Eminent personalities have expressed their shock and condolences at the demise of jurist V.R. Krishna Iyer at a Kochi hospital on Thursday. He was 99. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Fine lawyer, eminent jurist, incredible philosopher and above all a phenomenal human being. I bow to Justice Krishna Iyer.”
Fine lawyer,eminent jurist,incredible philosopher & above all a phenomenal human being.I bow to Justice Krishna Iyer >pic.twitter.com/SE4AeuBOb9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) >December 4, 2014
He was a Supreme Court judge from 1973 to 1980 and was earlier a Minister in the EMS Namboodripad government in Kerala from 1957 to 1959.
My association with Justice Krishna Iyer was special. My mind goes back to our conversations & the insightful letters he would write to me.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) >December 4, 2014
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said, “Throughout his life, Krishna Iyer stood for the cause of justice, equality and socialism. With his moral stature and deep compassion for the downtrodden, he played the role of a people’s tribune till the end of his life.”
Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor of the Congress tweeted, “Sad to learn that centenarian Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer has passed away. Judge, minister, social reformer, human rights activist, great human. RIP.”
An author of more books than his age, he was conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the A.B. Vajpayee government in 1999.
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat said, “It was only recently I had an opportunity of meeting him, which was an invigorating experience for me. What appealed to me the most was his sense of purpose and unadulterated love for all. An erudite scholar, he was content with simple living.”
Justice Iyer had unsuccessfully contested against the Congress’ R. Venkataraman in the presidential polls of 1987. Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam tweeted, “Saddened by demise of Justice Krishna Iyer … Such souls take birth rarely.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said, “He was the pride of the Indian judiciary and was active till his last breath… ”
“As a lawyer, legislator, jurist, judge and campaigner, he was a unique phenomenon, never lured by power, position or temptations of any kind,” Kerala Governor and former Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam said in a statement.
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