Konakuppakatil Gopinathan Balakrishnan, born on May 12, 1945, is a renowned Indian jurist who served as the 37th Chief Justice of India from January 14, 2007, to May 12, 2010.
He made history by becoming the first Dalit to hold the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, breaking significant caste barriers in India’s judicial system.
Balakrishnan began his legal career after earning his LL.B. and LL.M. from Government Law College, Ernakulam. He enrolled as an advocate in 1968, practicing both civil and criminal law before joining the Kerala Judicial Service in 1973 as a Munsiff.
After returning to legal practice, he was appointed judge of the Kerala High Court in 1985. He later served as Chief Justice of the Gujarat and Madras High Courts before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2000.
During his tenure, he authored 219 judgments and contributed to key rulings on caste reservations, human rights, and election law. After retirement, he served as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (2010–2015).
Justice Balakrishnan's career remains a powerful symbol of resilience, integrity, and social progress.
