Kochi December 04, 2014: Former Supreme Court judge VR Krishna Iyer (100) passed away on Thursday at the age of 100 in a private hospital in Kochi, Kerala. Iyer was suffering from some kideny related problems and was admitted in the hospital on November 24. He expired today at 3:30 pm.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh expressed deep condolences on the demise of an eminent jurist. VR Krishna Iyer was one among them who appreciated RSS, its ideology and activities.
Condolence message by Mohan Bhagwat:
Expressing condolences, RSS Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat in his message said “With the passing away of Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer we have lost a great jurist, who had made seminal contributions to turn our judicial system into a vehicle of social justice. A great humanist, he will ever be remembered for the gifts he had made to improve the quality of our social life. It was only recently I had an opportunity of meeting him, which was an invigorating experience for me. What appealed me the most was his sense of purpose and unadulterated love for all, An erudite scholar, he was content with simple ostentatious living. I send my heart-felt condolences to his family and all those who loved and adored him.”.
RSS Sahasarakaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale expressed condolences , said” Great Soul, May the soul rest in peace”. J Nandakumar, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh tweeted “”Justice VR Krishna Iyer is no more, heart felt condolences”.
On October 21, 2013 RSS Sarsanghchalak Sri Mohan Bhagwat met Justice VR Krishna Iyer at his residence in Kerala. On November 13, 2014 RSS Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat greeted veteran scholar Justice Krishna Iyer on his 100th Birthday.
Vaidyanathapura Rama Krishna Iyer, popularly known as Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, is a former judge in the Supreme Court of India. He was born at Vaidyanathapuram near Palakkad, in Malabar region of Kerala, but grew up at Koyilandy, also in the erstwhile Malabar district. In 1952, he was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly; in 1957, he became a minister in the first Communist government in Kerala, serving until 1959. Having been the minister of law, power, prisons, irrigation and social welfare in the Government of Kerala, he was instrumental in bringing about many significant changes in these sectors. In 1973, he was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India; as of 2011, he is the last Supreme Court judge to have previously served as a politician. He was conferred with Padma Vibhushan in the year 1999.
On October 21, 2013 RSS Sarsanghchalak Sri Mohan Bhagwat met Justice VR Krishna Iyer at his residence in Kerala. This is the outcome of the letter correspondence they had couple of months before. Sri Bhagavath, in his letter, had expressed his wish to meet Justice Krishna Iyer when he visits Kochi.
Sri Krishna Iyer told Bhagavath that he had invited the wrath of some people due the support he extended to Narendra Modi. But, he does not care. He likes to see and support honest people. Sri Modi came to see him couple of years back. It was his own decision.
Sri Bhagavath told Sri Krishna Iyer that honesty is a precious commodity these days. We, in Sangh, keep on meeting honest people. It is them who influence the social consciousness.
He said that, he has been wishing to meet Sri Krishna Iyer since long time; but, it is materialised only now. It is my good fortune to meet Justice VR Krishna Iyer today, He added that Sri Krishna Iyer is a fatherly figure for all of us, a true Judge in Words and spirit. He embodies all the noble values in social life, which is fast diminishing. I found him very honest, committed to truth, fearless, sincere and well intentioned.
When it was mentioned that Justice Krishna Iyer turns 99 next month, Mohan Bhagavath told that according to Bharathiya tradition complete life is 120 years. He wished Sri Krishna Iyer such a long life. Sri Bhagavath told Krishna Iyer that coming years would witness good happenings. Society is undergoing lot of changes. He sought Sri Krishna Iyer’s blessings for all good happenings. Sri Krishna Iyer said that Bhagavath’s visit was a great experience. Sri Krishna Iyer told Bhagavath about his new book “Bharathiya Culture & Prospects and Retrospects”.
Bhagavath presented two books to Krishna Iyer: “MS Golwalker – His Vision & Mission” and senior RSS leader Soorya Narayan Rao’s “National Regeneration – the Vision of Swami Vivekananda & Mission of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh”. Sri Krishna Iyer presented his book “The Humane Judge” to Mohan Bhagavath. RSS leaders Sthanu Malayan, AR Mohan, Gopalankutty Master, A Gopalakrishnan and M Ganesh were with Sri Mohan Bhagavath during the meeting with Iyer.