Former SC judge, Justice Debapriya Mohapatra passes away at 85

Former Supreme Court judge and ex-Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Debapriya Mohapatra breathed his last at a private hospital in Cuttack on Wednesday.

He was 85 and is survived by his wife and three daughters.

As per reports, Mohapatra was ill for some days and battling old age related health issues.

Prashant Mishra, his son-in-law, said, "We had admitted him to a private hospital 6-7 days back after he complained of chest pain and breathing problem. The doctors tried everything but he did not respond to treatments and finally closed his eyes on the Ganesh Puja."

Mohapatra was born on August 3, 1937 in Cuttack. He studied at Ravenshaw Collegiate School and Christ College in the Silver city before joining the Madhusudan Law College to study law.

He began his professional life in the Orissa High Court and gradually climbed the ladder to be appointed as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court and then going on to serve as a judge in the Supreme Court of India.

Retired judge, Justice PK Mishra said, "Odisha lost an impartial, skilled and honest judge today. As a judge and a man of law, he will remain irreplaceable."

Following his retirement from the apex court, Mohapatra served as the Chairperson of Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) too.