<Tr> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Td> Indian </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Prabha </Td> </Tr> <P> Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud (12 July 1920--14 July 2008) was the 16th Chief Justice of India, serving from 22 February 1978 to the day he retired on 11 July 1985 . Born in Pune in the state of Maharashtra, he was first appointed Judge to the Supreme Court of India on 28 August 1972 and is the longest - serving Chief Justice in India's history at 7 years and 4 months . His nickname was Iron hands after his well regarded unwillingness to let anything slip past him . </P> <P> Justice Chandrachud was appointed Chief Justice of India during the term of the Janata government, under Prime Minister Morarji Desai . During his tenure as Chief Justice, he sent Sanjay Gandhi to jail in the "Kissa Kursi Ka" case . When Indira Gandhi's Congress government came back to power a few years later, Chandrachud became a strong opponent of the government, and was known for staunchly defending the independence of the judiciary . As a Canadian scholar, Bhagwan D. Dua wrote later on: </P>

Who had the longest tenure as chief justice of india