description P.N. Bhagwati Overview
Indian jurist who served as Chief Justice of India from 1985 to 1986 and pioneered the doctrine of public interest litigation, transforming access to Indian courts.
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P.N. Bhagwati ranks #31 of 270 in the Judge ranking, behind Mary Berry, ahead of William Wayne Justice.
Pioneered public-interest litigation and access to justice; major influence, later criticized for emergency-era compromises.
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How did P. N. Bhagwati help create public interest litigation in India?
Justice Bhagwati relaxed traditional standing rules so public-spirited individuals could approach the Supreme Court for people unable to litigate themselves. This approach helped turn letters and petitions about bonded labor, prisoners, and poverty into constitutional cases.
What is P. N. Bhagwati's connection to Article 21?
In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, Bhagwati helped establish that any procedure restricting life or personal liberty must be fair, just, and reasonable. The 1978 judgment greatly expanded the practical reach of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
Why is P. N. Bhagwati's ADM Jabalpur opinion criticized?
During the Emergency, Bhagwati joined the majority in ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla, which denied effective habeas corpus protection against unlawful detention. He later expressed regret for that position, and the Supreme Court repudiated the ruling in the 2017 privacy judgment.
When was P. N. Bhagwati Chief Justice of India?
He became the 17th Chief Justice of India in July 1985 and served until December 1986. Before that appointment, he had been a Supreme Court justice since 1973.
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