Justice Pathak, who was born in Bareilly, enrolled himself as a lawyer on November 8, 1948 after completing his masters in law from Allahabad University. A thorough professional, the young lawyer became a judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1962. Ten years later, he became the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court and was elevated as the judge of the Supreme Court in 1978. Finally, he took over as the top judge — the Chief Justice of India (CJI) — in December 1986.

Justice Pathak relinquished the august office without completing his tenure on June 18, 1989 barely after he had delivered the Bhopal gas tragedy decision. Acclaimed for knowledge of civil laws, he became one of the few Indian jurists to make a mark at the International Court of Justice.

He will always be remembered as a man who wore several hats. He even served as president of the ad hoc division of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport, Switzerland, for several years. Creating his mark in national and international forums alike, Justice Pathak also had the distinction of being a member of the Board of Advisers, Foundation for International Environment Law and Development, London, and the Chairman of the Nehru Trust for Indian Collections in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

As pointed out by legal expert Fali S Nariman, “Justice Pathak was arguably one of the most popular judges internationally.” Justice Pathak was also elected Chairman of the World Congress on Law and Medicine in 1985 and was the member of the International Panel of Chief Justices on Genetic Technology in Seoul in 1987.

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