What They Said: Former Chief Justice Jagdish Sharan Verma’s Death

Ravi Raveendran/Agence France-Presse â€" Getty Images Jagdish Sharan Verma, former chief justice of India, left, with then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a Human Rights conference in New Delhi on Dec. 10, 2002.

Jagdish Sharan Verma, former chief justice of India, passed away on Monday after suffering multiple organ failure. Mr. Verma, 80, served as the 27th chief justice of India from March 25, 1997, until his retirement on Jan. 18, 1998. Having begun his legal career in 1955, he has also served as the chairperson of the National Human Rights Comission and the first chairperson of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority.

During his legal career, Mr. Verma issued many landmark judgments including one that said that sexual harassment at work violates a woman’s right to equality in the workplace and infringes on her constitutional rights. He also supported legislation that made High Court and Supreme Court judges accountable for misconduct.

Today J.S. Verma is most widely remembered for the report about violence against women created by a three-person commission led by him in response to the deadly gang rape of a young woman in New Delhi on Dec. 16. The report, which was released in January 2013, said that women in India are faced with systemic discrimination and widespread sexual harassment and violence, while the police force and government are falling short in enforcing laws and policies to protect women.

While releasing the report the retired chief justice called upon the government to act quickly on its recommendations. “We have submitted the report in 29 days,” he said during a nationally televised news conference. “If we are able to do it in half the time available, the government, with its might and resources, should also act fast.”

The report, parts of which were adopted into law soon after, recommended a number of path-breaking changes, including punishing crimes such as stalking and voyeurism with prison terms, requiring police officers to register every case of reported rape and making changes in the humiliating medical examinations carried out on rape victims. “The nation has to account for the tears of millions of women,” the report concluded.

On Tuesday, condolences for the former chief justice’s death came from all corners.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: “A man of vast understanding and knowledge of law. He was respected for his path-breaking judgments, his deep sensitivity to the concerns of the common man and commitment to public good. I will miss him very much for his generous advice and guidance on matters of public importance.”

Sushma Swaraj, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha: “Sorry to know about the sad demise of Chief Justice J.S.Verma. My condolences to the bereaved family.”

Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat: “Justice JS Verma will be remembered for his immense contribution to the field of law. His demise is a big loss to the nation.”

Arvind Kejriwal, Indian politician and social activist: “I had been to Justice Verma’s house a few times. Was v impressed by his frugal living. One of the most honest judges of our times. RIP”

Derek O’Brien, All India Trinamool Congress spokesman and member of Parliament: “Met Justice JS Verma for breakfast last month.He was generous with his thoughts at our first meeting.Turned out to be our only meeting R I P”

Karuna Nandy, advocate in Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Delhi: “Justice Verma led the Supreme Court with probity and spine. He made international law rights justiciable, led the NHRC to its height, gave flesh to constitutional equality for women. He had faith in the young and spoke often of the young lawyers who helped him on the commission. He hired me as OSD to the NHRC in 2002; I was 26. An important leader passed today, may our institutions become worthy of his ideas.”

Nandita Saikia, media and technology lawyer: “Justice Verma’s work on legal reform wrt violence against women in India has always struck me as being avant garde. We’re indebted to him. One can only hope that much of Justice Verma’s vision wrt legal reform against VAW is realised at some point. Laws now in force diluted it.”

Justice Markandey Katju, chairman of the Press Council Of India and former judge in the  Supreme Court of India: “Justice Verma upheld very high standards of integrity in judiciary. When I was a judge I would often seek his guidance about what was proper. I used to receive many invitations as a judge and was not sure whether I should accept them. He told me that the general principle was that if one had a doubt whether to accept an invitation or not, one should decline it, because by doing so one lost nothing, but by accepting it one took a risk. Even after retiring Justice Verma was one of the role models for many of us, and we would regularly seek his guidance on many matters. I regard Justices Venkatchaliah & Verma as my heroes.”

Nilanjana Roy, writer: “Justice Verma dies; what a legacy he left us, especially the women of India, in the Verma Committee report.”

Rajdeep Sardesai, editor in chief IBN network: “Suprabhat. Kept thinking of Justice Verma during morn walk. Had dinner with him on 31st March.now, he is not with us. RIP.There is dignity in calmness; pride in hard work; integrity in simplicity, honor in honesty.  Verma sir, alvida.”

Shoma Chaudhury, managing editor of Tehelka Magazine: “Extremely sorry to hear Justice JS Verma had passed away. He embodied Constitutional, humane values. A pillar for every civil liberty battle”