Who Is Justice B.Sudershan Reddy? All You Need To Know About INDIA Bloc’s Vice President Candidate

The Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday declared ex-Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the September 9 Vice President of India election. The declaration came in a statement from Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, following a meeting of the leaders of the alliance at his residence.

“B. Sudershan Reddy is among India’s greatest and most progressive jurists. He has ever remained committed to social, economic, and political justice. His verdicts frequently exhibit an intention to shield the poor and uphold the Constitution and basic rights,” Kharge added in the press conference.

The choice is in the wake of speculation that the opposition would choose a South Indian candidate after National Democratic Alliance nominated senior BJP leader C.P. Radhakrishnan of Tamil Nadu. Although Radhakrishnan is the favorites with NDA commanding majority in the electoral college, Kharge asserted the vice-presidential election is an ideological contest and has united all the opposition parties in support of Justice Reddy.

Who is Justice B. Sudershan Reddy?

Below are several facts about the VP candidate of the INDIA bloc:

Justice B. Sudershan Reddy was born on 8 July 1946 and studied law and got a B.A. and LL.B degree. In December 1971, he became an Advocate enrolled in the bar council of Andhra Pradesh, and the following years have been remarkable in both the practice of law and as a member of judicial administration.

As a young lawyer, and in his early practice Reddy mainly practised in the Andhra Pradesh High Court with civil and writ matters comprising most of his briefs. He acted as Government Pleader from 1988-1990 and was appointed as Additional Standing Counsel to the central government on a temporary basis in 1990. While engaged in his practice, he also served academic and advisory committees as Legal Adviser and additional counsel to Osmania University, to live up to having rich experiences professionally in both fields of practice and of academic law cases.

Justice Reddy’s judicial career began when he was appointed as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on 2nd May 1995. He later was appointed Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court on 5th December 2005. He used his experience and reputation to become a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 12th January 2007, retiring on 8th July 2011. 

During his time in office, Justice Reddy has been tremendously lauded for his liberal judgments which often showed a strong devotion to the rights of weaker sections in society, an enduring commitment to constitutional imperatives and social justice afforded a place for him as a prominent jurist committed to equality, fairness, and the entitlement to fundamental rights.

BJP’s pick is C.P. Radhakrishnan

Whereas, the NDA government, has selected former Coimbatore MP and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as its candidate. Radhakrishnan is credited with political experience, inter-party interaction, and leadership in the BJP. The Vice Presidential election 2025 will see a battle of ideology and experience as the nation watches the choice of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy of the INDIA bloc face off against the NDA’s Radhakrishnan.

ALSO READ: B. Sudershan Reddy Is INDIA Bloc’s Vice- President Candidate