Justice Rajinder Sachar passes away

New Delhi: Former chief justice of Delhi, noted human rights activist, and chairman of the Sachar Committee Justice Rajinder Sachar (94) died at a private hospital in Delhi. He has been under treatment The funeral will be held at the crematorium in Lodhi Road.

Mr. Sachar enrolled as an Advocate in April, 1952, and began practising at the Supreme Court from December, 1960. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of Delhi High Court in February, 1970, and was confirmed as a Permanent Judge in July, 1972, later becoming Chief Justice in August, 1985. He served in the post till December.

Since his retirement in December, 1985, he has been associated with the rights group, People’s Union for Civil Liberties.

He was more noted later as the chairman of the commission, called after him since, appointed by the first UPA government to study with socio-conomic and educational condition of Muslims. The findings of the study have been extensively debated, and served as eye-opener to the condition of the community and the areas where Muslims lagged behind. The report was also used with its exhaustive statistical content as basis for remedial actions by central and state governments subsequently.