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Jagdish Verma Obituary
Verma died late Monday of multi-organ failure after a brief illness, said Dr. Yatin Mehta, an official at the Medanta Medicity hospital where he was being treated in a New Delhi suburb.
A lifelong crusader for justice and a firm believer in the integrity of judges, Verma was known as the conscience-keeper of the Indian judiciary.
After he retired as the country's chief justice in 1998, he refused to take any job in the private sector to avoid the appearance of impropriety. But the government repeatedly turned to him for help. He was the head of India's national panel on human rights and the first head of India's national broadcasting standards authority.
But his landmark service came earlier this year when he headed a government panel to examine the Indian criminal justice system's treatment of violence against women. The panel was formed following the fatal gang rape in the capital in December. The case sparked protests and demands for changes in the way India treats its women.
Verma's commission received more than 80,000 suggestions on how to change Indian law and completed a 630-page report in just a month.
It recommended stricter penalties for crimes against women, including death in extreme cases of rape. It also approved increasing the maximum seven-year sentence for rape to 20 years and imposing stiff punishments for crimes such as stalking, cyber stalking and voyeurism.
Many of the panel's recommendations swiftly became law.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh memorialized Verma not just for the "many path-breaking judgments he delivered as a judge, but also for his deep sensitivity to the concerns of the common man and his fierce commitment to the public good."
In a statement, Singh said Verma had been generous in giving him advice, which he will miss.
Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
20 Entries
Harish Dixit
July 3, 2013
You will always live in our hearts and prayers.
How you can show support
Lynn
April 27, 2013
Dear Verma family may the God of all comfort be with you.
l e
April 25, 2013
To the family and friends allow god to comfort you difficult time. Matthew 5:4
michelle plakas-kaiser
April 25, 2013
rip
Dikshit House
Yogendra Dikshit
April 24, 2013
Shri Jagdish Sharan Verma , B.Sc., LL.B. - Born on 18th January, 1933. Educated at Venkat High School, Satna (Madhya Pradesh); Government Jubilee Inter College, Lucknow; Ewing Christian College, Allahabad and University of Allahabad. Enrolled Pleader in the Vindhya Pradesh Judicial Commissioner's Court, Rewa in January, 1955; Advocate, Madhya Pradesh High Court in August, 1959. Practised in constitutional, civil, criminal, taxation and revenue matters. My father Shri Vasudev Gangadhar Dikshit a retied Dist. & sessions Judge & Shri Ram Sevak Varma father of Justice varma were family friends. They lived in a house named “Poorn Nirbhay Ashram”. All of their family were highly disciplined and sweet spoken. Now I am sixty two, but then as an adorable child, I had free passage in their house and heart. Jagdishji wanted to join IAF, but destiny had drawn for him a greater charter of duty towards nation and so he perused law on the advice of my father and subsequently was blessed to be an advocate. He along with Shri Nath Das Mukherji joined my father as his young juniors to practice at satna. I remember that they used to be at our house at two hours before going to court for preparing the days engagements.
Their family was blessed by their P.P.Guru when ever he visited them we also used to be at his feet to pay our obeisance. Shri Varma was great legal scholar & will be remembered for his humane constitutional interpretations, unique judgements & outstanding contributions. As said in Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta he demonstrated “stithi pragyata”, “ Nirpekshta” and “ Nyayapriyat ”at all times. I pray Parmataman to render his soul peace. I convey my deep condolence to his family.
Evette
April 24, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
G M
April 24, 2013
To the Family of Jagdish Sharan Verma I am deeply sorry for your lost. My you reflect on his accomplishments for Women's Justice.May you draw hope from the prophecy at Psalms 37:11 where God will soon remove our problems.
C. Wilson
April 24, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
l e
April 24, 2013
I am sorry of your loss. May the family allow gof to comfort you. Psalms 65:2
April 24, 2013
My sincere condolences to the family. May the God of all comfort bring you peace.
April 24, 2013
Offering my deepest condolences during this difficult time, I'm so very sorry for your loss, death is something we are never prepared for, but please find comfort in knowing sickness, pain and death will one day be no more.
Irene
April 24, 2013
My sincere condolence during this time of sorrow. May you be strengthen by God's promise that soon all sufferings even death will be no more.
James J. Marlowe II, Esq.
April 23, 2013
Humanity thanks you for your wisdom and service, your Honor.
Ken Ali
April 23, 2013
My condolences to the entire family of Justice Verma.
April 23, 2013
Life is much too short. God promises eternity to us, what a wonderful promise and gift.
Anna hendon
April 23, 2013
I'm sorry for your loss. May the God of comfort be with you during your time of grief. My prayers go out to you and the family.
Dwayne Bickham
April 23, 2013
rest in peace
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