Human rights activist and former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court Justice Rajinder Sachar (94) passed away on Friday at a New Delhi hospital, where he was admitted a few days ago for an ailmet.
Justice (retd.) Sachar was the Chief Justice from August 6, 1985, to December 22, 1985. After his retirement, he was associated with rights group People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
He completed his early education in Lahore's D.A.V. High School and graduated in law from the Law College of that city. After enrolling as an advocate in 1952 in Simla, he began practising on all types of civil, criminal and revenue cases.
Sachar Committee
In 2005, he was appointed by the United Progressive Alliance government to head a committee to study the condition of the Muslim community and to prepare a report on their social, economic and educational status. The report, now famously known as the Sachar Committee report, highlighted that Muslims were under-represented in the civil service, police, military and in politics.
In 2011, Justice (Retd.) Sachar was detained by police at Anna Hazare’s fast venue in the Capital. In 2012, a group of social activists, lawyers, retired Army officers, journalists and film makers began an online petition to support him for the post of President of India.
His cremation would take place in the Electric Crematorium on Lodhi Road, New Delhi, at 5:30 pm on Friday, his family said.
