S. R. Nayak

Justice
Subray Rama Nayak
Chairman, Law Commission of Karnataka
In office
27 June 2014 – 26 June 2019
Appointed byH. R. Bhardwaj
Chairperson of Karnataka Human Rights Commission
In office
25 July 2007 – 25 July 2012
Appointed byT. N. Chaturvedi
Preceded byOffice established
5th Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court
In office
17 November 2005 – 31 December 2006
Nominated byR. C. Lahoti
Appointed byA. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Preceded byA. K. Patnaik
Succeeded byH. L. Dattu
Judge of Karnataka High Court
In office
2 January 2003 – 17 November 2005
Nominated byG. B. Pattanaik
Appointed byA. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Acting Chief Justice
In office
20 October 2004 – 18 November 2004
Appointed byA. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Preceded byN. K. Jain
Succeeded byN. K. Sodhi
Judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court
In office
21 March 1994 – 1 January 2003
Nominated byM. N. Venkatachaliah
Appointed byS. D. Sharma
Judge of Karnataka High Court
In office
25 February 1994 – 20 March 1994
Nominated byM. N. Venkatachaliah
Appointed byS. D. Sharma
Personal details
Born(1944-01-01)1 January 1944
Died18 May 2025(2025-05-18) (aged 81)
SpouseShalini V. Kavari from Devarbhavi
EducationLL.B and LL.M
OccupationChief Justice of High Courts
Signature

Subray Rama Nayak (1 January 1944 – 18 May 2025) was an Indian judge who served as the chief justice of Chhattisgarh High Court from 17 November 2005 to 31 December 2006.[1]

Early life

Nayak was born in what is now the Uttara Kannada district Naadumaskeri village into a Nadavaru family, an agriculturist and freedom-fighter family.[2] His mother Nagamma Rama Nayak and father Rama Ranga Nayak along with other families from Ankola region were imprisoned by the British Government for participating in the Quit India Movement, a part of the freedom struggle of India.

Education

Nayak completed his primary education in his native place and high school in Janata Vidyalaya, Dandeli. He received a B.Sc. degree and a LL.B. degree from Mysore University,[3] and LL.M. degree from Bangalore University. Nayak was a part-time lecturer of law from 1975 until he was elevated to the bench. He taught at B.M.S. College of Law, Basavanagudi, Bangalore, and S.L.S.R.C., Havanur College of Law, Bangalore.

As judge

He was elevated to the high court of Karnataka state, India, on 25 February 1994, and subsequently sworn in as judge of the high court of Andhra Pradesh state, India, on 21 March 1994. He was transferred back to Karnataka High Court and was sworn in as a Judge of Karnataka High Court on 2 January 2003. He was the acting chief justice of Karnataka High Court from 20 October 2004 to 18 November 2004.[4]

Nayak assumed charge of the office of chief justice of the high court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur on 17 November 2005. He retired on 1 January 2007.

After his retirement as chief justice, Nayak had two politically appointed positions under the Congress rule in Karnataka. Justice Nayak was appointed the first Chairman of the newly formed Karnataka State Human Rights Commission from 2007 to 2012 and chairman of the Law Commission of Karnataka in June 2014 till June 2019.[5]

Death

Nayak died in Bengaluru on 18 May 2025, at the age of 81.[6]

Awards

The Kannada University at Hampi conferred on him the Naadoja award, The Bangalore University conferred on him the honorary doctorate (laws) in May 2009 and Other Awards.

References

  1. ^ "High Court of Chhattisgarh". highcourt.cg.gov.in. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  2. ^ Former Judges of Chhattisgarh Archived 23 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Yuvaraja College of Mysore University
  4. ^ "Former judges elevated as Chief Justice of other High Courts : Karnataka High Court".
  5. ^ "Profile : S. R. Nayak" (PDF). Karnataka Law Commission. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Justice S.R. Nayak passes away". Star of Mysore. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.

Sources