New Delhi, Oct 14 : Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh today condoled the passing away of Justice R.S. Sarkaria, who died after prolonged illness in Chandigarh on Friday night. He was 91.

“I am deeply grieved to hear of the sad news of the passing away of Justice R.S. Sarkaria. Justice Sarkaria was one of our tallest and most sagacious constitutional lawyers,” Singh said in his condolence message.

Recalling that having started his practice in the courts of Patiala in pre-independence India, Justice Sarkaria rose to the highest levels of our judiciary, Singh said that he played a “vital role in the evolution of the Indian Republic and our Constitution.”

“A student of Government College Lahore, Justice Sarkaria was a erudite legal expert who translated our Constitution into Punjabi. He Chaired the Commission that has re-inforced the foundations of our Federal Republic. His wise guidance will forever more be missed by our judiciary and constitutional experts,” Singh added.

“I join the nation in paying homage to the memory of Justice Sarkaria and I convey my heartfelt condolences to his family and his many admirers and disciples,” said the Prime Minister.

Justice Sarkaria, Born on January 16, 1916, practised at Patiala as Pleader and thereafter as Advocate of the Patiala High Court.

He was on the two-member Committee set up by Pepsu Government to translate the Constitution of India into Punjabi.

He headed the committee to study Centre-State relations in 1983 and submitted his report in 1988, which focussed on devolution of powers between the Centre and the states, and on imposition of President's rule.

He was an Additional Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court from June 13 to September 26, 1967 and puisne Judge from September 27, 1967 to September 15.

He was appointed as the Judge of the Supreme Court with effect from September 17, 1973, he retired on January 15, 1981. (ANI)