SC Judge Markandeya Katju Retires

Justice Markandeya Katju of the Supreme Court, known for his sharp observations, on Monday retired from service after serving on the bench for nearly five and half years. Justice Katju had made headlines several times due to his strong views on corruption. He had also said, “Mere membership of a banned organisation does not make a person terrorist or a criminal."  Markandeya Katju, B.A., LL.B,  is known for pronouncing several landmark judgments with a witty humor.

 

Katju is a voracious reader and a propagator of national unity and freedom. He has often quoted from the Bhagwad Gita, Quran and Bible in various instances throughout his career, only to illustrate his thoughts better and clearer. He once quoted Mirza Ghalib in one of the landmark judgment on euthanasia (mercy killing) in Mumbai’s  Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug case.

 

He said, “Marte hain aarzoo mein marne ki, Maut aati hai par nahin aati" (One dies longing for death but death, despite being very close, is elusive).   

 

The duo bench of Justices, Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra, together in their illustrious legal career declared a number of insightful judgments that recieved wide media coverage, both in print and on TV. From dowry to alimony for live-in partner, observations to reiteration of interim bail as a constitutional right, he has done it all.  

 

Read more about education and profesional qualification of Justice Markandey Katju.

 

His landmark judgment on live-in relationships was the talking point for a very long time and the judgment on the same is expected to have a long term positive impact, legal experts believe. His incisive take on women who were part of the sex trade has got many takers indeed, “A woman is compelled to indulge in prostitution not for pleasure but because of abject poverty. If such a woman is granted opportunity to avail technical or vocational training, she would be able to earn her livelihood by such vocational training and skill instead of by selling her body.”  

 

Read more on  'Sex Workers have the right to live'. 

 

Not to forget Katju’s quotable Shakespeare quote, "something is rotten", where the former judge took a dig at the senior judiciary, without naming anyone of the Allahabad High Court and stressed on cleaning up of the justice system.

 

The bench said, “We are sorry to say but a lot of complaints are coming about kith and kin practicing in the same court and within a few years of starting practice the sons or relations of these judges become multi-millionaires, have huge bank balances, luxurious cars, huge houses and enjoy a luxurious life.”

 

The Supreme Court Justice Markandeya Katju served on the apex bench for a little over five years.  His observations on the Binayak Sen’s trial at Chhattisgarh were widely appreciated. On April 14, he said, “Mere membership of a banned organisation does not make a person terrorist or a criminal.”  Katju granted bail to the alleged maoist sympathiser the following day.  A win for many human rights activists in India and abroad.