Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) RC Lahoti passed away on Wednesday. He was 81.

He served as CJI from June 2004 to October 2005.

Justice Lahoti was born on November 1, 1940 and enrolled as a lawyer in 1962.

In April, 1977, recruited directly from the Bar to the State higher judicial service and was appointed as a District and Sessions Judge.

He, however, resigned from the position in May 1978 and reverted to law practice.

He was later appointed additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on May 3, 1988 and made permanent judge on August 4, 1989. He was transferred to the Delhi High Court in February 1994.

Justice Lahoti was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on December 9, 1998 and took over as CJI on June 1, 2004 before retiring on October 31, 2005.

In 2006, then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh presented him with National Law Day Award for his unique contribution in the field of administration of justice making it more friendly to the people at large.

Justice Lahoti also had immense interest in legal aid services and alternate dispute resolution systems. He was also keenly interested in educational reforms and in propagating Indian cultural values and traditions.