Ghunandan Swaroop Pathak or ‘R. S. Pathak’ (English: Raghunandan Swarup Pathak, born 25 November 1924; died 17 November 2007) was the former 18th Chief Justice of India. He was the Chief Justice of India from 21 December 1986 to 18 June 1989. R. S. Pathak was also elected as a permanent judge of the International Court of Justice. He served on this post from 1989 to 1991.
Justice R. S. Pathak was born on 25 November 1924 in Bareilly (United Provinces, pre-independence). His father was Gopal Swaroop Pathak and mother was Prakashwati Pathak. R his schooling. S. Pathak received his degree from St. Joseph’s College, Allahabad. Later he obtained a law degree from Allahabad University. R. S. Pathak served as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court from 21 December 1986 to 18 June 1989. In 1978, R. S. Pathak became a judge in the Supreme Court of India and was then made the 18th Chief Justice of the country on December 21, 1986. He is remembered as a judge who was able to bring relative peace to the court. R. S. Pathak served as Chief Justice for two and a half years. During this period, a dozen judges were appointed in the court. R. S. Pathak facilitated an out-of-court settlement in 1989 between Union Carbide Corporation and the Government of India regarding compensation to be paid for the Bhopal gas tragedy. The government had sought $3.3 billion, but received only $470 million and the settlement resulted in the dropping of criminal liability charges against Carbide in the case. Within three months of his retirement R. S. Pathak became a member of the International Court of Justice at The Hague.