Justice P.N. Bhagwati (1921–2017), former Chief Justice of India, transformed Indian constitutional law through judicial activism, PIL, and the doctrine of absolute liability. He expanded Article 21 to include dignity, fairness, and socio-economic rights, championed bonded labor abolition, strengthened judicial independence, and made justice accessible even via letters. Landmark cases like Maneka Gandhi, Francis Coralie Mullin, Bandhua Mukti Morcha, MC Mehta, and SP Gupta reflect his philosophy of a living Constitution serving the marginalized. Despite his controversial role in ADM Jabalpur, Bhagwati’s legacy lies in embedding human dignity, accountability, and access to justice at the heart of Indian jurisprudence.
