Justice Punnaiah: A legal luminary par excellence

The sad demise of Justice K Punnaiah (96) is a great loss to the toiling masses and discriminated sections including democratic forces in the society. An upright man to the core, a reluctant legislator and a legal luminary and judge with passion – his contribution will be remembered by the two Telugu speaking States for long. 

He had quit studies to take an entry into the freedom movement. He was of the firm opinion that it was the failure of implementing authorities that led to the continuing social problems including discrimination against Dalits in the society. 

For a brief period, he was a lawyer in Srikakulam district court during 1952-53. Then he took to politics and was MLA for two terms and served as the ZP vice-chairman. As politics was not his cup of tea, he took a right decision to continue in judiciary. He also served in the Andhra Pradesh high court from 1974 to 1985.

He has been a strong advocate of parliamentary democracy. As a member of the Constitution Review Committee during NDA-1 regime, Justice K Punnaiah took a consistent position that there was no justification to switch over to the presidential system as parliamentary democracy, which forms the bedrock of the Indian Constitution. 

His ground-breaking work as the Chairman of SC/ST Commission, which was formed by the then TDP government in 2001, bowing to the public pressure due to the struggles unleashed by Kula Vivaksha Vyathireka Porata Sangham (KVPS), had far reaching consequences. 

It led to the higher consciousness among Dalits and the materialisation of SC/ST Budgetary Sub-Plan had roots in it. Deep condolences to the bereaved family members.
A Raghunatha Reddy, NGO Colony, Kadapa