Jastice Chandru ( K. Chandru): Age, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography, Profession, Networth & More

K. Chandru has a reputation of a former Judge of Madras high court who is fearless in his judgment, simple in his way and committed to the cause of justice to the marginalized groups in society. He gained global popularity due to the successful Tamil-language film titled Jai Bhim (2021), which was a true story of a case that he defended in 1993 regarding caste discrimination and custodial violence. Known to have disposed of approximately 96,000 cases within six and a half years, he had gone up against several high profile cases in support of human rights and social equality.

In this article Justice Chandru age, cases, wife, net worth & more will be discussed.

Justice K. Chandru: Biography 

He was born on 8 May 1951 in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, K. Chandru is a very-respected former Judge of the Madras High Court and owes his commitment to social justice and equality. Being a Hindu he took the country by storm through a landmark legal battle case.

Justice K. Chandru Age (As of 2025)

K. Chandru was born on 8 May 1951 and as of 2025, he is 73 years old. 

Justice K. Chandru Height, Weight and Physical Status

K. Chandru is a simple and minimalistic person and that is manifested in his personality and way of life.

Justice Chandru Caste 

Even though Justice K. Chandru was born in a family of Brahmin, he was strongly opposed to caste discrimination at a tender age and devoted his life to serving the underprivileged communities. Some critics described him as a caste traitor given his hardline position on caste hierarchy and his decisions in defense of backward and tribal communities. Nevertheless, his behavior was based on the idea that humanity is superior to caste identity. Activists and social reformers throughout India admire his work because it advocated equality and justice.

Family Background

K. Chandru was born and brought up in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, in a middle-class family. His school and college life were marked with a lot of student protests and he was an active social activist during this period. He joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) later on as a full-time member and operated closely with the marginalized communities, trade union workers, Dalit families and farmers. These childhood experiences led him to his firm convictions in justice and equality which were to form his legal career in the future.

Justice K. Chandru Wife

Justice K. Chandru is married to Bharathi, an ex-college lecturer. They married after their lives were already formed and live a very modest and down-to-earth life. The couple has one daughter, and they are very much to themselves when it comes to their family life. His family has been like pillars to him on his way, they have been encouraging his fight for justice and equal ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌rights.

Educational Qualifications

K. Chandru attended primary schools in Tamil Nadu. He entered Loyola College, Chennai, but was fired because he was involved in actively agitating the students in politics. He switched to Madras Christian College where he graduated successfully. Later on, in 1973, he graduated Law Degree and got down to the legal profession with the prospect of championing the rights of the underprivileged.

Justice K. Chandru Career

K. Chandru began working with the law firm Row and Reddy in Chennai where he worked in a law firm for eight years. He toured the state of Tamil Nadu, resided with the laborers, Dalit families, farmers and activists in order to learn the actual issues in the society. He strongly resisted any oppression of fundamental rights in the times of the Emergency (19751977) and highly criticised breach of the Constitution.

• He was chosen as an Executive Member of the Advocates Association.
• Subsequently as a Member of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu at the young age and got the promotion to Senior Advocate in 1990.
• An Additional Judge of Madras High Court in 2006 and than made a permanent Judge on 9 November 2009.
• His judicial service (20062014) cleared up almost 96,000 cases in a stretch of six and a half years, a phenomenal feat that was achieved through lengthening the court working hours and the emphasis on justice and not on formalities.
• He denied himself the benefits of government, he did not allow a personal bodyguard, and he did not wish lawyers to speak to him as My Lord.

Justice Chandru Autobiography & Books 

Justice​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ K. Chandru is remembered not only for his career on the bench but also for his writing that creates a significant impact. He has written a number of books centering on social justice, the legal struggle of the underprivileged, and the experience of the Indian judiciary during his tenure. Among his many works is a widely known title, “Listen to My Case! When Women Approach the Courts of Tamil Nadu,” which tells the protest and victory stories of women seeking justice. His works are available in both Tamil and English and they spotlight various issues such as caste discrimination, human rights, and the need for legal reforms. The way he writes is not only full of power and education but also deeply grounded in his legal background and involvement in the movement.

Justice Chandru Committee

The Tamil Nadu Government has entrusted Justice K. Chandru with leading a one-man panel to assess the performance and situation of juvenile homes regulated under the Juvenile Justice Act. The panel inquired and met with different specialists including psychiatrists, psychologists, and child welfare experts to get their views. The 2023 report of the 490-page committee comprises comprehensive recommendations for bringing about changes in safety, facilities, administration, and supervision of these homes. The report is seen as a significant milestone toward the reform of child protection rights in Tamil Nadu.

Justice Chandru Movie – Jai Bhim

The global fame of Justice Chandru’s work was largely due to the 2021 Tamil movie “Jai Bhim”. The film is an adaptation of the 1993 real-life court case, where Attorney Chandru engaged in a prolonged legal war over the death in police custody of Rajakannu, a severally beaten tribal man, but falsely arrested. Not only does the movie depict the brutalities of the police and the exploitation of the caste system, but it also portrays how Chandru, with his unwavering determination, assisted the victim’s spouse, Parvathi, in obtaining justice. The character modeled after Chandru was acted by Suriya and the film got applause both within the country as well as outside it for enlightening people about social justice and human rights.

Justice K. Chandru 1993 Rajakannu Case

The case of Rajakannu in 1993 is probably the most significant legal battle that Justice K. Chandru took part in. Rajakannu was a member of the Irula tribal community who was wrongfully accused of stealing and died as a result of harsh torture in police custody. His spouse, Parvathi, came to Chandru demanding justice. The case went on for 13 years, and in the end, the police officers who were involved were convicted and given jail sentences. This situation is now referred to as a milestone judgment in India and as a tower of justice for the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌downtrodden.

Interesting Facts

Justice K. Chandru Net Worth

Justice K. Chandru’s net worth is not available publicly in 2025. Among the least of Justice K. Chandru’s concerns was the accumulation of a personal fortune as he is a well-known ex-judge, a social activist, and a judicial worker.

Justice K. Chandru Controversies

The film Jai Bhim led the discussions about police brutality, caste discrimination, and the portrayal of the incidents in real life. Some groups claimed that the scene of the film was fabricated to some extent. But, Chandru responded that the film had helped in opening the important conversation about the law.

Justice K. Chandru Social Media Profiles

His​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ work is very much in the public domain and has been shared across the internet.

Conclusion

K. Chandru is one of the most venerated contemporary judicial personalities in India. His life was characterized by good moral conduct, adherence to regulations, lack of fear, and commitment of time and energy and judgments have not only transformed people’s lives but have also been instrumental in bringing about changes in the law. His advocacy against discrimination remains alive through students, lawyers, activists, and filmmakers whom it continues to energize. It was through Jai Bhim that he made his mark worldwide and showed that justice and humanity are not mutually exclusive if courage is met with law.

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