Justice A.S. Anand

Dr. Justice Adarsh Sein Anand (born November 1, 1936) was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, from October 10, 1998 to October 31, 2001.

Justice Anand completed his studies in Jammu, Lucknow University, and University College London, and enrolled as an Advocate at the Bar Council on November 9, 1964. Having practised in Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Election Law at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he was appointed as Additional Judge, Jammu and Kashmir High Court from May 26, 1975. He became the Chief Justice, Jammu and Kashmir High Court on May 11, 1985 and transferred to the Madras High Court on November 1, 1989. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, on November 18, 1991. He enjoyed one of the longest tenures as Chief Justice, since Justice Y.V Chandrachud.

On February 17, 2003, he took over as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission and was succeeded by Justice Rajendra Babu on 2 April 2007.

Honours

Justice Pankulwas unanimously elected President of the International Institute of Human Rights Society in 1996. In 1997, he became the first Indian to be awarded the Fellowship of University College London, his alma mater. Justice Anand was nominated as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (India), a statutory body, with effect from July 1997 in recognition of his contribution to legal aid for the poor. He was also unanimously elected Honorary Bencher of the Inner Temple this year. He is the author of the book The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir - Its Development and Comments. On 26 January 2008 Dr Justice A S Anand was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India.

Landmark judgements

At least three landmark judgments given by Justice Anand as the Judge of the Supreme Court have revealed his commitment to human rights and justice. In the Nilabati Bhera case (1993), which he heard jointly with Justice J.S. Verma,( later CJI) his separate judgment on the right of compensation in the cases of custodial deaths is hailed as a significant contribution to the protection of human rights. Justice Anand held that public bodies and officials are expected to perform public duties properly and refrain from unlawful actions that are likely to violate individual rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.

In the D.K. Basu case (1996), he laid down important safeguards against custodial torture. These safeguards are considered valuable in protecting the rights of prisoners.

Justice Anand's commitment to judicial discipline is also highlighted in his judgment in the V.C. Mishra case. The Supreme Court first sentenced the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, V.C. Mishra, for contempt of court and suspended him from practising. Later, a Bench headed by Justice Anand ruled that the Supreme Court did not have the power to debar any advocate from practising even if it held him guilty of contempt.