Justice Biwi’s body was brought to her home in Pathanamthitta town in the afternoon and she will be buried with state honors on Friday, sources said. Official honors will be done under the leadership of the District Police Chief. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Assembly Speaker AN Shamsir, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly VD Satisan and leaders of various political parties mourned his death.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Chief Minister MK Stalin and several state leaders also mourned the death of the former governor. AIADMK General Secretary K. Palaniswami also condoled the demise of Justice Fatima. Arif Mohammad Khan said, “His life is an inspiring story of hard work and determination and his contribution reflects his deep social commitment. May his soul rest in peace.”
Chief Minister Vijayan recalled Justice Biwi’s journey from starting her career in the legal field to overcoming educational challenges faced by girls to becoming the first woman judge of the Supreme Court. He said that Justice Biwi was the first woman from the Muslim community to be a part of the higher judiciary and she faced all adverse aspects of social conditions considering them as challenges.
Vijayan said that her life is an inspiration for everyone, especially women. He said that he has been selected for the Kerala Prabha Award to pay tribute to Justice BV. Kerala Health Minister Veena George condoled the death of Justice Fatima Biv, saying that she had left her mark as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court and the Governor of Tamil Nadu. “She was a brave woman who holds many records,” George said in a statement. He was a personality who showed through his life that any adversity can be overcome with strong will power and sense of purpose.
Justice Biwi was born in April 1927 in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. He completed his schooling from the ‘Catholic High School’ located there and then obtained his B.Sc degree from the ‘University College’ located in Thiruvananthapuram. After this, he took a law degree from the Thiruvananthapuram-based ‘Law College’ and enrolled as an advocate in 1950.
After this he was appointed as Munsif in Kerala Subordinate Judicial Service in 1958. She was promoted as Subordinate Judge in 1968 and became Chief Judicial Magistrate in 1972. Justice Biwi became a District and Sessions Judge in 1974 and was appointed a Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in 1980. She was elevated to the Kerala High Court in 1983 and became a permanent judge there the following year.
She became the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989 and retired from there in 1992. Justice Biwi served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission after retirement. He became the Governor of Tamil Nadu in 1997.
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