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Kamal Narain Singh: Former Chief Justice of India
At the age of 95, the former Chief Justice of India, Kamal Narain Singh, passed away. With a tenure of just 17 days, Justice Narain holds the record for the chief justice with the shortest tenure. He served as India's 22nd Chief Justice from November 25, 1991, to December 12, 1991.
Personal Details
On December 13, 1926, Justice Kamal Narain Singh was born. He attended Sirsa's L. R. L. A. High School for his secondary schooling before earning his degree from the University of Allahabad. On September 4, 1957, he was enrolled as an advocate and started his practice at the Allahabad High Court. He practised law in Allahabad and focused on civil, constitutional, and taxation issues.
Professional Details
Since 1957, Singh has been an attorney and has focused on civil, constitutional, and tax law. On April 24, 1967, he was appointed to the positions of Junior Standing Counsel and Senior Standing Counsel for the Uttar Pradesh State Government. He served as the U.P.'s Advocate General from March 3 to May 3, 1970.
His first legal position was as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court from 1970 to 1972, and then as a Permanent Judge. From 25 November 1991 to 12 December 1991, he was India's Chief Justice. He joined the Supreme Court in 1986. The University of Allahabad Alumni Association awarded him the title of "Proud Past Alumni" in his honour.
His appointment as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1970 marked the beginning of his judicial career. On August 25, 1972, he was appointed a Permanent Judge after two years. On March 10th, 1986, he was appointed to the Supreme Court as a judge. He succeeded Justice Ranganath Misra and served as India's 22nd Chief Justice from November 25, 1991, to December 12, 1991, after nearly 5 years. The Chief Justice of India with the shortest tenure was only in office for 17 days. Following his retirement, he was appointed Chairman of India's 13th Law Commission, which was founded in 1991 and in office until 1994. Justice K.N. Singh wrote 100 judgements for the Supreme Court during his five years there. His rulings on constitutional law (18) and service (32) issues accounted for the majority of them.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Kamal Narain Singh |
| Date of Birth | 13 December 1926 |
| Alma Mater | University of Allahabad |
| Official Tenure | 25 November 1991- 12 December 1991 |
| President | Ramaswamy Venkataraman |
| Preceded by | Ranganath Misra |
| Succeeded by | M.H. Kania |
| As Judge | 22 Chief Justice of India |
Major Judgements
M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, also known as the Ganga Pollution Case: One of the earliest river contamination cases to be brought before the court as a public interest issue was Despite the provisions in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the two-judge bench chaired by Justice K.N. Singh noted that neither the state governments nor the central government had taken any effective measures to stop the discharge of industrial waste into the river. The Bench mandated that the tanneries establish primary treatment facilities at the very least. A subsequent ruling further stipulated that licences for new firms should be denied if they lack a sufficient waste treatment plan.
Shasi Nayar v. Union of India: The constitutionality of the death penalty was contested. It was also contested whether the death penalty would be carried out by hanging. According to Justice Singh, the country was not ready to abolish the death penalty because it had a deterrent impact and served a social purpose. Additionally, he maintained that the hanging method of punishment was fair and did not contravene Article 21. It was one of the least painful execution techniques, and it was scientific.
Charan Lal Sahu v. Union of India: Justice K.N. Singh was one of the five judges on the bench. The 1985 Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act's constitutionality was contested. According to the Act, the Central Government was given the authority to speak on behalf of all disaster victims in all circumstances. The Bench ruled that the Act was constitutional because it made it easier for victims who might not be able to adequately represent themselves. The government was only facilitating the proceedings, not making decisions about them.
FAQs
Q1. Who had appointed Kamal Narain Singh as the Chief Justice of India?
Ans. Former President Ramaswamy Venkataraman appointed Kamal Narain Singh as the Chief Justice of India on 25 November 1991. He was 22nd Chief Justice of India.
Q2. Which High Court did Justice Kamal Narain Singh serve before becoming a judge of the Supreme Court?
Ans. Before becoming a judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Singh served Allahabad High Court.
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