In the archives and annuals of Indian jurisdiction, only a few figures make it to the list of relentless search for social justice. Meet Justice Chandru, a rebel turned revered judge who is also renowned for advocacy against caste discrimination, social injustice and more. His extraordinary life inspired the highly acclaimed film ‘Jai Bhim’.His legal career, activism, and dedication to the public have left a profound mark on India’s legal landscape.
we will discuss about the Justice Chandru: Age, Family, Books, Career, Committee and more
Justice Chandru: Biography Overview
Justice Chandru is a retired judge who used to practise in the Madras High Court. He is renowned for disposing of over 96,000 cases during his extensive tenure. He began his career by fighting for the rights of oppressed communities and became widely recognized for a landmark 1993 case. This involved the custodial death of Rajakannu, an Irula tribal man, who ultimately became the inspiration for the Tamil Movie ‘Jai Bhim’.
| Full Name | Justice K. Chandru |
| Age (2025) | 74 years old |
| Date of Birth | 8th May 1951 |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Place of Birth | Srirangam, Tamil Nadu |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known For | 1993 case involving an Irula tribal man, Rajakannu |
| Net Worth | Not disclosed |
| Spouse | Bharathi |
Justice Chandru Age (As of 2025)
Justice Chandru was born on 8th May 1951, and today the revered judge 74 years old. He celebrated his 74th in 2025, and his zodiac sign is Taurus.
Early Life
Justice Chandru was born in Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu to a middle-class orthodox Brahmin family. From a young age, he lost his mother and had to face hardships while growing up. This included having to deal with food scarcity when his family moved to Chennai.
Education Qualifications
In terms of education, he attended Loyola College in Chennai, where he became an active student leader involved in political activism. This of course, led to him being expelled.
He went on to complete his Graduation from Madras Christian College and then pursued law at Government Law College in Chennai. During his time here, he secured hostel accommodation only after completing a fast protest.
His early life and experiences shaped his commitment to social justice and activism especially during the Emergency period in India. During this time, he was known to oppose authoritarianism, and his education laid the foundation for his legal career.
| School | Local School |
| College | Loyola College; Madras Christian College, Government Law College (Chennai) |
| Degree | Bachelors; Law |
Professional Career
- After having completed his degree from Christian College, he had initially worked full-time for the party. His firsthand exposure to the struggles of the public motivated him to pursue law, especially after he participated in a student Commission of Inquiry.
- Chandru enrolled himself as an advocate and made his mark quite fast by taking up cases for the underprivileged. He represented the trade unions and acquired a reputation for fearless advocacy. This led him to being elected as the youngest member of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and also as an executive member of the Advocates Association.
- Justice practised both in civil and criminal law at the Madras High Court. Earlier in his career, he worked for the law firm ‘Row & Reddy’ known for their cases for the poor. He, however, opened his chamber in 1983 – just a few years after becoming an advocate.
- Chandru was actively involved in governmental and political activism and this led to his expulsion from the CPI(M) in 1988. This came because of his dissent against the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.
- By 1996, he was designated as a senior advocate.
- In 2006, Chandru was appointed as an additional judge of the Madras High Court, and he became a permanent judge in 2009. During his judicial tenure, he disposed of over 96000 cases before retiring in 2013.
- His judgments are renowned for supporting marginalized communities and fighting caste discrimination. His landmark judgments include women’s empowerment, and allowing them to participate in temple rituals, protecting the rights of government employees, and more.
- His career story has inspired the critically acclaimed Tamil movie ‘Jai Bhim’, which is based on a case that he had handled defending tribal rights.
Justice Chandru 1993 Case: Rajakannu Case
Perhaps this is one of the most defining cases of Chandru’s entire career. The 1993 Rajakannu case in which a tribal man’s wife, Parvathi, was Chandru’s turning point in his career.
Rajakannu had died in police custody, and the case exposed the horrors of custodial violence, especially against tribal and lower-caste individuals. This highlighted the barriers that these tribal people have to face in accessing a basic human right of social justice. Chandru fought numerous legal and procedural hurdles – including initial judicial reluctance and difficulties in locating key witnesses. However, his perseverance paid off and the High Court awarded much-deserved compensation and a house plot to Parvathi. The policemen who were responsible for killing Rajakannu were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Justice Chandru Movie: Jai Bhim
The real-life case of Rajakannu and Parvathi became the foundational inspiration for the 2021 critically acclaimed movie ‘Jai Bhim’, a Tamil court case movie. Actor Suriya portrayed the role of Chandru, and the movie brought national attention to systemic caste oppression. It shed light on the role of loopholes of the Indian legal system.
Justice Chandru Books
Apart from being a senior judge, Justice Chandru is also a prolific writer whose works continue to inspire legal professionals and readers.
His autobiography ‘Listen to My Case! When Women Approach the Courts of Tamil Nadu: A Judge’s Memoir became very popular. It is widely regarded for its honest and nuanced portrayal of the Indian justice system from his perspective. Apart from this, he has also written other books on law, social justice and experiences. These books include:
- Ambedkarude Prakashathil Ante Vidhiprasthavangal (Malayalam)
- Neethimare! (Taml)
- Order! (Tamil)
The Justice Chandru Committee
Even after retirement, Justice Chandru has remained active in public affairs. He has chaired several commissions, including:
- The Justice Chandru Committee in 2023-24: This was to address caste-based discrimination and violence in Tamil Nadu’s educational system. The comprehensive report was submitted in June 2024 and put forth some actionable strategies to make schools more equitable.
- In 2023, he chaired a one-man committee reviewing the functioning of juvenile homes under the Juvenile Justice Act in Tamil Nadu. The report made recommendations regarding management, infrastructure, and monitoring.
Net Worth (As of 2025)
Justice Chandru is known to have a modest lifestyle filled with financial transparency regarding his assets. On his last day as judge of the Madras High Court, he declared that although he had a long career in the judiciary and law, his net worth is modest. He lived simply without accumulating significant wealth and even gave up his official car. He chose to travel back home by local train after retirement, thus reflecting his humble approach to life.
Personal Life
Justice Chandru Wife
Justice Chandru married Bharathi in 1990, a retired college lecturer today. Their marriage was a simple, but personal affair. Chandru’s family life has remained private, but his wife Bharathi has been a supportive presence throughout his career. Despite being prominent publicly, he has maintained a humble family life.
Justice Chandru Daughter
Justice Chandru has a daughter who was born in 1996. Her details are not given, and neither is her personal detailed information, but we know that she is currently 29 years old. His daughter has had the support and encouragement of her father from a young age, and she has also supported him.
Conclusion
Throughout his career, Justice Chandru’s personal philosophy has emphasized resilience, fearlessness, and integrity to the marginalized public. He has famously stated, ‘Never be afraid; ultimately, you can’t die every day. ’ This reflects his courage in confronting authority and standing up for the dispossessed.
His legal journey and commitment to mitigating caste injustice have made him one of India’s most respected legal minds. His story inspired the film ‘Jai Bhim,’ and it cemented his legacy in the popular culture of films. It served to highlight the ongoing struggle against wrongful prosecution, custodial violence and more injustice.
To this date, Justice Chandru is remembered fondly for his sweeping career, which brought to light a lot of loopholes of the Indian legal system.
FAQs
Justice Chandru’s story and life inspired the Tamil film ‘Jai Bhim’ starring Suriya.
Justice Chandru is 74 years old as of November 2025
No, he is a retired judge from the Madras High Court.
