A Judge’s Miscellany on Superannuation

The author V.R. Krishna Iyer has been a prolific writer. While on the bench of the Supreme Court he wrote great judgements; on superannuation he continued to write on the almost every subject under the sun. Several books have emerged from his pen. A generous and elevated mind, said Dr. Johnson, is distinguished by nothing more certainly than eminent degree of curiosity. Krishna Iyer's curiouisity has this distinguished quality. That is why he has written I this book, which is colourful collection on a wide range of topics, presenting to the reader a lovely olio of views and 'reviews' which prove that he touched none that he did not adorn. Jurisprudence is his forte and the book begins with a deep peep into ancient Indian jurisprudence. Having been a lawyer and judge he has presented an appreciation of that peerless lawyer Palkhiwala and another one on great lawyer from the rights crusader he has a few essays on different dimensions of human rights, women's rights, people's right to environment and development and our secular heritage marred by communal carnage. The child and the law' is an excellent piece which everyone with commitment to child rights must read. Our patents law has suffered perversion and Krishna Iyer, for long a campaigner for the defense for the Indian patents jurisprudence, has an informative review of the I.K. Gujral Commission relating to patents. Compassion for persons in bondage has moved the author to write on freedom beyond bars. Having been a legislator, a minister and a judge, his rich experience is evident from his article on the Jurisprudence of comity between the Judicature and the legislature in the country. In the evening of his life, in the sunset years after superannuation Justice Krishna Iyer has cared to share his wisdom on a rainbow of subjects with the people of India for whom is his ultimate commitment. A profound mind, a powerful pen and a rare range of subjects – that is this book.