Almost everything in the remarkable career of Justice M. Fathima Beevi, who died here at the age of 96, was a first.
In 1950, she was the first student to complete a degree in law with full marks in all subjects, and eight years later, she emerged first in a competitive exam conducted by the Public Service Commission and joined the judicial services as a munsiff. Years later, she became the first woman member of the country’s Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, before becoming the first Muslim woman to enter the higher judiciary as a judge with the Kerala High Court in 1983.
Determined to recast the role of women in Indian judiciary, she then went on to become the first woman judge in the Supreme Court of India, six years later.
Fathima Beevi was born to Annaveetil Meeran Sahib and Khadeeja Beevi of Pathanamthitta in 1927. She completed her schooling at the Catholicate High School and did an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University College, Thiruvanathapuram. In line with her father’s aspiration to make her a lawyer, she did a degree in law and enrolled as lawyer in November 1950.
She was the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001, and her most controversial decision was to administer the oath of office and secrecy to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa within hours of the AIADMK securing a majority in the Assembly election in May 2001. Jayalalithaa had suffered disqualification from contesting elections that year on account of her conviction in two TANSI land deal cases.
Eventually in September that year, the Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa. Fathima Beevi’s tenure ended abruptly in a couple of months after the swearing in of Jayalalithaa. Following the midnight arrest of then DMK president M. Karunanidhi in a corruption case, the Centre was displeased with the report submitted by her.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice K.T.Thomas, who has served with Ms. Beevi in the Kerala High Court, recalled her as a prolific judge who was never rude nor patronising . ``She was not afraid to record her opinion when she felt it was due. I still remember the instance in which the Supreme Court once accepted her dissent note as a division bench judge in a case involving the Rubber Board, MRF Tyres and the Union of India ‘’, he said.
Having chosen to lead a solitary life for her seven siblings, Justice Beevi used to take trips across the country with the family of justice Thomas. ``I still remember her once taking part in an evening prayer held at the Somnath temple in Junagadh during a visit to Gujrath’’, he added.
Former High Court judge K.Hema regards Fathima Beevi as a `highly respected personality’. ``Having started her career in judicial service as a munsiff, the way she rose through the ranks to adorn a position at the pinnacle of Indian judiciary is simply impressive. What we have to take note at this juncture is that she achieved all these in her life at a time when women barely made their entry into the legal profession’’, noted Justice Hema.
Ms.Beevi, who concealed a steely determination beneath a controlled and calm exterior, was also noted for her firm views as a judge. She fitted in with the classical definition of a judge as given by Socrates. She was patient in hearing and sober while considering cases. She used to give her answers wisely and decided things impartially. The entire Bar liked her’’, said K.Narayana Kurup, former acting Chief Justice with the Madras High Court.
Justice Kurup also has fond memories of his personal interaction was the late justice Beevi while she was serving as the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
While her professional career as a judge was completely non-controversial, it worked just the other way around in her tryst with politics. Having been appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu in 1997 after stepping down as chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, her office presided over several controversial events that varied from the invite extended to the late J. Jayalalithaa for forming the government to the arrest of the late M. Karunanidhi.
(With inputs from B. Kolappan)
