Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Thursday condoled the death of former CJI Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, who died on Wednesday evening at the age of 81.
Before the commencement of proceedings in the Apex Court, the CJI led the Supreme Court in paying tribute to Justice Lahoti.
He said the passing away of Justice R.C. Lahoti was a jolt to the entire legal fraternity. Justice Lahoti would always be remembered as a fearless and independent Judge.
“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends on behalf of my brother and sister Judges in this hour,” said CJI Ramana, adding that a full court reference will be held later.
Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave called him one of the finest Judgese ever and said the Bar would “always remember him as a great judge.”
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also condoled the death of Justice Lahoti.
“Saddened to hear the passing away of Shri RC Lahoti, former Chief Justice of India. He rose from a humble background and reached the highest position of our country’s judiciary because of his ability, knowledge and wisdom,” he tweeted.
Ramesh Chandra Lahoti was born on November 1, 1940. He joined the Bar in District Guna in 1960 and enrolled as an Advocate in 1962.
In April, 1977, he was recruited directly from the Bar to the State Higher Judicial Service and was appointed as a District & Sessions Judge. After functioning as District and Sessions Judge for a year, Justice Lahoti resigned in May, 1978 and reverted to the Bar for practice mainly in the High Court.
He was appointed Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 3.5.1988 and made permanent Judge on 4.8.1989, Justice Lahoti was transferred to Delhi High Court on 7.2.94. He was appointed as a Judge of Supreme Court of India on 9.12.1998.
Lahoti was transferred to the Delhi High Court on February 7, 1994.
Justice Lahoti upheld a Haryana law that did not allow those with more than two children to contest local body elections. He rejected the arguments based on right to privacy and religion.
He quashed the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act on migrants to Assam. He was on the Advisory Board of the Indian International Model United Nations.
Lahoti served as the 35th Chief Justice of India. He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court on December 9, 1998. He retired on his 65th birthday. His predecessor had a term of just one month.
Justice Lahoti, a noted jurist, was economical with words and probably the least vocal among recent Chief Justices. He served one of the longest terms as Chief Justice in recent years, retiring from office after 17 months.
In November 2004, Chief Justice Lahoti broke ground with many of his predecessors who had expressed concern about the growing corruption within the judiciary, by proclaiming that the judiciary in India was clean.