Justice V.S. Malimath, Chairman of the Karnataka Border Protection Commission and former Chief Justice of Karnataka and Kerala High Courts, breathed his last at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday. He was 86 years old and survived by wife Prema Devi V. Malimath, a son and four daughters.
Family members told The Hindu that Malimath was admitted to the hospital following viral bacterial infection about a week ago. The last rituals would be held at Chamarajpet graveyard in Bengaluru on Thursday morning at about 10-30 a.m.
According to official information, V.S. Malimath, born on June 12, 1929, secured the first rank in LL.B. and a postgraduate Diploma in Public International Law from the University of London in 1952. He began practising in the High Court of Bombay in 1952 and shifted to Bengaluru in late 1956. He was appointed as Advocate General in 1968 and as Judge of the Karnataka High Court in March, 1970. He was appointed as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court on February 2, 1984. He was transferred to Kerala in same position in 1985. Post-retirement he was appointed as Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal and later as Member of the National Human Rights Commission. Malimath also headed the Committee on Reform of Criminal Justice System in India and was the United Nations Representative to monitor human rights enforcement in Nigeria and Sri Lanka. He also served as an International Observer to oversee the referendum in Sri Lanka. During his service, he represented India in several international conferences.
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In recognition of his yeoman services, he was conferred with the National Citizen’s Award by the President of India, Karnataka Rajyotsava Award by the Government of Karnataka and Honorary Doctorate of Law by Karnataka University.
He was appointed as chairman of the Karnataka Border Protection Force by the Karnataka Gvernment in June this year to provide legal counselling on the boundary dispute with Maharashtra and also to look into the issues and problems of the people living in boundary areas of Karnataka, particularly in north Karnataka.
Belagavi District Kannada Organisation Action Committee President Ashok Chandargi and veteran leaders including former Mayor Siddangouda Patil and Raghavendra Joshi have expressed their condolences and decided to hold a public condolence meeting in the city on Sunday.
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