Former Chief Justice of India Jagdish Sharan Verma, who headed a three-member panel to examine laws on crimes against women, passed away in New Delhi last night, after a multi-organ failure. He was 80.

Justice Verma was admitted to Medanta Medicity Hospital in neighbouring Gurgaon on Friday with a serious liver condition.

Justice Verma had recently headed a panel to frame a tough law to combat crimes against women. The panel of Justice Verma, Justice Leila Seth and Gopal Subramaniam was set up in the aftermath of the December 16 gang-rape of a para-medical student in Delhi last year.

The new anti-rape law passed by Parliament in March incorporates some of the recommendations made by the Justice Verma Commission.

Justice Verma was the 27th Chief Justice of India from March 25, 1997 to January 18, 1998. He was a man of vast understanding and knowledge of Law. He was respected for his path-breaking judgements, his deep sensitivity to the concerns of the common man and commitment to public good.

He also served as the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission and the News Broadcasters’ Standards Authority.