K.T. Thomas conferred Padma Vibhushan award

Former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.

A recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2007, Mr. Thomas served as a judge of the Supreme Court of India for nearly six years until his retirement in 2002. He also officiated as the Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court in 1995. Following his retirement, he was appointed to the National Human Rights Commission but chose to decline the position.

Commenting on the honour, Mr. Thomas said he learned about the award from New Delhi by Sunday afternoon and was unaware of who had nominated him. “I have apprised the authorities about my health condition and, therefore, will not be travelling to New Delhi for the investiture ceremony to receive the award. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Ports Minister V. N. Vasavan called to congratulate me over the phone,” he said.

On the recommendation of the Chief Justice of Kerala, Mr. Thomas was appointed chairperson of three committees related to unaided professional colleges, tasked with fixing fees for such institutions for a three-year period. He also headed a commission to suggest reforms to improve the performance and accountability of the police force in Kerala. In addition, he served as chairperson of the Kerala Law Reforms Commission, constituted in 2017, and as the State’s representative on the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee on the Mullaperiyar dam.

Mr. Thomas has been a forthright public voice and has authored seven books. His positions on the Mullaperiyar dam, the Church Bill and the RSS have sparked widespread debates.