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Justice (Retd) Rama Jois turns 75
A life full of action
From Arun Kumar in Bangalore
At a function held in Bangalore, elites, friends and relatives greeted Justice (Retd) Rama Jois, who turned 75. Honourable Governor of Karnataka Shri T.N. Chaturvedi was given the first copy of the book titled How to lead a purposeful life by Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph. The book is written by Justice (Retd) Rama Jois himself. The book was also presented by the Jois family to the hundreds of well-wishers who attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Cyriac Joseph said Justice (Retd) Rama Jois is leading a vanaprastha life and quoted an incident from the Bible, comparing the life of Justice (Retd) Rama Jois.
Shri T.N. Chaturvedi recalled about the contributions made by Justice (Retd) Rama Jois to cultural, legal and social fields. ?He is instrumental in starting a research foundation on Jnaneshwar, the first man to write on legal issues in the history of Bharat,? he said.
In the year 1942-43, Rama Jois took part in the Sangh Shiksha Varga (OTC), a training camp for RSS cadres. On the last day of the camp, there was a talent-show programme. Rama Jois was made a lawyer in the defence of a hefty Swayamsevak, D.H. Subbanna (who is now Zilla Sah-Sanghchalak of Shimoga) who was alleged to have consumed more amount of food than what actually he paid as camp fee. Shri H.V. Seshadri was made the judge for this dispute. Rama Jois in his twenties presented the case very well. His argument was: ?Camp fee was not fixed according to the weight or the amount of the food one consumes. If it was the instruction given before the camp, then his client is ready to pay the amount.? So the judgement was given in favour of Rama Jois and his client. That talent show was viewed by the then Prant Pracharak Shri Yadav Rao Joshi. Immediately after the camp he called him to Bangalore and suggested him to join law course. The ambition of Shri Yadav Rao was that Rama Jois should become a famous judge. He gave him all kinds of support to carry on his mission. At that time, Rama Jois become the sub-editor of Vikrama Weekly and continued his education for two years. Thus he finished his law graduation and started the law profession.
In 1975, on June 26, the day of declaration of internal emergency by Indira Gandhi, Atalji, Advaniji, Madhu Dandavateji and S.N. Mishraji were in Bangalore to attend a public meeting. Immediately after the announcement of emergency, all the four were arrested and put in Bangalore Central Jail. At that time, Rama Jois, then a practicing advocate in High Court of Karnataka, took the case and succeeded in getting them shifted to Delhi. Later, he was also arrested and had been kept under MISA for several months in jail.
After emergency, the Janata Party government appointed him the High Court judge. He was very honest in his duty and he earned a good name as an impartial judge in the public mind. Later, he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court merely due to his natural talents, skills of oratory and logics.
Again during the regime of Indira Gandhi?s government, Justice (Retd) Rama Jois opposed the way of appointment of one Supreme Court Judge, superseding his seniority.
Throughout the length of his life, Justice (Retd) Rama Jois stood for justice, transparency and commitment to the work. Even though he was brought up by RSS leaders, entered into the field of law, but during his term as Judge, he never met with any of RSS men. That was his idealism. In fact, this concept of leading a ?real judge?s life? was given by Shri Yadav Rao Joshi himself.
Thus, Justice (Retd) Rama Jois celebrated his 75th birthday in a very purposeful way, by bringing out a meaningful book. This book is more like a reference to values, for which one should stand strongly against all odds. This book is not merely a bunch of suggestions, but a handbook on ?how to lead a life for inner satisfaction?. Let us all hope he leads a more healthy, socially active life in order to dedicate his vast experience and exposure of public life.
(Vishwa Samvad Kendra (Karnataka) #75 Rangarao Road, Shankara-puram, Bangalore-560 004)
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