Tributes

K.L. Misra in Bombay High Court by Justice Markandey Katju

Sir Auther Quinal Quach

‘It is the Englishman who has conquered India but it is only an Indian (K.L. Misra) who has conquered English’

Chief Justice Coyajee

‘Irrespective of the decision of this case, I have never heard such an argument in my career at the Bar and the Bench.’

Justice S.R. Das, Chief Justice of India

‘Mr. Misra, why don’t you more often appear in the Supreme Court. In the cases in which you appear it raises the standard of our judgments.’

Sir Earl Warren, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of U.S.A.

`I as a judge of the Supreme Court of U.S.A. should not be emotional, but I must confess, I have moved all over the world, but was never moved more emotionally than by the speech of the learned Advocate General (K.L. Misra) today.’

Mr. Sheerwai

‘When Mr. Misra arrived and we had consultations, he was quite. I thought the bulk of the argument is going to fall on my shoulders. But after hearing his brilliant arguments for several days, my feeling is, even if I add something more than what has been submitted, I would only be able to scratch or wash off the beautiful varnish put by him.’

Kanga – President of the Bombay Bar

‘I have been telling my juniors from the last few decades how a case should be argued, but till Mr. Misra arrived in this court I could not give any practical example.’

Karpatriji - after K.L. Misra persuaded the Shankeracharya of Puri to break his fast-unto-death

‘We have heard about computers in the west – you put your questions and get ready made answers, but never heard of a human computer which we have found in Mr. Misra.’

Sri. S.N. Mulla

‘Mr. Misra never clamoured for the front line. He took his seat wherever he found one. But he never knew – it was not the front bench but wherever he sat became the focus of attraction.’

Sri. V.V. Giri, President of India

`When I was Governor of U.P., I consulted thrice Mr. Misra as the Advocate General. Twice I followed his advice but once I differed. It was only later I realised where I did not accept his advice I committed a mistake.’

Sri Sidharth Shanker Ray

‘Loss to the Bureaucrats was a gain to the Bar’

Sri Shanti Bhushan

‘His (K.L. Misra’s) compassion and concern for his fellow being, the complete absence of any malice towards anyone and his great interest in all aspects of human life created a deep impression on my mind.’

Many such complements from distinguished persons in all walks of life have been conferred on him.

On His Demise

The Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi 

The Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, has described the death of Mr. K.L. Mishra, former Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh as “a great loss to our public life and the legal profession.”

Mr. Mishra, she said, was known for his erudition and insight into the relationship between law and life.“His analysis and advice were widely sought and greatly valued and he rose to the top of his profession. Mr. Mishra was deeply concerned with the cause of justice and gave much of his time in the service of the people” - she said in a condolence message.

The Chief Minister of U.P. Shri H.N. Bahuguna

The Chief Minister of U.P. Shri H.N. Bahuguna has expressed his “shock” at the demise of former Advocate General Shri Kanhaiya Lal Misra in a condolence message.

It was Shri Bahuguna who directed the Chief Secretary U.P. and D.M., Allahabad to accord full state honours to the departed legal luminary soon after he heard the news of the passing away of Sri Misra on Oct.15. A wreath was also placed on behalf of the Chief Minister by the District Magistrate.

Hindi Sahitya Sammelan

Glowing tributes were paid to Pt. Kanhaiya Lal Misra at a meeting of citizens and literary held this evening in the premises of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. Sri Saraswati Prashad Chaturvedi presided over the meeting.

Speakers at the meeting recalled his services as a legal luminary and also who did a lot towards propagating and enrichment of Hindi language and literature through the platform of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan.

The Hindi Sahitya Sammelan willremain closed on Monday as a mark of respect to Mr. Misra.

Prominent amongst those who spoke were – Sri Prabhat Shashtri, Srinath Singh and Dr. Ratnakar Pandey.

Similarly at a meeting of the National Students Union presided over by Sri Arif Amin, Sri Mishra’s services to the people as a veteran Congressman were recalled.

High Court Bench & Bar

High Court Bench & Bar Mourn Demise Of Pt. K.L. Misra – 17th Oct. 1975. Northern India Patrika A full court reference was made today, in the court room of the Chief Justice, to mourn the death of Pt. Kanhaiya Lal Misra, former Advocate General of the state of Uttar Pradesh, an eminent senior member of the Allahabad High Court Bar and a legal luminary of the country.
The reference was made at 3 p.m. The Full Bench was presided over by Mr. Justice G.C. Mathur, senior-most judge, as the Chief Justice Mr. K.B. Asthana was away from Allahabad.
Pt. K.L. Misra used to speak on behalf of the Bar Association in the capacity of a President on the occasion of either welcoming a judge on the Bench, or bidding farewell to a retiring judge or on similar occasions of sad demise of a member of the Bench or Bar. He always provided the audience with his magical selection of words and with prose talked musically. This was a sad occasion when Pt. Misra had departed and the reference was made to mourn the irreparable loss and to pay rich tributes to the memory of the departed soul. Pt. Misra was adored as a great human being, a scholar, and a jurist. His calm unruffled temperament and pleasing manners earned him a place amongst the topmost citizens of the country. He was a voracious reader and knew many languages. He would remain a concern of posterity. Pt. Misra was an institution in himself.
This reference was made in the court room of the Chief Justice packed to its capacity with lawyers, staff and litigants.

Shri S.N. Kakkar 

Speaking on the occasion Shri S.N. Kakkar, Advocate General U.P., said that it would be difficult to fill the void created in the sad demise of Pt. K.L. Misra. He recalled that Shri Misra gave this court his protection and the history of this court was the history written with the progress of Shri K.L. Misra. He referred that at the persuasion of late G.B. Pant and Late K.N. Katju he accepted the office of Advocate General of U.P. He was the tallest personality of this High Court, his advocacy had no parallel in this country with unmatched power of persuasion. He was at his best when he was arguing a very weak case or suddenly facing a ticklish point of law or when he was facing a hostile bench. He always took pains in making copious notes of his case. His way of conducting a case was a matter of education to others. Problems used to resolve itself by his magic touch. Shri Misra was a great lover of fine arts and a protector of many institutions. Shri Kakkar extended his condolences on behalf of the Government Advocates to the members of the bereaved family.

Shri S.N. Mulla 

Shri S.N. Mulla, President of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, paid glowing tributes in the head and heart of Pt. K.L. Misra. Shri Mulla said that Pt. Misra was the pride and jewel of Allahabad High Court Bar. He was known as a great lawyer both in this country and abroad. He was an example to austerity and never made any show of his own qualities. He was helpful to the members of the Bar as a head of family. His death has created a void of which there is no visible substitute. He conveyed the message of condolence on behalf of the members of the Bar Association to the members of the bereaved family.

Justice G.C. Mathur 

Mr. Justice G.C. Mathur on behalf of the members of the Bench conveyed his condolences to the members of the bereaved family. Pt. K.L. Misra made his mark by his brilliance not only in the Bar of this State but in the Bar of other States. He was a great lawyer and the leader of the Bar.

Bar Association 

At an emergent general meeting of the H.C. Bar Association the following resolution was passed: `That this emergent general meeting of the High Court Association places on record its greatest sense of sorrow and grief on the sad demise of our former President Pt. K.L. Misra. His loss to the Association is irreparable. He had been the beacon light of our Association for the last half century.
May his soul rest in peace’

Bar Council of U.P. 

Sehat Bahadur

Sehat Bahadur, Bar Council In the legal profession, I happen to be just a few years senior to the late lamented Pt. Kanhaiya Lal Misra. I had ample contact with him. This legal luminary had an unprecedented light and an admirable culture. Hardly there was any complicated problem which he could not solve with smoothness, decency, persuasiveness and precision. Philanthropic by nature, he never refused to extend his helping hand to the needy and the distressed. To the juniors he was a boon. To his friends, he was a true friend. His keen and prompt wit and amiable temperament were assets which anybody would envy. At times his philosophical silence carried better and more successful impressions than a vociferous retort. He was a nationalist to the core and a man of erudite reasoning. The void which his departure from this world has created is not easy to fill up. – Member, Bar Council Of U.P. Allahabad.