V. Balakrishna Eradi

Vettath Balakrishna Eradi (19 June 1922 – 30 December 2010) was a judge of the Supreme Court of India. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, as President of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and the Chairman of Ravi & Beas Waters Disputes Tribunal. Eradi was also noted for his role in several spiritual, cultural, and social organizations.

Career Eradi enrolled as an advocate in Madras High Court on 15 January 1945. He began his profession as a junior lawyer to K. Kuttikrishna Menon, before starting an independent practice in the Madras High Court. He was later appointed by the Madras Government as Junior Counsel to conduct several Government cases.

Eradi shifted his practice to Ernakulam in 1956 when the new High Court of Kerala was established. Justice Eradi retired from the Bench of the Supreme Court on attaining the age of superannuation in 1987. In 1999 he was appointed Chairman of the National Company Law Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal, a High Level Committee to examine the existing laws relating to winding up proceedings of companies in order to remodel it in line with the latest developments.

Eradi was actively connected with cultural and social service organizations and was President of International Centre for Kathakali, Delhi since 1982 and was also the President of Swaralaya, a Carnatic music society of India. He was a Member of the Council of Management of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust from its inception in 1972.

After the retirement he stayed in New Delhi with his wife, Saraswathy Eradi and later shifted to Kozhikode and was residing at Chalappuram. Balakrishnan Eradi died on 30 December 2010 at a private hospital in Kozhikode.

Awards and honors Eradi received several awards during his long career, including the National Press of India Golden Jubilee Award, Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award, the National Citizenship Award, and the Shiromani Award.