NAGARATHAR PERSONALITIES:
Justice Dr: AR.Lakshmanan, a renowned and able judge was born on march 22nd 1942. That day many did not know that our community had been blessed with its first ever chief justice. His parents are Shri: L.AR. Arunachalam Chettiar and Smt L.AR. Soornavalli achie from 'Pillikhuzhathur house.'. He hails from Devakotai one of the biggest nagarathar towns where one fifth of the nagarathar population is from.
Only handful of people are clasified as 'bright stars'. Dr: Justice AR.Lakshmanan falls in the bighter star category. The above statement deserves full credit. His achievements right from when he was enrolled as the lawyer of Madras High Court on the 10th of january 1968 till today as chief justice of Andhra Pradesh high court are innumerous and ascending the success ladder is like a hobby for Dr: Justice AR.Lakshmanan.
He started his law proctice under Mr: Justice G.Ramanujam, Justice: K. Venkatasami, Senior advocate Mr: R.Krishnamurthy and also had independent practice in civil, criminal, writ, tax etc on both original and appellate sides of high court. He has served as legal adviserto various banks, several industrial undertakings, religious, charitable and educational institutions in Tamil Nadu. He has also served a s a standing counsel to Dr: M.G.R. Medical and various other Government boards.
In the process of climbing the success lader, he has also held many other respectable positions. He was nominated as senior advocate by the Government of Tamilnadu to impart to the selected law graduates belonging to the backward class under the scheme formulated by the Government of Tamil nadu.
OTHER POSITIONS HE HAS HELD AND HONORARY AWARDS CONFERRED TO HIM ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. He was appointed as Government pleader, High court by the Government of Tamil nadu on 22.3.1989.
2. He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Madras High court on 14.6.1990 by his excellency the president of India.
3. He is the recipient of 'Shiromani Vikas Award' for National Intergration and Development from his excellency the Governor of Tamil nadu.
4. He is the recepient of 'Vijay Shree Award' for his professional excellence. The award was instituted by the International friendship society of India, New Delhi.
5. He is the recipient of pretigious for the sake of honor award from the rotary club of Madras, North West of Karaikudi Tamil nadu.
6. On the 1st of oct 2002 he was conferred by the Goovernor of Tamil nadu/and chancellor of Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil nadu in justice AR.Lakshmanan as an eminent legal luminary, rendering distinguished services as an outstanding judge and champion of human right.
7. He was the founder/chancellor of the National Law school of Rajasthan and not the president of "NALSAR"(National Law school of Hyderabad).
Dr.AR.LAKSHMANAN AS CHIEF JUSTICE:
He was transffered to Kerals High court on 4.12.1997. He served here for 21/2 years as acting chier justice. From there he was elevated to Rajasthan High couut a chief justice on may 29th 2000 till november 25th 2001. Then he was transferred to Andhra Pradesh high court. One more glad news is awaiting that very soon he is likely to be elevated as a judge of the supreme court of India.
HIS REFORMS:
His reforms are many. I was told he clears 75 to 100 matters each day listed before him for hearing. He is known to have taken bold steps in eradicating the corruption in the country. A few drops in that ocean are as follows:
1. While he was the Chief Justice of Rajastan, he has taken the very bold steps on compulsorily retiring 26 judicial officers of questionalbe intergrity. His action was fully endorsed by the full court of Rajastan high court. When this action was questioned in the Rajastan High court, by the dismissed officers their writ petitions were dismissed and further special appeal filed by them by the Supreme court was also dismissed.
2. He has revamped the entire judicial administration in the State of Rajastan and is of view that the persons persons of the questionable or doubtful integrity has no place in judiciary and has no tight to occupy the judicial chair.
3. During his tenure in Kerala he has delivered innumerable land mark judgement on various aspects. The one such land mark judgement which was delivered by him is ban on smoking on public places like schools, colleges, cinema theatres and other public places. This judgement was very well appreciated by everyone and in particularly by World Health Organisation(WHO) and several other institutions which are fighting smoking. He has also introduced many new schemes and remedial measures to lakhs and lakhs of pilgrims in Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and in Guruvayur Temple in Kerala
Like wise his reforms are much more to the public.
JUSTICE AND HIS FAMILY:
Justice and his wife Smt: Meenakshi Lakshmanan have four children. First son Mr: Arunachala is residing in Kuwait and their second son Mr: Sundaresan is a leading lawyer practicing in Chennai. Both their daughters are happily married and settled. Smt: Meenakshi achi is an example wife and is the supportive wife behind the successful husband. THe happy couple celebrated their sashtiaptha poorthi function this march grandly in Devakottai.
OUR VISIT TO HYDERABAD:
Me and my mum, brother and son visited Justice's house in Hyderabad during the 1st week of june. The elegant bungalow with its dutiful workers conveyed us the respect of the chief justice, and well before we could enter in Smt: Meenakshi achi with her pleasant smile greeted us and she was soon joined by the Justice. He is a very friendly person and when I visited the high court I witnessed his court proceedings He very quickly disposed of many matters after hearing both sides and delivered the judgement as soon as the argument is over. Few lawyers and some litigants expressed happiness and were praising the chief justice for his quick and qualitative disposal of cases. They also said he will always give a patient hearing of the cases, argued by the lawyers.
He is a gifted son to our Nagarathar community. They were very hospitable and we had a pleasant stay at their residence. Justice AR.Lakshmanan is a crown in the nagarathar jewel.
HIS INTERVIEW:
True, number of Law Graduates are coming up every year. But we may notice that new courts as required to meet the needs of the people are not being established every year. In India courts are not in proportion to the population ration. There are also other reasons for the pendency of cases. Filling of cases is on the increase day by-day. Delay in disposal of cases is attributable to various other reasons. Namely lawyers taking adjournments, insufficiency in number of judges, lack of infrastructural facilities, procedural delay etc….
2. Do you think Indian law favor individuals?
Generally speaking, no law will be in favor of individuals. In my view, Indian law and order is not in favor of individuals. An enactment made by the Legislature will be applicable equally to all the individuals irrespective of caste, creed and religion. If any individual for selfish motive exploits the saw, such acts can be challenged in a court of Law and the court in appropriate cases may interfere in the matter. Further, where any provision in any enactment is against public interest, the Law courts may strike down such provisions of law.
All are equal before court of law. No one is entitled to take the law into their hands. If they take the law into their hands, the affected people are not without remedy. They can always approach the law courts or the appropriate forums to set right the things. When it is brought to the notice of the Court, the court will definitely interfere with the actions of the high officials if it is established that they acted against the rule of law.
It is apt to mention here that in cases of alleged illegal detention and torture of innocent persons by the police, the telegrams issued by the kith and kin of the victim persons alleging illegal detention and torture by the police are being treated as writ petitions by the high courts and wherever it is established that the officials have acted illegally and contrary to law, directions are issued for immediate release of the detenus. Legal aid is also being provided in such cases.
In my view the Indian law and order is not incapable of meeting any situation where injustice is done to any individual, be it at the hands of an official or anyone. The arms of courts are long enough to stretch their hands to do justice wherever public interest warrants. Now the courts have recognized right to water and right to pollution free environment as fundamental rights of the citizens under the expanded horizons of Article 21 of the constitution of India. If any exploitation is made in relation to such rights, the court will interfere in the matter and issue appropriate directions.
I am not inclined to answer this question.
No revolution is necessary to alter the existing law system. With the prevailing law system anything can be brought under control. In a democratic system of Government the present anti corruption laws, if implementer properly, in my view are enough to control the evil. More special courts are required to be established to dispose of such nature of cases expeditiously so that there will be no scope for tampering with the evidence and witnesses.
There were very few Nagarathars in the legal profession. Our people were only litigating in courts for their lawful rights and were not lawyer themselves. Now-a-days a trend is set in amongst nagarathar students to study law. Now there are many lawyers of our community practicing in the high court and also at the district and taluk centers. I was the first nagarathar to be elevated as the judge of high court of Madras, appointed by the then President of India Sri R.Venkatraman.
It is sad state of affairs that in our community the marriage breakups are many in number in the recent past. It is true that Nagarathars are drifting away from their staunge heritage and culture. Marriage break-ups are due to asking for more dowry and ill treating the girls by mother-in-law for not bringing more money, jewellery, money for starting business etc. by adopting coercive methods, little realizing that is is an offence punishable under the provisions of the dowry prohibition act and the Indian penal code and if the offence stand proved it will end in imprisonment and payment of fine. Therefore, people particularly younger generation must develop the habit of contented life and not to harass their wives to bring more dowry from her parents or for the other facilities. They must also inculcate themselves the habit of work, earn and enjoy and not depend on the money of other. Everyone must develop on their own and not at the cost of others.
Awareness must also be created among the nagarather ladies. Recently a three day conference was organized at Kovilur Mutt and many spoke on this particular subject. I also addressed them not to indulge in this kind of activities. It there is no union of mind and thought for a peaceful living, the parties must approach the family courts to get divorce. Under section 13-B of the hindu marriage act, decree for divorce by mutual consent by husband and wife figuring as petitioners can be obtained. In my opinion, court can not compel the parties to live together or issue a direction directing both of them to live together. If the parties are not willing to live together, the court should straightaway grant decree for divorce on the joint application of both the parties. After the dissolution of the marriage, they can remarry in accordance with law Bigamy now a day is also on the increase. Bigamy is an offence punishable under section 494 of the Indian penal code. A manor a woman has no right to contract a second marriage when the first marriage is in existence and not dissolved by orders of court. It is not only illegal but should be very severely dealt with through court of law.
Koviloor-Adheenam Nachiappa Gnana Desika Swamigal has now come forward to put up Nararathar vidudhi at TirumalTirupati. His request is under consideration of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Since the Government has already grated permission to the other Mutts like Sri Sankaracharya Mutt, Ahobila Mutt, the government may favorably consider the request of the Kovilur Mutt and may grant land and permit the Mutt to have their branch of Kovilur Mattalaya at Tirumala-Tirupati for the use of our people to stay there during their visit to Tirumala-Tirupati.