New dimensions of justice

Justice J.S. Verma is known for his creativity, humanism and courage of conviction with commitment as a jurist for the cause of Justice and human rights. He joined the Bar in 1955, became a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 1972, its Chief Justice in 1985, the Chief Justice of Rajasthan in 1986, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989, and was the Chief Justice of India from 25 March 1997 to 18 January 1998. He was also the Acting Governor of Rajasthan, twice between 1987 and 1989. He headed the Commission to inquire into the Rajiv Gandhi assassination (1991-1992); and the Committee to suggest operationalisation of the Fundamental Duties (1998-1999). He was the Chairperson of the National Human Rights commission from 4 Novermber 1999 to 18 January 2003. Justice Verma is known for judicial creativity in the field of gender and social justice, probity in public life, judicial accountability, sustainable development and human rights. Some of his pronouncements in Vishaka, Nilabati Behra, Srilekha Vidyarathi, Ayodhya, Hawala and the matter relating to entry of dalits in the Nathdwara Temple are landmarks in innovative interpretation of the Constitution. As Chairperson of the NHRC, Justice Verma widened the horizon of human rights, giving special thrust to economic, social and cultural rights along with group rights of the marginalized and minorities. He focused on public helath as a human rights issue to cover HIV/AIDS, and other critical health issues. Interventions by NHRC under his leadership after Orissa cyclone (1999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and Gujarat Communal disturbances (2002) were based on the wider meaning of human rights. Similar was the stand taken on the issue of dalits at the World Confernece on Racism at Durban (2001), and in opposing the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Law, in assertion of human rights. Among the several honours conferred on him, are included the degrees of LL.D. (Honoris Causa) by the Universities of Allahabad, Banaras and Jabalpur. A collection of some of his earlier speeches has been published as the 'New Dimensions of Justice'.