KK Usha, Former Chief Justice Of Kerala High Court Passes Away At The Age Of 81

Justice KK Usha, the former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court died at the age of 81 in Kochi on Monday. She underwent a spinal cord surgery last week at a private hospital. She passed away following a cardiac arrest last evening.

What You Should Know

• Justice KK Usha, the former chief justice of Kerala High court died at the age of 81 in Kochi on Monday. 
• KK Usha was the first woman to be directly elevated to the HC bench from the bar.
• She served as the high court chief Justice from 2000-2001.
• She is survived by husband Justice Sukumaran and daughters Lakshmi Gopal Raj and Lawyer Karthika Sukumaran.

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Justice KK Usha was the first woman to be directly elevated to the HC bench from the bar. She served as High Court Chief Justice from 2000-2001. After retirement, she headed the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal in Delhi from 2001 to 2004. Following her demise, CM Pinarayi Vijayan offered his condolences and said that Justice Usha had offered women’s perspective on several crucial women’s issues. He further added that “Justice Usha began her career as a lawyer at a time when women were very few in the profession. She rose to the position of Chief Justice through her sheer determination and hard work.”

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She is survived by husband Justice Sukumaran and daughters Lakshmi Gopal Raj and Lawyer Karthika Sukumaran. Her body will be cremated at the Ravipuram crematorium after 12:30 pm today, reports The New Indian Express.

About Justice KK Usha

KK Usha began her journey in 1961 as an advocate. Justice Usha represented the country at the International Convention of the International Federation of Women Lawyers at Hamburg in 1975. Along with that, she also represented India in the UN’s Joint Seminar on the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. She actively took part in the activities of 'Sree Narayana Sevika Samajam' an orphanage and home for destitute women.

Image Credit: manoramaonline.com

Arunima Sharma is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.