Former CJI Chandrachud dead at age 88

Mumbai, July 14 (UNI) The longest serving Chief Justice of India Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud died in a Bombay hospital today after a brief illness. He was 88.

Chandrachud was rushed to the hospital on the night of July 12 after he suddenly fell ill. Earlier in the day, his family members had celebrated his birthday at his Colaba residence.

The death came around 1030 hrs this morning, family sources said.

He was Chief Justice of India from February 22, 1978 to July 11, 1985.

Chandrachud was born in Pune on July 12, 1920.

He was first appointed judge to the Supreme court on August 28, 1972.

In one of the most notable cases in indian constitutional history, during the emergency (1975-77), a bench of five senior most judges, including Chandrachud, heard the famous Habeas Corpus case, where detenues under the restrictive Mintenance of Internal security act had argued that the right to habeas corpus could not be suspended even during periods of national emergency.

Chandrachud, along with Justices A N Ray, P N Bhagwati and M H Beg had rejected the petition. The only dissenting opinion was from Justice H R Khanna.

He is survived by wife, son Justice Dr Dhananjaya, who is presently a sitting judge of the Bombay High Court, and a daughter.

His body was brought to his Colaba residence, where a large number of the legal fraternity paid their last respects.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy CM R R Patil also called on the family members to offer their condolences.

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