K. T. Thomas (judge)

Last updated

Kallupurackal Thomas Thomas (born 30 January 1937) is an Indian former judge who served on the Supreme Court of India and is known for his strong opinions on Indian socio-political matters. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government in 2007 for services in the field of social affairs. [1]

Contents

Biography

K. T. Thomas was born in Kottayam district on 30 January 1937. After schooling at Baker Memorial School, he completed his Pre-University course from CMS College Kottayam and B.A. at St. Albert's College, Ernakulam where he served as the College Union Chairman. He studied law at Madras Law College. [2] He enrolled as an advocate in 1960 and started his career in Kottayam as a junior advocate to Joseph Maliakal, a leading lawyer of those days. Soon, he set up his private practice at District Court, Kottayam and later, at the High Court of Kerala. In 1977, he was directly selected as District and Sessions Judge, securing first rank in the selection tests. He was promoted as a Judge of the High Court of Kerala in 1985 and served as the Acting Chief Justice in 1995. In 1996, he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. [2] During his practice as an advocate, he led an Indian delegation to attend the World Conference on Peace held at Texas, USA in 1976. He also served as chairman of one of the Commissions set up in the World Conference. [3]

Thomas retired from service in 2002 and lives at Muttambalam in Kottayam district. His autobiography, Honeybees of Solomon, published in 2008, is an account of his judicial service of 25 years, [4] which has since been published in Malayalam in the name Solomontae Theneechakal. [5] His son, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, who was one of the youngest to be a designated Senior Advocate of the Kerala High Court was sworn in as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court in March 2020.

Notable judgement

Justice Thomas presided over the Supreme Court bench that confirmed the death sentence in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. [6]

Political positions

Justice Thomas is very vocal in expressing his views.

His recommendations on the fee structure for professional education in Kerala at unaided institutions also drew opposition from the institution owners. [7]

In August 2011, he made a public speech where he exonerated RSS from the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi [8] which generated heated public debate. [9]

His opposition to the Communal and Targeted Violence bill also created a stir. He termed the Bill to be divisive and against the constitution of India. [10]

Though Justice Thomas wrote a dissenting note on the report of the Empowered Committee regarding the maintenance of the water level at Mullaperiyar dam, his concurrence with the report stating that the dam was safe raised criticism in his home state of Kerala. [11]

In the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, he opined in 2013 that the three accused sentenced to death should be spared from capital punishment due to the delay of 23 years in carrying out the punishment. [12]

In March 2014, Thomas declined the offer of the Government of India to head the selection committee of Lokpal stating the "recommendations of the search committee are not binding on the selection committee. Therefore, the work of the search committee can as well be done by the selection committee itself." [13] Another matter of public interest was his letter to the Chief Justice of India on allegations raised by Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave regarding the disposal of a 12-year-old land allotment case by a two-judge bench headed by Justice C.K. Prasad, which was actually listed before another three Judge Bench. [14]

Awards

Positions held

Mukhyarakshaadhikaary of Sevabharathy(A part of RSS) KOTTAYAM. [12]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V. R. Krishna Iyer</span> Indian judge (1915–2014)

Justice Vaidyanathapuram Rama Iyer Krishna Iyer was an Indian judge who became a pioneer of judicial activism. He pioneered the legal-aid movement in the country. Before that, he was a state minister and politician.

The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order...without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex." The award criteria include "service in any field including service rendered by Government servants" including doctors and scientists, but exclude those working with the public sector undertakings. As of 2020, the award has been bestowed on 1270 individuals, including twenty-four posthumous and ninety-seven non-citizen recipients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. Sankara Kurup</span> Indian Malayali poet and literary critic

G. Sankara Kurup, also referred to as Mahakavi G, was an Indian poet, essayist and literary critic of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the greats of Malayalam poetry, he was the first recipient of the Jnanpith Award―the highest Indian literary honor. He served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1968 to 1972 and received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award, in 1967. He was also a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CMS College Kottayam</span> Educational institute in Kerala

The CMS College, established in 1815, is one of the earliest Western-style college in India. This college is located at Kottayam, in the Kottayam district of Kerala. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in arts, commerce, and sciences. It also offers different vocational degree courses. It is affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. It has been given Autonomous status by the University Grants Commission, India. CMS College, Kottayam and Presidency College Calcutta, established in the same year, are the two earliest western-style colleges of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Berchmans College</span> Syriac Catholic college in Kerala, India

St. Berchmans College, Changanassery (Autonomous), also known as SB College, is one of the first Autonomous Colleges in Kerala, India.The University Grants Commission (UGC) identified the College under its “College with Potential for Excellence” scheme. UGC and the Government of Kerala granted autonomy to the college On June 13, 2014. The college celebrated its centenary in the academic year of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai</span> Indian novelist and short story writer

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, popularly known as Thakazhi

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mullaperiyar Dam</span> Dam in Kerala, southern India

Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River of Idukki district of Indian state of Kerala. It is situated 150km south east of Kochi. It is located 881 m (2,890 ft) above the sea level, on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkady, Idukki District of Kerala, India. It was constructed between 1887 and 1895 by John Pennycuick and also reached in an agreement to divert water eastwards to the Madras Presidency area. It has a height of 53.6 m (176 ft) from the foundation, and a length of 365.7 m (1,200 ft). The Periyar National Park in Thekkady is located around the dam's reservoir. The dam is built at the confluence of Mullayar and Periyar rivers. The dam is located in Kerala on the river Periyar, but is operated and maintained by the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Although the Periyar River has a total catchment area of 5398 km2 with 114 km2 downstream from the dam in Tamil Nadu, the catchment area of the Mullaperiyar Dam itself lies entirely in Kerala and thus not an inter-State river. On 21 November 2014, the water level hit 142 feet for first time in 35 years. The reservoir again hit the maximum limit of 142 feet on 15 August 2018, following incessant rains in the state of Kerala. In a UN report published in 2021, the dam was identified as one among the world's big dams which needs to be decommissioned for being 'situated in a seismically active area with significant structural flaws and poses risk to 3.5 million people if the 100+ years old dam were to fail'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanti Bhushan</span> Indian politician and lawyer (1925–2023)

Shanti Bhushan was an Indian politician and lawyer. He served as the Law Minister of India holding office at the Ministry of Law and Justice from 1977 to 1979 in the Morarji Desai Ministry. He was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India. He, along with his son Prashant Bhushan, was featured at 74th position in a list of the most powerful Indians published by The Indian Express in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prashant Bhushan</span> Indian activist, lawyer and politician

Prashant Bhushan is an Indian public interest lawyer in the Supreme Court of India. He was a member of the faction of the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement known as Team Anna which supported Anna Hazare's campaign for the implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill. After a split in IAC, he helped Team Anna form the Aam Aadmi Party. In 2015, he made several allegations against the party's leadership, its functioning and its deviation from the core ideology, values and commitments. He is one of the founders of Swaraj Abhiyan and Sambhaavnaa, an Institute of Public Policy and Politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lokpal</span> Ombudsman agency of India

A Lokpal is an anti-corruption authority or body of ombudsman who represents the public interest in the Republic of India. The current Chairperson of Lokpal is Pradip Kumar Mohanty. The Lokpal has jurisdiction over central government to inquire into allegations of corruption against its public functionaries and for matters connected to corruption. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013 with amendments in parliament, following the Jan Lokpal movement led by Anna Hazare in 2010. The Lokpal is responsible for enquiring into corruption charges at the national level while the Lokayukta performs the same function at the state level. The age of Lokpal on the date of assuming office as the chairperson or a member should not be less than 45 years.

Dominic Chacko Kizhakemuri was an Indian writer, activist, freedom-fighter and book publisher from Kerala. He founded the book publishing company known as DC Books.

Pavani Parameswara Rao was a Senior Advocate practising in the Supreme Court of India. Widely considered a doyen of Constitutional Law, he had argued a number of landmark cases before the Supreme Court. He died on 13 September 2017 in a private hospital in South Delhi following a cardiac arrest, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University College Thiruvananthapuram</span> Constituent college of the University of Kerala

University College, Thiruvananthapuram, abbreviated as UCT, is a constituent college of the University of Kerala, based primarily in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. The college, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in India.

Keshava Parasaran is a lawyer from India. He was Advocate General of Tamil Nadu during President's rule in 1976, Solicitor General of India under the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and then, Attorney General of India under Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi between 1983 and 1989, till the end of Rajiv Gandhi's tenure. Parasaran was awarded the Padma Bhushan in the year 2003 and Padma Vibhushan in the year 2011. In June 2012, he received a presidential nomination to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament, for a period of six years. He is a member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. In 2019 the Central Government appointed him to lead the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. However later, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was appointed to lead the trust. The trust oversees the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government Law College, Ernakulam</span> Law College in Kochi, Kerala, India

The Government Law College, Ernakulam, also known as His Highness the Maharajas Government Law College, Ernakulam is an prestigious institution for undergraduate and post-graduate legal education in Kochi, Kerala, India. Founded in 1874, it is the first law college in the state of Kerala and one of the oldest law colleges in India. The Campus is situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake and is near to Marine Drive and High Court of Kerala. Blanketed by tall and rare species of trees, its campus features a mix of old and modern architecture. The college is recognised by Bar Council of India and affiliated to the Faculty of Law, Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam and is a reputed Research Centre in Law. The college’s prestigious alumni includes former Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan, Noted Indian actor Padma Shree Mammootty, former Defence Minister of India A. K. Antony, and former Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy. It is popularly known as Ernakulam Law College or Maharajas Law College.

Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Kochi is a premier, first grade Arts, Science, and Commerce College affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. It was established in 1944.

Kandathil Mammen Cherian was an Indian media person and former chief-editor of Malayala Manorama, the Malayalam daily, ranked the first in Malayalam, the fourth in India. and the eleventh in the World, in terms of circulation. He is a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, the third and fourth-highest Indian civilian awards.

Rajagopalan Krishnan Vaidyan was an Indian ayurvedic practitioner from the Indian state of Kerala and the president of the Association of Ayurvedic Physicians of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bechu Kurian Thomas</span> Indian judge of Kerala High Court

Bechu Kurian Thomas is an Indian judge who is presently serving as a judge of Kerala High Court.

References

  1. 1 2 "Padma Awards 2007". Outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 Justice K.T. Thomas
  3. "Former Judges". Supreme Court of India. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  4. "Honeybees of Solomon Justice K.T. Thomas 9788121209663". gyanbooks.com. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  5. "Book by Justice K T Thomas released". Newindianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  6. On (1 June 2013). "Justice Speaking: Capital punishment in India is "judge centric", says Justice K T Thomas | Live Law". Livelaw.in. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  7. "Fee structure: stirring up a hornets' nest". The Hindu . 1 June 2004. Archived from the original on 28 June 2004. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  8. video of the speech on YouTube
  9. "Justice K T Thomas must know the truth of the RSS | NewsGrab". Cmpaul.wordpress.com. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  10. India, Karsevak (25 October 2011). "Karsevak India: Justice KT Thomas opposes Communal & Targeted violence bill, Terms it 'Divisive'". Karsevakindia.blogspot.ae. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  11. J. Venkatesan (25 April 2012). "Mullaperiyar dam structurally & hydrologically safe: panel". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 On (1 June 2013). "Justice Speaking: Capital punishment in India is "judge centric", says Justice K T Thomas | Live Law". Livelaw.in. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  13. J. Venkatesan (3 March 2014). "K.T. Thomas refuses to head Lokpal search panel". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  14. V.K. Joy (23 March 2014). "Kerala Catholic Community കേരളത്തിലെ കത്തോലിക്കാസമൂഹം: Justice K T Thomas writes to CJI seeking action on Dushyant Dave's Letter". Joyvarocky.blogspot.ae. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  15. "officialwebsite of kerala.gov.in". Old.kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  16. t̲t̲i Tōmas, Ke (1 January 2008). Honeybees Of Solomon - Memoirs Of A Jurist. ISBN   978-9350357743.
  17. Thomas, Justice K. T. (1 January 2018). Nyayapeetathilethummunpu. ISBN   978-8126407187.
  18. Vaidyan Chikilsikkunnu Daivam Saukhyamakkunnu. 22 November 2016. ISBN   978-8126438853.
  19. t̲t̲i Tōmas, Ke (1 January 2015). Vaidyan Chikilsikkunnu Daivam Saukhyamakkunnu. ISBN   978-8126476763.
  20. Kottayathinte Kadha. 1 January 2021. ASIN   B09MW1XP48.
  21. Kuttakruthyangalude Daivasasthram. 1 March 2022. ASIN   B0B4JX9R6R.
  22. Momentous Challenges in Two Decades. 25 September 2022. ASIN   B0BGJ7ZC11.
Justice
K. T. Thomas
Justice K T Thomas (2023).jpg
Justice Thomas in 2023
Judge of the Supreme Court of India
In office
29 March 1996 30 January 2002