K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan award

Former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award.

Mr. Thomas, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2007, served as a judge of the Supreme Court of India for nearly six years until his retirement in 2002. He also served as Deputy Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court in 1995. After his retirement, he was appointed to the National Human Rights Commission but chose to decline the post.

Commenting on the honour, Mr Thomas said he learned of the award from New Delhi on Sunday afternoon and was unaware of who had nominated him. “I have informed the authorities about my health condition and hence I will not go to New Delhi for the appointment ceremony to receive the award. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Ports Minister VN Vasavan called me to congratulate me,” he said.

On the recommendation of the Chief Justice of Kerala, Mr. Thomas was appointed chairman of three committees relating to unaided professional colleges and tasked with determining the fees of such institutions for a period of three years. He also chaired a commission that recommended reforms to improve the performance and accountability of the police force in Kerala. He also served as chairman of the Kerala Law Reforms Commission constituted in 2017 and as the State representative on the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee on the Mullaperiyar dam.

Mr. Thomas has been an outspoken public figure and has written seven books. His views on the Mullaperiyar dam, the Church Bill and the RSS sparked widespread controversy.