HYDERABAD: The little known, but stellar contributions of V.R. Reddy, the former first Additional Solicitor General of India, and former Chairman of the Bar
Council of India, in setting up India’s first national law school, received praise from several legal luminaries who lauded Reddy’s role in changing the face of legal education in the country.
Addressing a gathering at the launch of ‘Mundane and More from Memory’,
Reddy’s memoir, they recalled his professionalism, passion for law, and
dedication to do things right.
The book was launched at a function on Sunday evening by Justice M.
Jagannadha Rao, former judge at the Supreme Court, along with Dr Y.V.
Reddy, former RBI governor, Supreme Court judge P.S. Narasimha, K.T.S.
Tulsi, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member, Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy,
Chairperson of APERC, Dr V. Vijay Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, National Law
Institute University, Vikramjit Banerjee, Additional Solicitor General of India,
and Dr Nandini Rao, director of Orient Blackswa.
“I never honestly thought that I would complete the arduous task of penning my memoir and hold the book in my hand one day. This event is surreal to me,” V.R. Reddy said. “The icing on the cake is the unique honour of the distinguished
individuals associated with me as the chief guest, and guests of honour at this
event,” he said.
“His contributions to the quality of legal education in India are monumental,” Y.V. Reddy said, of the role played by V.R. Reddy in the setting up of India’s first national law school in Bengaluru.
The book also explains the interface between government, business, politics and judiciary. Dealing with these calls for integrity, discipline, and you will find this is
explained nicely in the book, he said.
Tulsi called the book “unputdownable. To call in ‘mundane’ is not right.
It is exciting, inspiring.” The effort of setting up the first national law
school, he said, led to a dozen law schools, law institutes in the country.
“This altered the quality of law education. There was a time when students
opted to study law as a last resort. Now there is a nation-wide entrance test
to get into law schools,” Tusli said.
Turning to V.R. Reddy, he added: “You have truly fulfilled your dream.”
Justice Nagarjuna Reddy said V.R. Reddy’s standing was such that
even opposing counsels would sometimes request the judges to wait for him
to arrive and speak when matters sometimes got rough. They would say
“he is a fair counsel,” Nagarjuna Reddy said, adding “young advocates used to throng the court to watch him speak. His presentations were immaculate.”
Justice Narasimha said the choices V.R. Reddy made after his election as
chairman of the Bar Council of India, led to the establishment of one
of India’s greatest educational institutions. “The balance he has shown in his life, with family, friends, professional work, it is all displayed with subtlety displayed
throughout the memoir,” he said.
The event also saw V.R. Reddy’s grandchildren read excerpts from the
book, while Shyam Gopal acted as the master of ceremonies.
