P. V. Rajamannar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Advocate General of theMadras Presidency | |
| In office 1944–1945 | |
| Preceded by | Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer |
| Succeeded by | K. Rajah Iyer |
| Chief Justice ofMadras High Court | |
| In office 1948–1961 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Frederick Gentle |
| Succeeded by | S. Ramachandra Iyer |
| Chairman ofThe Fourth Finance Commission of India | |
| In office 1966–1969 | |
| Preceded by | A. K. Chanda |
| Succeeded by | Mahavir Tyagi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1901-05-01)1 May 1901 |
| Died | 1979(1979-00-00) (aged 77–78) |
| Signature |  |
Pakala Venkataramana Rao Rajamannar (1901–1979) was an Indian judge and politician who served as the actingGovernor of Madras State from 1957 to 1958.[1] P.V. Rajamannar was the first Indian to become Chief Justice ofMadras High Court after independence from 1948 to 1961.[2] He was also the first Chairman ofSangeet Natak Akademi inNew Delhi.
P. V. Rajamannar was born to Dewan Bahadur P. Venkataramana Rao, an eminent lawyer who was a Madras High Court judge and later Chief Justice ofMysore High Court. He completed his schooling at Pachaiyappa's High School, Madras and did his graduation from the Presidency College, securing First Class in English and Philosophy in B.A in 1921. In B.L he won theJurisprudence prize in 1923.[3]
In 1924, Rajamannar started his law practice joining his father's chambers. In 1944 P.V. Rajamannar was appointed Advocate-General in succession to SirAlladi Krishnaswami Iyer. His appointment also made Rajamannar one of the youngest Advocate-Generals at 43 years of age. He also appeared as the Public Prosecutor in one of the most sensational murder cases in South India,Lakshmikanthan murder case involving two popular actors and a journalist with criminal history.
Later in 1945, P. V. Rajamannar was appointed Judge of Madras High Court and in 1948 Rajamannar became the first Indian to be elevated as Chief Justice of Madras High Court.[4] He retired in 1961 and continued his active services for government by heading various committees.
During the years 1966-1969 P. V. Rajamannar was also the Chairman ofThe Fourth Finance Commission of India.[5]
In addition Rajamannar was also the chairman for the Fourth Law Commission and the Banking Laws Committee.[6]
P.V. Rajamannar was also the Chairman of Board of Studies of Law and Chaired the Board of Studies in Telugu atSri Venkateswara University and Theater Art Faculty atAndhra University. He was also the Member of Syndicate ofMadras University.[6]
In 1969, P.V. Rajamannar was appointed the Chairman of a 3-member committee P.V. Rajamannar committee to study the State Autonomy and Centre-State relations by the then newly electedDMK government under its Chief Minister Dr. M.Karunanidhi.
In addition to his career in Law and administration P. V. Rajamannar was active in Arts and was the first appointed chairman ofSangeet Natak Akademi inNew Delhi. During his college years and later he edited aTelugu literary journal calledKala and winning theRamarayaninger Prize for a Telugu workRepresentative Government in Ancient India.[7] In 1964, he was awarded theSangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship the highest honour conferred bySangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.[8]
P. V. Rajamannar was conferred Honorary Doctorates fromMadras University,Andhra University andAnnamalai University. Justice P V Rajamannar Salai (Road) inK. K. Nagar, Chennai is named in his honour. He was also nominated twice toUpper House in Madras and on two occasions acted asgovernor.
