Mumbai: Justice S Radhakrishnan, a former Judge of the Bombay High Court, breathed his last on Tuesday at a city hospital. The jovial Judge, who even from the bench spoke with a twinkle in his eyes, served as the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) chief from 2009 to 2014 after his Dec 2008 retirement from the HC, where he was appointed a Judge in 1996.
Ever energetic, he would pepper conversations with chuckles but at the same time on the bench would rule with a stern hand when required. In 2008, not one to shy away from trying something new to educate and innovate, he organised a special screening of the film Halla Bol for Judges of the HC. The film, showcasing a citizen’s fight for justice — inspired by true events — saw seven Judges watching it, including then Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Ajay Khanvilkar, who went to the Supreme Court, with Justice Chandrachud retiring as CJI. Justice Radhakrishnan described the film as ‘brilliant’ to this paper at the time. He also said how people’s power and the projection of media can be a big aid for the restoration of justice.
Two decades into his practice as a lawyer, he was designated a senior counsel. Before his appointment to the Bench, his junior of six years, advocate Rui Rodrigues, said he was a master in civil, constitutional, and administrative laws. Rodrigues said it’s a “deep loss” for him, but also the legal fraternity who worked with and appeared before him were left saddened.
For Justice Radhakrishnan, legal education and legal aid were twin goals that needed to be achieved. Apart from arbitration after his MAT stint ended, he would find ways to help students learn the valuable work their degrees could help achieve. As chief of a panel to look into prison reforms, in January 2018, he decided to bring in law students to visit prisons and become understudies for legal aid to the less fortunate. He was active till recently, but following a brief illness, he departed for good at 78. His funeral will be held on Wednesday in Bandra.
Mumbai: Justice S Radhakrishnan, a former Judge of the Bombay High Court, breathed his last on Tuesday at a city hospital. The jovial Judge, who even from the bench spoke with a twinkle in his eyes, served as the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) chief from 2009 to 2014 after his Dec 2008 retirement from the HC, where he was appointed a Judge in 1996.
Ever energetic, he would pepper conversations with chuckles but at the same time on the bench would rule with a stern hand when required. In 2008, not one to shy away from trying something new to educate and innovate, he organised a special screening of the film Halla Bol for Judges of the HC. The film, showcasing a citizen’s fight for justice — inspired by true events — saw seven Judges watching it, including then Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Ajay Khanvilkar, who went to the Supreme Court, with Justice Chandrachud retiring as CJI. Justice Radhakrishnan described the film as ‘brilliant’ to this paper at the time. He also said how people’s power and the projection of media can be a big aid for the restoration of justice.
Two decades into his practice as a lawyer, he was designated a senior counsel. Before his appointment to the Bench, his junior of six years, advocate Rui Rodrigues, said he was a master in civil, constitutional, and administrative laws. Rodrigues said it’s a “deep loss” for him, but also the legal fraternity who worked with and appeared before him were left saddened.
For Justice Radhakrishnan, legal education and legal aid were twin goals that needed to be achieved. Apart from arbitration after his MAT stint ended, he would find ways to help students learn the valuable work their degrees could help achieve. As chief of a panel to look into prison reforms, in January 2018, he decided to bring in law students to visit prisons and become understudies for legal aid to the less fortunate. He was active till recently, but following a brief illness, he departed for good at 78. His funeral will be held on Wednesday in Bandra.
