(Justice) Ram Bhushan Mehrotra Is No More
Tags: Justice Ram Bhushan Mehrotra, Obituary, Human rights advocate, Minority rights activism
(Justice) Ram Bhushan Mehrotra, a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court and former state President of the Delhi and the U.P. branches of the PUCL is no more. He breathed his last at about 10 pm at his Allahabad residence 3 Patrika Marg on 10 December 2012 at the age of more than 78 years leaving behind him a vacuum which cannot be easily filled.
Justice Mehrotra was born on 3 July 1934 at Kalpi, district Urai (Jalon) in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. After completing his early education at Urai and Jalon, he graduated from the Christ Church College, Kanpur and obtained his law degree from Kanpur University during which period he also came into contact with the socialist thinker Surendra Mohan. Even during his school days he was greatly influenced by the ideas of Dr. Lohia, Raj Narayan, Ramsevak Yadav, Commander Arjun Singh Bhadauria, Prof. V. D. Sahi and Chandrashekhar which drew him towards the socialist values. After practicing in various courts he was appointed a Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1990 and after retirement started practicing in the Supreme Court during which period he came into contact with other socialist leaders like Kishan Patnaik, Ravi Rai and Madhu Dandavate. At the time of his death he was an important member of the Socialist Party (India).
Justice Mehrotra was a strong proponent and crusader for an equitable society based on freedom and respect for all individuals irrespective of his or her caste, religion, language, sex or place of birth. He was firm in his beliefs but very soft in his dealings. Although he had a strong faith in the political institutions, he was open for suggestions and discussions and believed in reaching a consensus based on rational thinking and persuasion before launching any programme. His approach was all-inclusive and he would not let anybody be alienated, as a result of which he commanded everybody’s respect and love equally.
As the President of the Delhi PUCL he took up the cause of the minority community living in the Seelampur area of Delhi and started many programmes of Human Rights awareness in the area. The people of the area still remember him with respect for the fact-finding inquiry and the relief he could secure for the family of a Muslim young man who was brutally killed by some policemen in that area. He also took upon himself the task of fighting for the rehabilitation of thousands of the poor living at the Yamuna Bank whose shanties were burnt down to ashes in a major fire which had broken out there. He was also a member of the Editorial Board of the PUCL Bulletin.
Justice Mehrotra will always be remembered with respect and love by those who had worked with him for the protection and promotion of civil liberties and the rights of the people, particularly of the marginalized sections of our society, thanks to his socialist leanings. The whole PUCL family pays its respects to his memories and sends its condolences to his bereaved family members and friends.