Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and a noted rights activist Justice Rajinder Sachar is no more.
A committee under Sachar had brought to the fore poor socio-economic and educational conditions of the Muslim community in India thereby prompting the government to formulate a 15-point agenda programme for their welfare,
He passed away on Friday at the age of 94.
Sachar was admitted to the Fortis Hospital earlier this week for treatment.
"He was a patient of Ischemic heart disease and was put on pacemaker a couple of months back and had undergone stenting for blocked vessels in the heart. He was admitted to the hospital earlier this week. He was not able to take food and was having recurrent vomiting. He developed pneumonia and later succumbed to it," a news agency quoted an unnamed family member of Sachar as saying.
Sachar was cremated here at the Lodhi Road crematorium in the presence of his family members, friends and other dignitaries, which included leaders of various political parties.
Sachar served as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court from August 6, 1985 to December 22, 1985. After retirement, he turned a human rights activists and remained associated with the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
He was also a member of the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
Political leaders, lawyers, rights activists and people from different walks of life paid their warm tributes to Sachar.
"India has lost a judicial luminary and a true human rights advocate. I will always remember Justice Rajinder Sachar as a friend for his motivation and guidance. My thoughts and prayers with his family," Noble laureate and rights activist Kailash Satyarthi said.
International rights body Amnesty India described Justice Sachar as "a true human rights champion," saying, "we're deeply saddened by his demise."
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in a tweet, said Justice Sachar was "an activist judge and a wonderful person".
"Saddened by the demise of former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court Justice Rajinder Sachar. My condolences & prayers are with the bereaved family. May God render peace to the departed soul. Om Shanti," the tweet read.
All India United Democratic Front president and a member of the Lok Sabha from Assam M Badruddin Ajmal said India has lost "one of the finest jurists of present times" with the demise of Justice Sachar.
"Deeply saddened by the demise of Justice Rajinder Sachar. My condolences to his family members and near ones," he said.