was a true humanist. His interpretations of law and the manner of his jurisprudence shone a light so bright that many of his judgements became templates not only for courts in India, but also for those abroad.
Throughout his public life - both as a minister in the first democratically elected communist government anywhere in the world (1957 to 1959 in Kerala) as well as a lawyer and a judge - he stood steadfast and consistent for the cause of the weak and the underprivileged, who otherwise stood little chance to successfully face the might of entrenched vested interests.
After retiring from the Supreme court as one of its most highly regarded judges ever, he launched himself into an equally distinguished role as a social activist for many causes - each as true to his humanist ideals as any he had undertaken before.
A noteworthy aspect that was revealed from his later interactions with the media was the high regard he held Mr. V S Achuthanandan - the former CM of Kerala - in. Justice Iyer was always impressed by Achuthanandans steadfast commitment to uproot entrenched corruption and oust the corrupt from their perches. He was one of the very few who stood by Mr. VS even when the latter was widely condemned for his adventurous sallies against land sharks who illegally encroached upon and held vast tracts forest land in the western ghats and damaged the environment with their activities.
Mr. Iyer was one of a very very scarce tribe indeed.
It may be fashionable among the bleeding hearts to commend Justice Iyer as a great humanitarian. Yet, while Justice must always take precedence over letter of law, through his pronouncements and weird interpretations of law, extending and contracting the application of statutes at his own sweet will, he weakened the institution of justice. He created precedence for other judges to rely more on their personal proclivities rather than law while deciding cases. Justice Iyer's was a political appointment meant to further Indira's socialist agenda and he proved true to his master.
Let no country have judges like the late Justice Iyer
Although Krishna Iyer was a great lawyer and subsequently a great judge, he could not for that matter any bodyt i the judiciary can give speed to the actions in the court. Cases are dragged without any reason or justification. even instructions to subordiate courts are not heeded promptly for which they may have their own reason. Some times the litigants will feel that the delay is to help the lawyers to earn money . The indian courts are followers of british system where the delay is a natural corollary
Indira Jaisigh's tribute to Justice Iyer has moved me.His uiversal quote,' justice is possible in an unjust world.' legacies no not reside in brick and mortar, but in living humans.
Our challenge is to pass on that legacy to future generations of lawyers. Dhiru Mistry
Justice krishna iyer is a great lawyar for downtrodden classes, it is sad that non of the dravidian parties mourned about his death except admk jayalalitha,vaiko who is suppose to be have the name of srilankan tamils cause, has not told the mourning, though justice iyer was against death sentence to anybody,may be he belongs to the caste of iyer,brahamins, since in tamilnadu having divide and rule of brahamin and non brahamins,for the last 50 years, they had killed intelligent brahamin youths,by putting reservation, hence in TN boys are carrying knife, gun to school instead of pen pencil,the students who want to study is not able to study, but rowdies are studying, tamil brahamins are equivalant to kasmiri brahamins, in this bramins non brahamin divide and rule the major beneficator is telugu people of TN like naidus, who look like tamil,like vaiko naidu who are against sanskritisam, may be he wants teluguvisation in TN.
Re: Iyer
by wilson chandran on Dec 13, 2014 05:50 PM
Mr Krishna Iyer is a great man Happened to be a South Indian he was never recongnised by N Indians as has been suppressed in History, the names of Bharathi, VOC etc. While speak high about Bhagat Singh , Tiruppur Kumaran was suppressed, like that. Re Brahmins- During 50s & 60s Bramins dominated in all Govt depts Banks, Ins cos etc. It was restricted now but does not mean they have not grown. Now they prefer abroad etc. Not only TN alone has done all over India this happened. Can I say that for so many centuries other communities are suppressed? To this particular point blaming dravidian parties is unfair does not mean they are good in other things while comparing Cong rulers of TN.
Re: Iyer
by Kathir Krishnamurthi on Dec 14, 2014 11:11 PM
Not true at all. Forget about Dravidian parties whom themselves are corrupt. To be praised by Jayalalitha and Karunidhi is a scar on Mr Iyer. I am happy that the local newspapers, ground level movements showed great awareness and appreciation than the English media. I have read about state-wide events in his honor.
He may be a great judge but Indian judiciary as whole has let down the Indian people.
Date after date, and bribes on every date to the court employees and the lawyers, is the norm. The case keep on dragging for 20 years with no one bothering.
So regardless of some wise and honest judges like him - Indian judiciary, as a whole, stinks!
Re: Good but what use?
by Varadarajan Ravindran on Dec 09, 2014 09:22 AM
Krishna Iyer never believed that the worlds of Indra Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi or Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were ever unjust.
Re: Human rights
by Varadarajan Ravindran on Dec 09, 2014 06:13 AM
The problem with Krishna Iyer was that his communist or socialist background prevented him from viewing some of the democratic principles correctly. I was traveling with him by car in Los Angeles, and I realized this on our conversations.
Re: Re: Human rights
by Varadarajan Ravindran on Dec 09, 2014 07:17 AM
Despite his problems as a socialist or communist Krishna Iyer was a legal expert and a legend.
Justice Krishna Iyer was poor man's judge. For him, the law has to be made for the poor and underprivileged. In kerala, he lived as the most famous keralite whose concerns never ended for the poor. The article is really worth to read.
