Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice KT Thomas, has been conferred the Padma Vibhusan for contributions in the field of law.
He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in the year 2007.
Justice Thomas was born in Kottayam in Kerala in the year 1937. His primary education was at Kottayam - Baker Memorial School, CMS College High School and CMS College. He joined St. Alberts College, Cochin for his degree course. He was elected as Chairman of the College Union.
He studied Law at Madras Law College and thereafter joined the chambers of Joseph Maliakal who was a leading lawyer at Kottayam. He set up independent practice soon and acquired a very lucrative practice both on the civil side and criminal sides. A large number of junior advocates have worked in his chambers.
While practicing as an Advocate, he was made leader of an Indian delegation to attend the World Conference on Peace held at Texas, USA in 1976. He was elected as Chairman of one of the Commissions set up in the World Conference.
He was a District and Sessions Judge from 1977 to 1985, when he was elevated as a Judge of the Kerala High Court.
Justice KT Thomas was a judge of the Supreme Court from March 29, 1996, till January 30, 2002.
His son, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, is a Judge of the Kerala High Court.
In 2017, the Kerala Government constituted the Kerala Law Reforms Commission under the Chairmanship of Justice K.T. Thomas. In 2019, the Commission came out with the Kerala Church (Properties and Institutions) Bill, 2019, which the State Government did not pursue after opposition from within the Christian community.
Justice KT Thomas is known for his strong and consistent views on socio-legal issues.
In 2011, Justice Thomas had opposed the controversial Communal and Targeted Violence Bill.
Justice Thomas had recently lauded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the eve of its 100th anniversary.
In May, 2025, Justice Thomas had said that Indira Gandhi tried to destroy the democracy of India by imposing the Emergency. "Not only am I not a fan of her, I believe that she tried to destroy the democracy of India. She imprisoned many freedom fighters without trial for eighteen months. Would anyone else do something like that? She became a dictator", he had said.
Justice Thomas had strongly endorsed the Citizenship Amendment Act and the Uniform Civil Code.