Eminent jurist V R Krishna Iyer passes away

Legal luminary and former judge of the Supreme Court Justice V R Krishna Iyer passed away in a private hospital in Kochi Thursday evening. He was 100 years old.

Legal luminary and former judge of the Supreme Court Justice V R Krishna Iyer passed away in a private hospital in Kochi Thursday evening. He was 100 years old.

In November, his centenary was celebrated well in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to meet him later this month.

A freedom fighter, orator and social activist he was also a minister in the first democratically elected Communist government of EMS Namboodiripad. In 1980s he unsuccessfully contested against R Venkataraman for the President's post with the help of left parties.

A socialist at heart, many eyebrows were raised when he praised Modi all of a sudden. Later Modi had called on him a number of occasions. In an interview to the Hindustan Times last month the veteran had said Modi’s simplicity and humble nature attracted him.

Often considered as a last word in country's legal world Iyer was spearheading several mass movements in the country. “When Iyer speaks the entire country listens,” noted lawyer Fali S Nariman once said. He was conferred Padma Bhushan in 1999. He also authored more than 100 books. Kerala Governor Justice Sadasivam and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy condoled the death of Iyer.