Justice Abdul Nazeer Is New Andhra Pradesh Governor: Read His Key Verdicts

He was part of benches that decided some of the most significant cases - from Ayodhya to Triple Talaq.

Prez Appoints Justice Nazeer As Andhra Pradesh Governor: A Look At Key Verdicts

Picture Courtesy: Aroop Mishra/The Quint

President Droupadi Murmu appointed former Supreme Court Judge Justice Abdul Nazeer as Andhra Pradesh Governor on Sunday, 12 February.

Retired recently: Justice Nazeer, who was elevated to the top court from the Karnataka High Court in 2017, retired on 4 January 2023.

Key Judgments: During his tenure at the Supreme Court, he was part of benches that decided some of the most significant cases in India's recent history - from the Ayodhya dispute to the Right to Privacy matter and the Triple Talaq case:

• Ayodhya Row verdict, 2019: Part of the 5-judge constitution bench that unanimously held that the entire disputed land in Ayodhya must be handed over for the construction of Ram Mandir

• Demonetisation verdict, 2023 More recently, Justice Nazeer led the Constitution bench which upheld the validity of the BJP government-led note ban

• Restrictions on Free Speech of Ministers, 2023: He also led the Constitution bench which held that additional restrictions not found in Article 19(2) cannot be imposed on the right to free speech of ministers and legislators

• Right to Privacy verdict, 2017 : Justice Nazeer was part of the 9-judge Constitution bench that unanimously held that the right to privacy is a Fundamental Right and is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution

• Triple Talaq verdict, 2017: He was one of the two judges who had dissented with the majority view and held that Triple Talaq was constitutional. The 5-judge constitution bench had declared the practise unconstitutional by a 3:2 majority.

SC Judge Appointed As Governor in 2014: The last time a Supreme Court judge was appointed as Governor was when a former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam became the Governor of Kerala in 2014.

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Fatima Beevi was the Governor of Tamil Nadu during 1997-2001, after she retired from the top court in 1992.

(With inputs from LiveLaw, Bar and Bench)