Retired Justice Dharamvir Sharma, who was part of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court that gave the landmark verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit on September 30, 2010, died on Friday.
The 74-year-old Sharma resided in Sector 12, Noida. He had been hospitalized in Noida on Friday morning when his condition deteriorated.
Justice Sharma was born in the Haveli family of Danpur Nagar in Bulandshahar. He did his graduation in Arts in 1967 and passed LL.B. in 1970.
He served as Principal Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow from August 2003 to August 2004 and Principal Secretary (Judicial) and L.R. Govt. of U.P., Lucknow from Aug. 2004 to Oct. 2005.
Dharamvir Sharma was appointed in P.C.S.(J) in the year 1972 and promoted in Higher Judicial Service in the year 1985. Later promoted in the year 2002 as District and Sessions Judge. He took oath as permanent Judge of the Allahabad High Court on September 17, 2007.
Sharma, who was unmarried, was the eldest of six siblings. He believed in the principle of simple living – higher thought. The great proof of his simplicity is that despite being held in such a large and respected position, he used to cook his own food.
Sharma delivered the landmark Ram Janmabhoomi verdict as part of the three-member HC bench. He retired the next day.
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In the verdict, Justice Sharma differed from the other two Justices S.U. Khan and Sudhir Aggarwal. While Justices Khan and Aggarwal said the land should be divided into three parts and an equal share should be given to the Hindu community, the Sunni Waqf Board and the Nirmohi Akhara.
But Justice Sharma said the disputed campus is the birthplace of Lord Ram. At this site, Mughal ruler Babur broke the temple and built a mosque, so the entire campus should be given to Hindus, he had said in his differing opinion.