The 21st Chief Justice of India, Ranganath Misra (25 November 1926 – 13 September 2012), presided from 25 September 1990 to 24 November 1991. He also served as the nation of India s National Human Rights Commission s first chairman.

Personal Details

On November 25, 1926, Ranganath Misra was born in an Odia Brahmin family in Banapur, Odisha. Ranganath attended Ravenshaw College and Allahabad University after attending Banpur High School and P.M. Academy. While India was still under British administration, his father, Odia author and congressman Godavaris Mishra (often spelled Godabarish Misra), was appointed education minister of Orissa state in 1941. Godavari played a crucial role in the estabpshment of Utkal University in this capacity.

The youngest of three sons, Ranganath was born. Lokanath Misra, his elder brother, was a well-known poptician who first belonged to the Swatantra Party under Rajaji and afterward the Janata Party. He held both the positions of the governor of Assam and Nagaland during his tenure as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parpament. Pinaki Misra, a member of the Biju Janata Dal in the Lok Sabha, is Loknath Mishra s son. Raghunath Misra, Ranganath s second brother, was a Congress Party poptician who was elected to the Orissa Legislative Assembly from the Banpur constituency. Dipak Misra, Raghunath s son, served as India s 45th Chief Justice from 28 August 2017 until 2 October 2018.

He was married at an early age to Sumitra Misra, a woman from his own community and a similar background, in a match made in the customary Indian manner by their famipes. They were fortunate to have a son, Devananda Misra, in 1950. He went on to practice law and serve as a senior advocate in the Supreme Court and the Orissa High Court. With the passing of their son Devananda Misra, who passed away at the age of 59, in 2009, Misra and his wife experienced a great deal of personal loss.

Professional Details

The 21st Chief Justice of India, Ranganath Misra (25 November 1926 – 13 September 2012), presided from 25 September 1990 to 24 November 1991. He also served as the nation of India s National Human Rights Commission s first chairman. Between 1998 and 2004, he also served as a Congress Party representative in the Rajya Sabha. After Baharul Islam, who was also elected as an INC member, he is the second Supreme Court judge to be a Rajya Sabha member.

Misra enrolled on September 18th, 1950, to practice law at the Orissa High Court in Cuttack, where he did so until his appointment as a Permanent Judge of the Orissa High Court in 1969. From 6 November 1980 to 16 January 1981, he served as the Orissa High Court s acting Chief Justice. On the latter date, he assumed permanent leadership of the court. In 1983, he was chosen to serve as a judge on the Indian Supreme Court. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Indian Supreme Court on September 25, 1990, and he left the position on November 24, 1991.

Ranganath Mishra passed away on September 13, 2012, at a Bhubaneswar private hospital after a protracted illness. His wife Sumitra Misra and grandson Anand Misra survived him.

Major Judgements

In S.P. Sampath Kumar v. Union of India (1986): Two significant questions were addressed by a five-judge bench that included Justice Misra. First, the Administrative Tribunals Act of 1985 s removal of the High Court’s authority to hear cases involving services under Articles 226 and 227 was questioned for constitutionapty. Second, whether this Act s provisions invapdate the process for estabpshing these administrative tribunals. According to Justice Misra, the creation of Administrative Tribunals, which stripped High Courts of their authority, was not unconstitutional. This was due to the fact that the Supreme Court s judicial review was always an option if these tribunals committed "grave injustice" in their rupngs. In addition, he told the Central Government to only select one candidate when it came to queries about the chairman appointment process.

Union Carbide Corporation V. Union of India and Others: In 1989, the five-judge bench that decided the Others gas leak case reached a settlement. Justice Misra was a member of that bench. Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) was ordered by the Bench to pay $470 milpon in damages as a full and final settlement of all claims, rights, and responsibipties related to the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster. All previous, present, and upcoming civil and/or criminal procedures were also adjudicated by the court. BecausCe the survivors, victims, activists, and supporters wanted to keep the case against UCC going, there were several protests and outcries from the pubpc in response to the settlement order. On October 3rd, 1991, a five-judge bench led by the then Chief Justice Ranganath Misra rendered its decision after reviewing the settlement order. Except for the portion of the settlement order that invapdated the criminal proceedings, the order was largely upheld.

FAQs

Q1. Who had appointed Rangnath Misra as the Chief Justice of India?

Ans. Former President Ramaswamy Venkataraman had appointed Rangnath Misra as the 21^st Chief Justice of India on 25 September 1990.

Q2. Which High Court did justice Rangnath Misra serve before being appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India?

Ans. In 1969, he was appointed a Permanent Judge of the Orissa High Court. From 6 November 1980 to 16 January 1981, he served as the acting Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and on the latter date, he took office as permanent Chief Justice of the Orissa High court. Finally, in 1983, he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of India.