Gopal Sri Ram had the distinction of being the first lawyer in private practice to be appointed straight to the Court of Appeal when it was set up in 1994.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram was well-known for giving on-the-spot oral judgments and landmark rulings relating to constitutional, public, contract and industrial law.

Sri Ram, who died earlier today, aged 79, had the distinction of being the first lawyer in private practice to be appointed straight to the Court of Appeal when it was set up in 1994. He never served as a judicial commissioner or a High Court judge.