Palanisamy Sathasivam (born 27 April 1949) is a retired Indian jurist who served as the 40th Chief Justice of India (2013–2014) and subsequently as the 21st Governor of Kerala (2014–2019). He is noted for a prolific judicial career, authoring over three hundred Supreme Court judgments, many of which have had significant impact on Indian law and public policy.
Early life and education
- Birth: 27 April 1949, Kadappanallur village near Bhavani, Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Family: Son of Palanisamy and Natchiyammal.
- Education: Completed a Bachelor of Arts degree followed by a Bachelor of Laws (B.L.) at the Government Law College, Chennai (affiliated with the University of Madras). He also pursued further studies at Madurai Kamaraj University.
Legal career
- Advocacy: Enrolled as an advocate on 25 July 1973, practising primarily at the Madras High Court in civil, criminal, and writ matters.
- Government pleader: Served as Additional Government Pleader and later as Special Government Pleader for the State of Tamil Nadu.
Judicial appointments
| Position | Court / Office | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Judge | Madras High Court | 8 January 1996 – 20 April 2007 |
| Judge | Punjab and Haryana High Court (transfer) | 20 April 2007 – 21 August 2007 |
| Judge | Supreme Court of India | 21 August 2007 – 18 July 2013 |
| Chief Justice of India | Supreme Court of India | 19 July 2013 – 26 April 2014 |
| Governor | State of Kerala | 5 September 2014 – 4 September 2019 |
Chief Justice of India
Appointed by President Pranab Mukherjee, Sathasivam succeeded Justice Altamas Kabir and was succeeded by Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha. During his tenure, he authored 338 Supreme Court judgments. Notable decisions include:
- Reliance Gas Judgment (May 2010): Emphasised that national assets belong to the people and must be used for public benefit.
- Graham Staines triple‑murder case: Delivered the conviction and sentencing in the high‑profile murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons.
- Dara Singh commutation: Reduced the death penalty to life imprisonment in a controversial case involving a Bajrang Dal activist.
- Jessica Lal murder case (April 2010): Upheld the conviction in the 1999 murder of bartender Jessica Lal.
- 1993 Mumbai bombings case (with Justice B. S. Chauhan): Sentenced actor Sanjay Dutt and others for involvement in the bombings.
Governorship of Kerala
Upon retirement, Sathasivam became the first former Chief Justice to be appointed a state governor. His term (2014–2019) was marked by:
- Being the first Governor of Kerala appointed under the Narendra Modi government.
- Continuing public service initiatives related to legal awareness and social welfare.
- Succeeding Sheila Dikshit and later being succeeded by Arif Mohammad Khan.
Personal life
- Spouse: Saraswathi.
- Health: Publicly known to have vitiligo, a skin‑pigmentation condition.
Legacy
P. Sathasivam is recognized for his extensive jurisprudential contributions, particularly in matters of public interest, human rights, and the interpretation of state ownership of natural resources. His transition from the judiciary to a constitutional executive role underscores the permeability between India’s legal and political institutions.
References
- “P. Sathasivam.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved via Jina AI summarization of the article (accessed 2026).
- Supreme Court of India – Judge profiles.
- Government of Kerala – List of Governors.