V. Balakrishna Eradi

Justice
V. Balakrishna Eradi
President, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
In office
1988–1997
Judge Supreme Court of India
In office
January, 1981 – 19 June 1987
Chief Justice of Kerala High Court
In office
19 January 1980 – 30 January 1981
Judge Kerala High Court
In office
5 April 1957 – 18 January 1980
Personal details
Born(1922-06-19)19 June 1922
Calicut, Kerala
Died30 December 2010(2010-12-30) (aged 88)
Kozhikode
CitizenshipIndian
NationalityIndia Indian
SpouseSaraswathi Eradi
Alma materMadras Christian College
Madras Law College

Vettath Balakrishna Eradi (19 June 1922 – 30 December 2010) was a Judge of Supreme Court of India. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court[1] and as President of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and the Chairman of Ravi & Beas Waters Disputes Tribunal.[2] Eradi was also noted for his role in several spiritual, cultural, and social organizations.[3]

Career

Eradi enrolled as an advocate in Madras High Court. He began his profession as junior to K. Kuttikrishna Menon, before starting an independent practice in the Madras High Court.[4] He was later appointed by the Madras Government as Junior Counsel to conduct several Government cases.

Eradi shifted his practice to Ernakulam in 1956 when the new High Court of Kerala was established.[4] In 1961, he was appointed Senior Government Pleader in the Kerala High Court where he conducted several important Government cases. He was also doing private practice during this time. In April 1967, Balakrishna was appointed Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court and six months later elevated as Permanent Judge.[1] During his tenure at Kerala High Court, he was appointed Chairman of several committees, including the High Court Committee appointed by the Government of Kerala for suggesting ways and means of raising the standard of legal education in the State. Eradi was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala in January 1980 and was elevated to the Judge of the Supreme Court of India a year later.[4] While functioning as Judge of the Supreme Court, he was appointed by Government of India as Chairman of the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal for adjudication of the dispute regarding sharing of the Punjab River waters between States of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.[5][6] Justice Eradi retired from the Bench of the Supreme Court on attaining the age of superannuation in 1987.[citation needed]

After retirement

In 1988, he was appointed President of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, a post he held until he retired in 1997. In 1999 he was appointed Chairman of the National Company Law Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal, a High Level Committee to examine the existing laws relating to winding up proceedings of companies in order to remodel it in line with the latest developments.[7][8][9]

Eradi was actively connected with cultural and social service organizations and was President of International Centre for Kathakali, Delhi since 1982 and was also the President of Swaralaya, a Carnatic music society of India.[10] He was a Member of the Council of Management of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust from its inception in 1972.[citation needed]

After the retirement he stayed in New Delhi with his wife, Saraswathy Eradi and later shifted to Kozhikode and was residing at Chalappuram.[11] Balakrishnan Eradi died on 30 December 2010 at a private hospital in Kozhikode.[12]

Awards and honors

Eradi received several awards during his long career, including the National Press of India Golden Jubilee Award, Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award, the National Citizenship Award, and the Shiromani Award.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "VETTATH BALAKRISHNA ERADI". Supreme Court of India. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  2. ^ "A canal for campaign". Chennai, India: Frontline. 4 February 2002. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Justice Eradi passes away". The Hindu. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Justice V. Balakrishna Eradi". supremecourtcaselaw.com. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  5. ^ Bharadwaj, Ajay (19 January 2004). "Punjab files new suit on Ravi-Beas waters". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Tribunal to visit canal site". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 23 July 2004. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Consumer Protection and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission". ncdrc.nic.in. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  8. ^ "National Company Law Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal" (PDF). icai.org. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  9. ^ "Eradi panel recommends repeal of SICA". The Hindu. 3 September 2000. Archived from the original on 4 August 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Another feather". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 20 April 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  11. ^ "Retd. SC judge Balakrishna Eradi passes away". Mathrubhumi. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  12. ^ "Former Supreme Court judge Balakrishnan Eradi dies". Malayala manorama. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.