Koka Subba Rao

Koka Subba Rao
Chief Justice of India
In office
1966–1967
Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court
In office
1956–1958
Personal details
Born July 15, 1902(1902-07-15)
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh
Died May 6, 1976(1976-05-06)

Justice K. Subba Rao or Koka Subba Rao (Telugu: కోకా సుబ్బారావు) (born July 15, 1902 - May 6, 1976) was a judge and later the Chief Justice of India at the Supreme Court of India (1958-1967).Before becoming a judge at the Supreme Court he was the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. [1],[2]

Contents

[hide]

Early life

He was born at Rajahmundry on the banks of Godavari river on July 15, 1902 in adi Velama family. His father was a lawyer, died early. He graduated at Government Arts College, Rajamundry and studied law at Madras Law College. He was good sportsman and ever helpful to his friends.

Professional life

He joined the office of his father-in-law, P.Venkata Raman Rao Naidu, who was junior of the Andhra Kesari Prakasam Pantulu. He was recruited as District Munsif and worked for few months in Bapatla, Guntur district.

After Venkata Raman Rao was elevated as Judge of Madras High Court, Subbarao partnered with gifted brother-in-law P. V. Rajamannar, who later became Advocate-General and Chief Justice of Madras High Court. They commanded the cream of legal work from all parts of composite Madras state. He was elevated to the Bench in 1948.

After the separation of Andhra, Rajaji wanted to send Govinda Menon, a senior judge to head the Andhra Pradesh High Court to be established in Guntur in 1954. But Prakasam insisted on having Subbarao as the Special Officer to facilitate the formation of High Court. Automatically he became the Chief Justice.

When Sri Venkateswara University was established at Tirupati in 1954, Subbarao became its first Chancellor and remained in the position till the University Act was amended restoring the Chancellorship to the Governor.

After tenures as a judge at Madras High Court and a Chief Justice at Andhra Pradesh High Court, he was appointed as a Supreme Court judge on January 31, 1958. He was appointed as Chief Justice of India on June 30, 1966. His most famous judgment was for the landmark Golaknath v. State of Punjab case where he ruled that Fundamental Rights could not be amended.

Subba Rao retired on April 11, 1967 to contest in the fourth presidential elections as the consensus candidate of opposition parties.[3]

Political life

He has contested for the President of India in 1967 as a candidate of united opposition parties. He lost the elections to Zakir Hussain.

He died on May 6, 1976.

Honours

References

Notes

Legal offices
Preceded by
A. K. Sarkar
Chief Justice of India
30 June 1966 – 11 April 1967
Succeeded by
Kailas Nath Wanchoo