Template:Infobox Judge Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu (born 3 December 1950) is a former Chief Justice of India (CJI),[1] and the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.[2] As the CJI he served for nearly 14 months, from 28 September 2014 to 2 December 2015. Before his elevation as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 17 December 2008; he had served as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court and Chhattisgarh High Court.[3][4][5][6]
Early life and education
Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was born in Chikkapattanagere village in Chikmagalur district of Mysore State (present-day Karnataka). His father H L Narayanaswamy was an English teacher. He completed his early education in Kadur, Tarikere, and Birur, before moving to Bengaluru where he completed his LLB.[7][8]
Career
As a lawyer
Dattu was enrolled as an advocate at the bar on 23 October 1975. He practised at Bengaluru in civil, criminal, constitutional, and taxation matters. He appeared as government counsel in the Karnataka High court for the sales tax department from 1983 to 1990, government advocate from 1990 to 1993, standing counsel for the income tax department from 1992 to 1993, and a senior standing counsel for the Income Tax department from 1993 to 1995.[3][4]
As a judge
Dattu was appointed a judge of the Karnataka High Court on 18 December 1995. Thereafter, on 12 February 2007; he was elevated as Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court. On 18 May 2007, he was transferred to head the Kerala High Court.[3] On 5 September 2014, the President of India had appointed Dattu as the next Chief Justice of India, on the recommendation of CJI R M Lodha. On 28 September 2014, he was sworn in as the 42nd Chief Justice of India.[9] He held the post for a little over a year until his retirement on 2 December 2015, on turning 65 years of age – one of the longest tenures for a CJI in recent years.[3][4]
In February 2014, Dattu was nominated by then CJI P Sathasivam as the CJI's nominee to the five-membered panel to appoint the Lokpal.[10] He is the visitor of Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur.[11]
In February 2016, Dattu began serving as the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India.[2]
Personal life
Dattu is a connoisseur of Carnatic music.[3] He is known for his hard work and, is considered as a disciplinarian.[7]
Allegations
Dattu had corruption charges levelled against him before he became chief justice. Justice Katju has taken up the issue in his blog posts, where he called for Dattu's impeachment on charges of corruption.[12][13]
Dattu was also involved in controversy after he asked for the names of whistleblowers to be revealed in the 2G spectrum case.[14]
References
- ↑ Hon'ble Mr. Justice Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Justice H.L. Dattu joins NHRC as Chairperson. Business Standard(29 February 2016). Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Justice H L Dattu Sworn-in as Chief Justice of India. New Indian Express(28 September 2014). Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Welcome Chief Justice of India HL Dattu: Sworn in for 14-month term(28 September 2014). Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ Hon'ble Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu. Supreme Court of India. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ Chief Justice H. L. Dattu. Kerala High Court. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hard Taskmaster Dattu Steps in as CJI. The New Indian Express(28 September 2014). Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ↑ Next Chief Justice a ‘court employee’ who guards his personal space. Indian Express. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ↑ Justice HL Dattu appointed next Chief Justice of India. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ↑ CJI nominates Justice Dattu to Lokpal selection panel. Indian Express(3 February 2014). Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ About HNLU. Hidayatullah National Law University. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ Katju's challenge – Impeach Dattu or jail me for contempt, Rao, Krishnaraj. Saddahaq.com(13 June 2015). Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ↑ The Supreme Court’s Remarks Against Sanjiv Bhatt Violate Its Own Earlier Verdicts, Katju, Markandey. Thewire.in(15 October 2015). Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- ↑ Chief Justice in Waiting HL Dattu is not good news for civil society and investigating journalists, says Vrinda Gopinath, Gopinath, Vrinda. Altgaze.com(24 September 2014). Retrieved 15 June 2016.
External links
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