On the demise of Justice J.S. Verma

On the demise of Justice J.S. Verma
(former Chief Justice of India)
By Justice Markandey Katju(former Judge, Supreme Court of India)
Justice J.S. Verma, who passed away recently, was one of the giants of the Indian Judiciary,who set very high standards of integrity on the bench & even thereafter He was a role model for many of us, who would often seek his advice even after he had retired. Justices Venkatchaliah, Krishna Iyer, and Verma have always been our father figures.
I remember that when I was on the bench of the High Court and Supreme Court I would often contact him confidentially and seek his guidance.Once while a Supreme Court Judge I received an invitation from a respected dignitary in Delhi for a mushaira he had organized. I am very fond of Urdu poetry, and was seriously intending to go there, but I was in two minds, and hence I telephoned Justice Verma (who had retired a longtimeback) to seek his advice. He told me that a general principle for Judges was that if they were in two minds whether to accept an invitation or not, a Judge should decline it, because by doing so he lost nothing, but by accepting it he took a risk. He also said that Judges should lead a reclusive life if they wanted to be respected.
No one has ever lifted a finger at Justice Verma's integrity. Even after retirement he refused arbitration or consultation work, even though he could have earned crores by it (as many retired Judges are doing). His advice was sought regularly by one and all, including the Government. His completion of the report on crimes against women in 29 days is a model as to how such reports should be made.
In his sad demise the entire legal fraternity as well as the country has suffered a great loss.