Judges of the Supreme Court of India

Description

This book contains biographical essays for each of the first ninety-three judges who served on the Supreme Court of India from 1950 through mid-1989. It is the first close look at these judges, and follows them from their birth to their deaths. An attempt is made to account for why they were chosen - the selection criteria employed and, to the extent possible in a furtive selection environment, to identify those who selected them. The latter represents the first comprehensive attempt to connect the dots between a potential nominee and his ultimate appointment. The book concludes with a collective portrait of them, paying particular attention to changes in their backgrounds - fathers' occupation, education, pre-SCI careers, caste, religion, region, over the four decades.

About the author

Table of contents

Acknowledgements
India's Judicial Elite

Part One
Eighteen Courts and Ninety-Three Judges

I. THE KANIA COURT (1950-1)
II. THE SASTRI COURT (1951-4)
III. THE MAHAJAN COURT (1954)
IV. THE MUKHERJEA COURT (1954-6)
V. THE DAS COURT (1956-9)
VI. THE SINHA COURT (1959-64)
VII. THE GAJENDRAGADKAR COURT (1964-6)
VIII. THE SARKAR COURT (1966)
IX. THE SUBBA RAO COURT (1966-7)
X. THE WANCHOO COURT (1967-8)
XI. THE HIDAYATULLAH COURT (1968-70)
XII. THE SHAH COURT (1970-1)
XIII. THE SIKRI COURT (1971-3)
XIV. THE RAY COURT (1973-7)
XV. THE BEG COURT (1977-8)
XVI. THE CHANDRACHUD COURT (1978-85)
XVII. THE BHAGWATI COURT (1985-6)
XVIII. THE PATHAK COURT (1986-9)

Part Two
A Collective Portrait

I. FATHER'S OCCUPATION
II. CASTE
III. ECONOMIC STATUS
IV. RELIGION
V. STATES OF BIRTH
VI. REGION
VII. EDUCATION
VIII. INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE OFFICERS
IX. PROFESSIONAL CAREERS
X. PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS
XI. ARRIVAL ON THE HIGH COURT
XII. HIGH COURT SENIORITY
XIII. AGE AND TENURE
XIV. AFTER RETIREMENT

The Archetypal Judge

Appendices
Appendix I Judges of the Supreme Court of India, 1950-89
Appendix II Chief Justices of India, 1950-89

Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Author