V. N. Khare
Encyclopedia
Justice V.N. Khare was Chief Justice of India
from 19 December 2002 to 2 May 2004. He was a judge of the Supreme Court of India
from 21 March 1997 until he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice of India.
Justice Khare was born in Allahabad
on 2 May 1939. He lived in Allahabad for much of his life and was educated at Allahabad University
. Justice Khare started his career as an Advocate in the Allahabad High Court
in 1961, where he practised on Civil, Writ and Revenue petitions. He was appointed Chief Standing Counsel for the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
On 25 June 1983, Justice Khare was appointed a Judge of the Allahabad High Court
. Coincidentally, this was also the day that India won the cricket World Cup in London. Justice Khare was himself a First Class cricket player, playing for the state of Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy
matches in 1958.
In early 1996, Justice Khare was appointed Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court
, from where he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India
a year later.
As an Advocate in 1975, Justice Khare and his uncle, S.C. Khare, represented Mrs. Indira Gandhi
, Prime Minister of India
, in her famous case against Raj Narain
, alleging electoral malpractices. He was responsible for advocating the case that got the order of the High Court stayed until an appeal could be filed in the Supreme Court. The adverse and ambiguous decision of the Supreme Court led to the imposition of Emergency in India for a period of 19 months, the only suspension of democracy the country has seen since Independence in 1947.
During his tenure as Chief Justice of India, Justice Khare was confronted with the failure of the justice system in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots following the Godhra train burning
. His decision to reopen the cases
provided some recourse for victims of the riot. Speaking to The Hindu
newspaper when he retired he said, "I found there was complete collusion between the accused and the prosecution in Gujarat, throwing rule of law to the winds. The Supreme Court had to step in to break the collusion to ensure protection to the victims and the witnesses. I was anguished and pained by the turn of events during the trial of the riot cases but was determined to salvage the criminal justice delivery system."
Since retiring as Chief Justice of India, Justice Khare comments occasionally on national television and press on issues of jurisprudence. His comments on the Jessica Lal
murder case echoed the sentiments expressed during the Gujarat riots.
Justice Khare was awarded the Padma Vibhushan
, India's second highest civilian honour in 2006.
A biography of Justice Khare is available at the Supreme Court of India's website.
Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
from 19 December 2002 to 2 May 2004. He was a judge of the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
from 21 March 1997 until he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice of India.
Justice Khare was born in Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
on 2 May 1939. He lived in Allahabad for much of his life and was educated at Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
. Justice Khare started his career as an Advocate in the Allahabad High Court
Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court or the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad is a high court having jurisdiction over the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh since 1950...
in 1961, where he practised on Civil, Writ and Revenue petitions. He was appointed Chief Standing Counsel for the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
On 25 June 1983, Justice Khare was appointed a Judge of the Allahabad High Court
Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court or the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad is a high court having jurisdiction over the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh since 1950...
. Coincidentally, this was also the day that India won the cricket World Cup in London. Justice Khare was himself a First Class cricket player, playing for the state of Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy
Ranji Trophy
The Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between different city and state sides, equivalent to the County Championship in England and the Sheffield Shield in Australia...
matches in 1958.
In early 1996, Justice Khare was appointed Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court
Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court...
, from where he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
a year later.
As an Advocate in 1975, Justice Khare and his uncle, S.C. Khare, represented Mrs. Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
, Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, in her famous case against Raj Narain
Raj Narain
Raj Narain was an Indian politician who, as a candidate of Janata Party for the Lok Sabha in 1977, ran for office in Rae Bareli constituency and defeated Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India...
, alleging electoral malpractices. He was responsible for advocating the case that got the order of the High Court stayed until an appeal could be filed in the Supreme Court. The adverse and ambiguous decision of the Supreme Court led to the imposition of Emergency in India for a period of 19 months, the only suspension of democracy the country has seen since Independence in 1947.
During his tenure as Chief Justice of India, Justice Khare was confronted with the failure of the justice system in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots following the Godhra train burning
Godhra Train Burning
The Godhra train burning was an incident in which a sleeper coach on a passenger train was set on fire in 2002 by Muslims in Godhra, Gujarat, India in a conspiracy...
. His decision to reopen the cases
Best Bakery case
The Best Bakery case was a legal case involving the burning down of the Best Bakery in Vadodara, India, on March 1, 2002...
provided some recourse for victims of the riot. Speaking to The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
newspaper when he retired he said, "I found there was complete collusion between the accused and the prosecution in Gujarat, throwing rule of law to the winds. The Supreme Court had to step in to break the collusion to ensure protection to the victims and the witnesses. I was anguished and pained by the turn of events during the trial of the riot cases but was determined to salvage the criminal justice delivery system."
Since retiring as Chief Justice of India, Justice Khare comments occasionally on national television and press on issues of jurisprudence. His comments on the Jessica Lal
Jessica Lal
Jessica Lal was a model in New Delhi, who was working as a celebrity barmaid at a crowded socialite party when she was shot dead on 29 April 1999. Dozens of witnesses pointed to Siddharth Vashisht, a.k.a...
murder case echoed the sentiments expressed during the Gujarat riots.
Justice Khare was awarded the Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
, India's second highest civilian honour in 2006.
A biography of Justice Khare is available at the Supreme Court of India's website.