed to the Federal Court of India.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gardbois Jr. |first=George H. |title=Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989 |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-807061-0 |pages=20–30}}</ref>


On 6 December 1947, by then third in seniority at the Madras High Court, he was made a judge of the Federal Court, which subsequently became the Supreme Court. Following the unexpected death of the Chief Justice, Sir Harilal Kania, on 6 November 1951, Sastri, as the senior-most associate justice, was appointed as Chief Justice. Sastri served in the position till he reached retirement age on 3 January 1954.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/mpsastri.htm | title=M. Patanjali Sastri | publisher=supremecourtofindia.nic.in | access-date=23 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gardbois Jr. |first=George H. |title=Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989 |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-807061-0 |pages=20–30}}</ref>
On 6 December 1947, by then third in seniority at the Madras High Court, he was made a judge of the Federal Court, which subsequently became the Supreme Court. Following the sudden death of the Chief Justice, [[H. J. Kania|Harilal J. Kania]], on 6 November 1951, Sastri, as the senior-most associate justice, was appointed as Chief Justice. Sastri served in the position till he reached the retirement age on 3 January 1954.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/mpsastri.htm | title=M. Patanjali Sastri | publisher=supremecourtofindia.nic.in | access-date=23 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gardbois Jr. |first=George H. |title=Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989 |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-807061-0 |pages=20–30}}</ref>
 
Over the course of his tenure on the Supreme Court, Sastri authored 75 judgments and was a part of 171 benches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=M. Patanjali Sastri |url=https://www.scobserver.in/judges/mandakulathur-patanjali-sastri/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Supreme Court Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> He also took part in the appointment of four judges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The First Eight |url=https://www.scobserver.in/75-years-of-sc/the-first-eight-judges-of-the-supreme-court/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Supreme Court Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>  


Previously appointed pro-chancellor of [[Delhi University]] in 1953, he served in that capacity until 1956. In retirement, Sastri remained active with the Delhi branch of the International Law Association and headed the Airlines Compensation Commission which oversaw the nationalisation of India's airlines. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the [[Press Trust of India]] and served on the Madras Legislative Council from July 1958 to April 1962. An eminent Sanskrit scholar and active member of the executive council of [[Benares Hindu University]] at the time of his death on 16 March 1963, he had chaired the Central Sanskrit Board since 1959, as well as the Kendriya Sanskrit Vidya Pith at Tirupati.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gardbois Jr. |first=George H. |title=Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989 |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-807061-0 |pages=20–30}}</ref> He died at his son-in-law's residence in [[Delhi]] from a [[cardiac arrest]].<ref name="death"/> His great grandsons are [[Avanidhar Subrahmanyam]], a Distinguished Professor at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]], and Dr. Mandakulutur Subramanya Ganesh, Head of Oncology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, [[Bengaluru]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Previously appointed pro-chancellor of [[Delhi University]] in 1953, he served in that capacity until 1956. In retirement, Sastri remained active with the Delhi branch of the International Law Association and headed the Airlines Compensation Commission which oversaw the nationalisation of India's airlines. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the [[Press Trust of India]] and served on the Madras Legislative Council from July 1958 to April 1962. An eminent Sanskrit scholar and active member of the executive council of [[Benares Hindu University]] at the time of his death on 16 March 1963, he had chaired the Central Sanskrit Board since 1959, as well as the Kendriya Sanskrit Vidya Pith at Tirupati.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gardbois Jr. |first=George H. |title=Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989 |year=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-807061-0 |pages=20–30}}</ref> He died at his son-in-law's residence in [[Delhi]] from a [[cardiac arrest]].<ref name="death"/> His great grandsons are [[Avanidhar Subrahmanyam]], a Distinguished Professor at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]], and Dr. Mandakulutur Subramanya Ganesh, Head of Oncology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, [[Bengaluru]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
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[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Chief Justices of India]]
[[Category:Chief justices of India]]
[[Category:People from Tiruvannamalai district]]
[[Category:People from Tiruvannamalai district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]

Latest revision as of 20:01, 23 February 2026


Mandalokathur Patanjali Sastri
Member of Madras Legislative Council
In office
July 1958 – April 1962
2nd Chief Justice of India
In office
7 November 1951 – 3 January 1954
Appointed byRajendra Prasad
Preceded byH. J. Kania
Succeeded byMehr Chand Mahajan
Judge of Supreme Court of India
In office
28 January 1950 – 6 November 1951
Appointed byRajendra Prasad
Judge of Federal Court of India
In office
6 December 1947 – 27 January 1950
Appointed byC. Rajagopalachari
Judge of Madras High Court
In office
15 March 1939 – 5 December 1947
Appointed byGeorge VI
Personal details
Born(1889-01-04)4 January 1889
Mandakolathur, Madras Presidency (present-day Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India)[1]
Died16 March 1963(1963-03-16) (aged 74)
Delhi, India
Children7
RelativesAvanidhar Subrahmanyam (great grandson)
Alma materMadras Law College, Madras University

Mandakolathur Patanjali Sastri (4 January 1889 – 16 March 1963) was the second Chief Justice of India, serving in the post from 7 November 1951 to 3 January 1954.

Early life[edit | edit source]

He was the son of Pandit Krishna Sastri, senior Sanskrit pandit of Pachaiyappa's College, Madras. He graduated in B.A. from Madras University around 1910 before taking an LL.B in 1912 and becoming an advocate.[citation needed]

Career[edit | edit source]

Sastri began his career as an advocate in the Madras High Court in 1914 and practised for some time, gaining repute as having special expertise in tax law, particularly with Chettiar clients. In 1922, he was appointed standing counsel to the Commissioner of Income Tax in recognition of his abilities in this field; he held the position until his elevation to the Bench of Madras High Court on 15 March 1939. During this time, he, along with Sir Sidney Wadsworth notably tried complicated cases that followed after the passing of the Madras Agriculturists Debt Relief Act.[2] He replaced his close friend Sir Srinivasa Varadachariar, who had been appointed to the Federal Court of India.[3]

On 6 December 1947, by then third in seniority at the Madras High Court, he was made a judge of the Federal Court, which subsequently became the Supreme Court. Following the sudden death of the Chief Justice, Harilal J. Kania, on 6 November 1951, Sastri, as the senior-most associate justice, was appointed as Chief Justice. Sastri served in the position till he reached the retirement age on 3 January 1954.[4][5]

Over the course of his tenure on the Supreme Court, Sastri authored 75 judgments and was a part of 171 benches.[6] He also took part in the appointment of four judges.[7]

Previously appointed pro-chancellor of Delhi University in 1953, he served in that capacity until 1956. In retirement, Sastri remained active with the Delhi branch of the International Law Association and headed the Airlines Compensation Commission which oversaw the nationalisation of India's airlines. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the Press Trust of India and served on the Madras Legislative Council from July 1958 to April 1962. An eminent Sanskrit scholar and active member of the executive council of Benares Hindu University at the time of his death on 16 March 1963, he had chaired the Central Sanskrit Board since 1959, as well as the Kendriya Sanskrit Vidya Pith at Tirupati.[8] He died at his son-in-law's residence in Delhi from a cardiac arrest.[2] His great grandsons are Avanidhar Subrahmanyam, a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Dr. Mandakulutur Subramanya Ganesh, Head of Oncology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru.[citation needed]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Sastri was first Tamilian Supreme Court Chief Justice". The New Indian Express. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Homage to Patanjali Sastri". The Indian Express. 17 March 1963. p. 7. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  3. Gardbois Jr., George H. (2011). Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989. Oxford University Press. pp. 20–30. ISBN 978-0-19-807061-0.
  4. "M. Patanjali Sastri". supremecourtofindia.nic.in. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  5. Gardbois Jr., George H. (2011). Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989. Oxford University Press. pp. 20–30. ISBN 978-0-19-807061-0.
  6. "M. Patanjali Sastri". Supreme Court Observer. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  7. "The First Eight". Supreme Court Observer. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  8. Gardbois Jr., George H. (2011). Judges of the Supreme Court of India 1950-1989. Oxford University Press. pp. 20–30. ISBN 978-0-19-807061-0.
Legal offices
Preceded by
H. J. Kania
Chief Justice of India
16 November 1951 – 3 January 1954
Succeeded by
Mehr Chand Mahajan