Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led tributes on Thursday to the late former CJI RC Lahoti, who passed away the previous evening in a New Delhi hospital at the age of 81.
Justice Lahoti, recognized in legal circles for his brevity, was born in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, in 1940. Serving as the 35th CJI, he held the office for over 17 months until his retirement in October 2005.
CJI Ramana hailed Justice Lahoti as a fearless and independent judge who contributed to legal jurisprudence in the country until his last breath. Prime Minister Modi expressed sorrow over the passing, acknowledging Justice Lahoti’s contributions to the judiciary and his emphasis on ensuring swift justice for the underprivileged.
Justice Lahoti began his judicial career as a district and sessions judge in 1977 but resigned a year later to practice law in the High Court. A decade afterward, he became an Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, eventually ascending to the Supreme Court in 1998.
Former CJI RM Lodha remembered Justice Lahoti as a compassionate individual with robust humor. He highlighted Lahoti’s tenure marked by consensus-driven decision-making and camaraderie among colleagues.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed sadness at the passing of Shri RC Lahoti, citing his rise from a humble background to the highest echelons of the judiciary due to his ability, knowledge, and wisdom.
Post-retirement, CJI Lahoti led the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad’s Nyay Chaupal, a forum aimed at resolving civil disputes arising from the “crumbling family structure in the new societal order.”