Former SC judge Ratnavel Pandian passes away

: Former Supreme Court judge Justice S Ratnavel Pandian passed away here today after a brief illness.
He was 89.
Ratnavel Pandian is survived by five sons and a daughter, family sources said.
Subbaiah, a sitting judge of the Madras High Court, is his son, they added.
His wife pre-deceased him.
He served as Supreme Court judge from 1988 to 1994.

After retirement as judge of the Apex court, he was appointed chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
Pandian, a native of Thirupadaimarudur village in Tirunelveli district, was born on February 13, 1929.
He was an advocate for nearly 17 years and in August 1971 was appointed State Public Prosecutor in the High Court of Madras, a post he held until he was elevated as judge in 1974.

Pandian twice served as the acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.