CJI presents award to Attorney General in memory of Madhav Menon

According to a Hindustan Times report, Supreme Court Chief Justice (CJI) Surya Kant presented the second Memorial 'Tribute of Honour' award established in memory of N.R. Madhav Menon to India's Attorney General R. Venkataramani at a ceremony held at a hotel in Kochi on Saturday. This event was jointly organised by the Bar Council of Kerala and the Bar Council of Kerala Advocates Academy for Continuing Legal Education Trust.

In his opening address, CJI Surya Kant recalled Professor N.R. Madhav Menon's contribution to the field of legal education, stating that his vision has shaped generations of lawyers, judges, and legal scholars. He said that law, when taught properly, is not merely a license to practice business, but an instrument of social change. Menon believed in emphasizing legal aid and keeping the poor and marginalized sections at the centre of legal education.

Providing information about Menon's work, the CJI stated that in 1986 he established the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru and initiated the five-year integrated LLB program, which transformed the landscape of legal education in the country. In addition, he established the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata and the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal. Menon became a well-known figure in the field of legal education after enrolling as an advocate at the Kerala High Court. He was honoured with the Padma Shri and posthumously with the Padma Bhushan.

Speaking about the relationship between Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Menon, the CJI stated that Venkataramani joined the Government Law College in Pondicherry in 1974, where he came under Menon's guidance. That same year, Menon became the principal of that institution. Describing this relationship as an unbreakable 'guru-shishya' bond, the CJI said that Venkataramani has upheld his guru's values throughout his five-decade-long legal career. Venkataramani has fought cases in the Supreme Court related to constitutional law, environmental law, taxation, tribal rights, and the rights of women and children. As the central government's chief legal advisor, he has discharged his responsibilities with a limited, principle-based, and judicious approach.

In his keynote address at the event, Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen stated that Menon was a proponent of socially relevant legal education and creating socially responsible citizens. He put forward the idea of taking legal education beyond classrooms so that students could understand the reality of society's marginalized sections. S. Sivakumar, Chairman of the Menon Institute of Legal Advocacy and Training, remembered Menon as a person who viewed legal education not merely as the transmission of knowledge, but as the ability to ask questions with freedom and discipline.

Accepting the award, Venkataramani urged everyone to become responsible citizens and bring about positive change in society. He advised lawyers and students to communicate effectively and remain vigilant. He also read an emotional letter written to Menon. Sikkim High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Mushtaq, Kerala Advocate General Jaju Babu K., and Bar Council of Kerala Chairman Murlidharan G. were also present on this occasion.