The Jurist who touched Great Heights

Justice (Retired) Rama Jois, eminent jurist and former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand, died on February 16, 2021. He was 89. Rama Jois was also a writer and historian.

 

Shri Rama Jois was born in Karnataka’s Shivamogga on July 27, 1932. Later, he served as Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court. He was also a senior Supreme Court lawyer and former member of the Rajya Sabha. Rama Jois had written several books like ‘Legal and Constitutional History of India: Ancient, Judicial and Constitutional System’ and ‘Seeds of Modem Public Law in Ancient Indian Jurisprudence’.

 

Shri Rama Jois became RSS swayamsevak at a very tender age. In 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 defence of a hefty Swayamsevak, D.H. Subbanna (who is now Zilla Sah-Sanghchalak of Shimoga), who was alleged to have consumed more food than what he paid as a camp fee. Shri H.V. Seshadri was made the judge for this dispute. Rama Jois, in his 20s’, presented the case very well. His argument was that the camp fee was not fixed according to the weight or the amount of the food one consumes. If the instruction was 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 that he join a law course. Shri Yadav Rao wanted Rama Jois to become a famous judge. He gave him all kind of support to carry on his mission. At that time, Rama Jois became 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 up in Bangalore Central Jail. At that time, Rama Jois, then a practising advocate in the High Court of Karnataka, took up the case and succeeded in getting them shifted to Delhi. Later, he was also arrested and kept under MISA for several months in jail.

 

In 2013, Rama Jois moved a private member resolution in Rajya Sabha appealing for the constitution of a National Reconciliation Adalat for establishing a Communal Riot Free India. The resolution includes the enacting of uniform law in the matter of marriage and divorce, a total ban on cow slaughter though it is a mandate of article 48 of the Constitution and many more.

 

In his book Message From Parliament House, Bharat, Rama Jois writes a quotation from Manusmriti, most appropriate for the MPs, which says, “Either one may not enter the Assembly Hall, or having entered, he/she must righteously speak the truth. The one who does not speak and the one who speaks falsely will be a sinner.”

 

The book illustrates that It is not just the Constitution of India but also wisdom in several of our sacred texts and classical literature that guides parliamentarians in the world’s largest democracy. From the entry gates of both Houses of Parliament to the domes to the lobby and lifts, our elected representatives are reminded constantly of their ‘Dharma’, their duty to the society and the nation.

 

Shri Rama Jois was a long time reader and a contributor to the Organiser weekly. We deeply mourn his demise and pray for the departed soul.