A distinguished jurist and prolific author, Justice C.K. Thakker, born on November 10, 1943, has made significant contributions to Indian law both on and off the bench. His career is marked by a deep engagement with legal academia and a commitment to legal scholarship.
Justice Thakker's academic journey began in Mander and Madhavpur, culminating in an LL.B. degree from M.P. Shah Law College, Jamnagar, and an LL.M. from Gujarat University. He started his practice in the High Court of Gujarat in 1968.
From 1970 until his elevation as a Judge of the High Court of Gujarat on June 21, 1990, he served as a Part-Time Lecturer in Law at Sir L.A. Shah Law College, Ahmedabad. Subsequently, he became the Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, on May 5, 2000, and later the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay on December 31, 2001. He also served as the Acting Governor of Maharashtra from July to October 2002. Justice Thakker was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on June 7, 2004.
Beyond his judicial roles, Justice Thakker is renowned for his extensive legal writings. His books, including 'Lectures on Administrative Law' and 'Civil Procedure,' have been widely appreciated in India and abroad. His 'Administrative Law' was lauded by legal luminaries like Justice M. Hidayatullah and Lord Denning for its thoroughness and insight.
Justice Thakker also revised V.G. Ramachandran's 'Law of Writs,' dedicating the edition to Lord Denning, and authored the 'Code of Civil Procedure, 1908,' a comprehensive treatise in five volumes. Additionally, he revised Ratanlal and Dhirajlal's 'Law of Crimes,' a classic work on Indian penal law. His contributions extend to 'Halsbury’s Laws of India,' where he authored the volume on Civil Procedure.
Justice C.K. Thakker retired on November 10, 2008, leaving behind a legacy of judicial service and scholarly contributions to the field of law.
