Supreme Court pays tributes to Justice Khanna

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court today paid tributes to late Justice H R Khanna, former Supreme Court Judge, when it made full court reference in his memory.

Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan described Justice Khanna as a champion of independence of Judiciary and protector of the Fundamental Rights of the citizens of the country.

Justice Khanna was one of the three Judges of the Supreme Court who had resigned during the emergency after having been superseded by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Justice Khanna was the lone voice for the protection of fundamental liberty and independence of Judiciary who declared in ADM Jabalpur Case that Fundamental Right to Liberty formed the part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

In Keshavananda Bharati Case Justice Khanna's individual decision helped in establishing the basic structure doctrine.

The full court reference to condole the death of Justice Khanna was attended, among others, by all the Judges of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General of India Milon K Banerjee, family members of Justice Khanna, members of the bars and the entire executives of Supreme Court Bar Association led by its president P H Parekh.

UNI AKS/SC RC KN1650