Kerala High Court Holds Full Court Reference To Condole Demise Of Former Acting Chief Justice V.P. Mohan Kumar

Justice Kumar, who served as a judge to both the Kerala and Karnataka High Courts and also as the Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024.

Justice Kumar was born into a family of lawyers in the North Malabar in Kerala. After completing law, Justice Kumar enrolled as an advocate in 1962 and started his practice in Thalassery in Kerala. He later shifted his practice to the Kerala High Court and set up his independent practice in 1980.

Justice Kumar was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court on January 03, 1994, and was transferred to Karnataka High Court on January 14, 1994. Justice Kumar became a Permanent Judge of the Karnataka High Court on October 19, 1994. He was transferred back to the Kerala High Court on June 01, 2001. On May 25, 2002, Justice Kumar became the Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court and continued in the position till his retirement on June 06, 2002, on attaining superannuation. Justice Kumar also served in the Kerala State Human Rights Commission after his retirement, from 2004 to 2009.

Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque in memory of Justice Kumar said, “On the occasion, I wish to recall the words of Justice Cyriac Joseph, then senior most judge of this Court at the farewell reference held in honour of Justice V P Mohan Kumar. Mr Justice Mohan Kumar has served the cause of justice with dedication and distinction. As a lawyer for more than three decades and as a judge of eight and a half years. He had good fortune to adorn the bench in two High Courts, the High Court of Kerala and High Court of Karnataka. Justice Mohan Kumar has delivered many important judgements which are noted for their depth, clarity and sensitivity. He will be remembered for his sensitivity to human problems and his quality of judgements…..He has won many admirers for his deep knowledge, practical wisdom and sound common sense, legal erudition and sense of humour….He is a gentleman among judges and a judge among gentlemen.”

Advocate General K Gopalakrishna Kurup, speaking during the Reference mentioned Justice Kumar's contributions to the commissions inquiry in the Kalluvathukkal Hooch tragedy. AG Kurup highlighted Justice Kumar's significant contributions while serving in the Kerala State Human Rights Commission. These include issuing directives to reduce the weight of school bags of students, against the long-drawn school assemblies under scorching sun, maintenance of right to privacy in news reporting, regulation of nursing institutions in Karnataka and so on.