Ranganath Misra (English: Ranganath Misra, born – 25 November, 1926; died – 13 September, 2012) was the former 21st Chief Justice of India. He held the post of Chief Justice of India from 26 September 1990 to 24 November 1991. He was also the first chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of India. He also served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the Congress Party between 1998 and 2004. Ranganath Mishra was the second Supreme Court judge to become a Rajya Sabha member after Baharul Islam, who was elected as a member of the Indian National Congress.
Ranganath Mishra was born on 25 November 1926 in Banpur, Odisha in an Odia Brahmin family. His father’s name was Godavaris Mishra. Father was an Odia litterateur and Congress politician. Father had three children, of whom Ranganath Mishra was the youngest of three sons. His eldest brother Loknath Mishra was a prominent politician belonging to the Janata Party. The second brother Raghunath Mishra was a politician belonging to the Congress Party.[1]
Ranganath Mishra studied at Banpur High School and joined P.M. Academy and later Ravenshaw College and Allahabad University.
Ranganath Mishra was enrolled as an advocate of the Orissa High Court on 18 September 1950. He practised law at Cuttack where he remained until 1969 when he was appointed as a permanent judge of the Orissa High Court. From 6 November 1980 to 16 January 1981 he was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court. From 16 January 1981 he was appointed as the permanent Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
Ranganath Misra was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1983. He became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India on 26 September 1990 and retired on 24 November 1991. He also served as the Chief Scout of the All India Boy Scouts Association in 1992. Ranganath Misra was the only member of the Justice Ranganath Misra Inquiry Commission, a commission that led the investigation into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and prepared a report. He was also a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from the Congress Party between 1998-2004.[1]
Ranganath Mishra died on 13 September 2012 (aged 85) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha after a prolonged illness at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
