Justice Nanje Gowda Venkatachala, former Karnataka Lokayukta and retired Supreme Court judge, passed away on Wednesday morning in Bengaluru. He was 89. He was known for bringing back into action the Lokayukta, the anti corruption body, in Karnataka.
"Justice N Venkatachala had an accidental fall at home after getting up the morning at 6 am. He was brought to Emergency room at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital in an unresponsive state at 6.30 am. Despite all resuscitate measures, he remained unresponsive. He was declared no more at 7 am," according to a statement from the hospital.
He is survived by his daughter, Dr Aruna Ramesh and his son-in-law, Dr Ramesh D.
Born on July 3, 1930, Justice Venkatachala finished his schooling in Mulbagal, his high school education in Kolar and his college education in Bengaluru. He obtained his BSc and BL degree from Mysore University.
Justice Venkatachala enrolled in the then High Court of Mysore (now Karnataka) on November 16, 1955. He practiced in civil, criminal and constitutional matters.
He was appointed as the High Court Government Pleader from 1968 to 1973 and then was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court on November 28, 1977. He became a permanent judge on September 8, 1978.
He was a legal adviser to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal from 1963 to 1973, and to Bangalore University from 1970 to 1973.
In 1990, he was appointed to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In May 1992, he was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court and then was elevated to the Supreme Court on July 1, 1992. He retired as a Supreme Court judge on July 2, 1995.
After his retirement, he was appointed as the Karnataka Lokayukta on July 2, 2001. During his term, he looked into over 50,000 cases and complaints of misconduct and though there was a public campaign to bring him back for a second term, the legal bar on reappointments stopped this from happening.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has condoled the former judge’s death.
“The death of Justice N Venkatachala, the judge who brought honour to the action of Lokayukta is an irreparable loss. He worked hard to bring justice to everyone and for a corruption free society. May the lord give his family and countless fans the power to endure the loss,” Yediyurappa tweeted.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also expressed grief at the judge’s death.
“Saddened by the demise of Former Karnataka Lokayukta & Rtd. Supreme Court Judge Shri. Venkatachala. His contribution to fight against corruption shall always be remembered. My deepest condolences to his family & friends,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.
