From opposing Emergency to VP candidature: All about Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, INDIA bloc's nominee
Hyderabad: The opposition INDIA alliance has named retired Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, a jurist who famously annulled the Salwa Judum, once stood against the Emergency and fought for Telangana statehood as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election. The 78-year-old legal luminary from Telangana brings a distinguished five-decade-long judicial career to the political arena.
Reddy from Telangana is not merely a former judge but a lifelong advocate for social justice, deeply influenced by the socialist ideologies of Rammanohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan. His nomination sets the stage for a high-stakes ideological contest against the ruling NDA’s candidate.
The opposition parties, in a joint statement, described Justice Reddy as ‘one of India's most distinguished and progressive jurists’ and praised him as ‘a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice.’ His nomination sets the stage for a direct contest with the ruling NDA's candidate.
Born in July 1946, Justice Reddy began his legal career after enrolling as an advocate in Hyderabad on December 27, 1971. Reddy has a strong legacy of judicial excellence and political activism. In 1976, as a 27-year-old lawyer in Hyderabad, he actively opposed the Indira Gandhi-led Emergency (1975-77), inspired by socialist leaders Rammanohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan.
He practised in writ and civil matters at the Andhra Pradesh High Court before serving as Government Pleader during 1988-90. He also held the position of Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government for six months in 1990. Justice Reddy's career includes roles as a Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court, and Judge of the Supreme Court of India, retiring in 2011.
On the bench, Justice Reddy was a consistent voice for the marginalized. His most renowned contribution came in a 2011 Supreme Court judgment that declared the Salwa Judum—a state-sponsored militia in Chhattisgarh—unconstitutional. In a powerful indictment of state policy, the judgment stated that dividing Adivasis into armed groups violated their fundamental human rights.
In the ruling, the judgment noted, “People don’t take up arms in an organized fashion against the might of the state… without a reason guided by instinct for survival.” It questioned the state’s morality with a piercing line, “Tax pays for the rich and guns for the poor.”
A native of Ranga Reddy district in Telangana, he studied law at Osmania University before embarking on his illustrious legal journey. He was a vocal advocate for the formation of the Telangana state.
The opposition chose a candidate with strong legal credentials and broad appeal. This decision aims to strengthen their position in the constitutional election. Justice Reddy's long experience in the judiciary and his reputation as a progressive jurist will be a key factor in the upcoming election.
