Former Chief Justice of India, Sarosh Homi Kapadia, who started as a law clerk and went on occupy the highest post in the judiciary, passed away in Mumbai on Monday night.

Kapadia, who was the 38th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from May 12, 2010 to September 28, 2012, was known for his honesty, unimpeachable integrity, no-nonsense approach and forthrightness. He presided over several important cases and delivered verdicts including the Vodafone case, quashed the appointment of the then Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J  Thomas.

He was 68. He is survived by wife Shernaaz, son and daughter. The funeral was held on Tuesday evening as per Parsi traditions at the Doongerwadi Tower of Silence. Justice Kapadia had a humble beginning and once said: "I come from a poor family. I started my career as a class IV employee and the only asset I possess is integrity".

Born in 1947, he graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai which is the oldest law college in Asia. Kapadia started his career as a class IV employee. He later became a law clerk with a lawyer’s office in Mumbai. Kapadia joined Gagrat & Co, a law firm, as a clerk and later went on to work with Feroze Damania. In 1974, he started as a lawyer.