Former Indian Supreme Court judge Krishna Iyer passes away

Former Supreme Court judge and Kerala minister V.R. Krishna Iyer passed away in a hospital in Kochi on Thursday, doctors said. Iyer celebrated his 100th birthday Nov. 15 this year.
“He (Iyer) is no more. He passed away at 3.30 p.m.,” cardiologist Manu Varma told reporters. Iyer was in the hospital since Friday for treatment of pneumonia and his condition deteriorated in the past few days.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan and former Indian defense minister and Congress leader A.K. Antony expressed their condolences on Iyer’s death and commended his contributions to develop the country’s judicial system.
Justice Iyer, known for his forthright views, was sworn in as the judge of the Supreme Court on July 17, 1973 and retired at the age of 65 on Nov. 14, 1980.
He became a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1952. He held portfolios such as law, justice, home, irrigation, power, prisons, social welfare and inland navigation in the first Communist government in Kerala headed by E.M.S. Namboodiripad that came to power in 1957. He was instrumental in passing several pieces of people-oriented legislations during his tenure as minister in the Communist government.
He has been actively involved in social and political life after his retirement. He is survived by two sons. His body will be taken to the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Friday, where members of the general public will be able to pay homage to the departed jurist, said the Ernakulum district collector. V.K. Abdul Aziz, secretary-general of the Indian Forum for Interest-free Banking, expressed his deep sorrow over Iyer’s death and commended his support for interest-free banking in India. “Justice Iyer was a great personality. His death is a big loss for the country,” he added.