Markandey Katju is an Indian jurist and former judge of Supreme Court of India who served as chairman for the Press Council of India. He is the son of politician Shiva Nath Katju and grandson of Kailash Nath Katju. He is the founder and patron of the Indian Reunification Association (IRA), an organisation that advocates for the peaceful reunification of what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh with India under a secular government. Early life and education Markandey Katju was born on 20th September, 1946 at Lucknow in a Kashmiri Hindu family. Katju's family consisted mainly of lawyers who took a keen interest in politics and current affairs. His father, Shiva Nath Katju, was a judge and an Indian National Congress politician and was elected a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. His grandfather, Kailash Nath Katju, was one of India's leading lawyers and participated in the country's freedom movement. His grandfather also served as the Governor of Orissa and West Bengal, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the Union Home, Law, and the Defence Minister. Katju's uncle, B.N. Katju was the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court. The academic Tilottama Mukherji Tharoor, the first wife of Shashi Tharoor, is also a cousin to Katju. Katju topped the merit list of Allahabad university's LL.B. examination in 1967. He was awarded an Honoris Causa by a Doctor of Philosophy from Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit University, New Delhi, for his book Mimansa Rules of Interpretation. Katju was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Banaras Hindu University. Katju is married to Rupa and has a son and a daughter. Career Katju started his law practice at the Allahabad High Court from 1970 to 1991. He specialized in Labour Law, Taxation and Writ Petitions. He has also worked as Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department. He was elevated to the Bench of Allahabad High Court in 1991 and was appointed acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court in August 2004. Katju was appointed Chief Justice of Madras High Court in November 2004, and Chief Justice of Delhi High Court in October 2005. He was then elevated to the Supreme Court of India in April 2006, from which he retired on 19 September 2011; after having served in the judiciary for nearly 20 years. He subsequently served as the Chairman of the Press Council of