Former CJI Kabir passes away at 68

Kolkata, February 19

Former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir passed away at a city hospital here this afternoon. Justice Kabir, 68, who was suffering from a kidney ailment and related complications, died at 2.52 pm, a senior hospital official said.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son, his son-in-law Leon D’Souza said. He was appointed as the Chief Justice of India on September 29, 2012. He retired on July 19, 2013.

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Born on July 19, 1948, Kabir was enrolled as an advocate in 1973 and practised in the district court and the Calcutta High Court. He was appointed as a permanent judge in the Calcutta High Court on August 6, 1990.

He was, thereafter, appointed as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court on March 1, 2005, and as a judge of the Supreme Court on September 9, 2005. Seven years later, he was appointed as the 39th Chief Justice of India, a post he held for 292 days.

Offering condolences, former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee said, “As a judge, he (Justice Kabir) was erudite, who heard counsel on both sides patiently and did not lose his temper even if the counsel talked about irrelevant things. His passing away is a sad loss.” — Agencies