Justice Mamidanna Jagannadha Rao, a distinguished former Supreme Court judge, passed away on Monday at the age of 88.

Born on December 2, 1935, Justice Rao comes from a family with a rich judicial legacy. His father briefly served as a judge at the Andhra Pradesh High Court, while his paternal uncle, Justice M Krishna Rao, was a former judge of the Telangana High Court. Justice Rao’s son, Justice MS Ramachandra Rao, continues this legacy, currently serving as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.

Justice Rao began his legal career by enrolling as an advocate with the Bar Council of Hyderabad on July 25, 1960. His judicial journey commenced when he was appointed an Additional Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on September 29, 1982, becoming a permanent judge two months later.

He was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court on August 8, 1991, and subsequently transferred to the Delhi High Court, where he served as Chief Justice from April 12, 1994, to 1997.

Justice Rao reached the pinnacle of his career with his appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court on March 21, 1997. After three and a half years of distinguished service, he retired on December 1, 2000.

Justice Rao leaves behind a remarkable judicial legacy, both in his contributions to the judiciary and through his family's continued service in the field.