Ex-CJI Sabharwal passes away

Former Chief Justice of India YK Sabharwal passed away here on Friday evening. 73-year-old Justice Sabharwal is survived by two sons Chetan and Nitin. His cremation took place on Saturday.Justice Sabharwal was CJI from November 1, 2005 to January 13, 2007. He was elevated as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court in 1986 and became its permanent judge in April 1987. From Delhi High Court, he went to Bombay High Court as chief justice before being appointed as a judge of the SC on January 28, 2001.

Justice Sabharwal delivered several important judgements including the verdict in January 2006, that held the dissolution of Bihar Assembly as illegal and unconstitutional.The last rites of Sabharwal were held at Nigambodh Ghat here in the presence of family members, close friends and several sitting and retired judges. His funeral pyre was lit by his sons, Chetan and Nitin.

Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among those present at the cremation grounds.Supreme Court judges including justices TS Thakur, JS Khehar, Dipak Misra, MB lokur and SA Bobde, senior Delhi High Court judge BD Ahmed also paid their last respects.

Justice KG Balakrishnan, who succeeded Justice Sabharwal as the CJI and Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh were also present.

Sabharwal will be remembered for many landmark verdicts like the one relating to the ninth schedule of the Constitution in which it was held that putting the laws under it to avoid judicial scrutiny cannot stop judiciary from scrutinising it.