Hyderabad:Retired Supreme Court judge Justice Busireddy Sudershan Reddy, a humanitarian, who is often referred to as a symbol of judicial ethics and constitutional morality, will be the first former judge of the apex court to contest the Vice-Presidential elections. Although former Chief Justice of India Mohammad Hidayatullah served as the Vice-President between 1979 and 1984, he was elected unopposed without a contest.
Justice Reddy is also the first Vice-Presidential candidate to be born and raised in the Telangana region, and the second Telugu to contest for the post after M. Venkaiah Naidu. Zakhir Hussain was the first person, who was born in Telangana to contest the vice-presidential polls. However, unlike Justice Reddy, who is a true son of the soil, Zakir Hussain was raised in Uttar Pradesh and did his schooling and college in Etawah and Aligarh respectively.
Justice Reddy served as legal adviser to several chief ministers of united Andhra Pradesh, beginning with N.T. Rama Rao. During the Telangana movement, BRS leader K. Chandrashekar Rao frequently consulted Justice Reddy on matters to be taken up in Parliament.
After the formation of Telangana, Justice Reddy refrained from taking government positions. Earlier this year, however, he headed an independent expert working group set up by the Revanth Reddy government to evaluate the state caste survey. The committee submitted a 300-page report to the Chief Minister in July, offering invaluable insights into Telangana’s caste dynamics.
Justice Reddy authored the book ‘Preamble of the Constitution’. In it, he highlighted B.R. Ambedkar’s response to right-wing critics who accused the Constitution of borrowing ideas, noting Ambedkar’s reply that there was no shame in adopting good ideas, regardless of their origin.
Justice Reddy is an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr B.R. Ambedkar. He has questioned critics belittling the contribution of Nehru, asking whether they even understood his depth of knowledge evident in his seminal work ‘The Discovery of India’. He faulted attempt to create an artificial conflict between Dr Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi and then take pleasure in such misrepresentations.
Justice Reddy’s favourite and often-quoted lines are from Poet Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali, ‘Where The Mind Is Without Fear’.
Life sketch
Busireddy Sudershan Reddy born on July 8, 1946, in an agriculturist family at Akula Mylaram on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Eldest of four siblings, with a younger brother and two sisters.
Completed his primary education in native village before moving to Hyderabad, where he earned his law degree from Osmania University in 1971.
Joined the office of K. Pratap Reddy and subsequently began independent practice at the civil courts in Hyderabad, and the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
He married Padmalatha, and the couple has two sons and a daughter.
Granddaughter follows in his footsteps, practices in the Telangana High Court.
Government Pleader in AP High Court (1988-90), handling revenue matters.
Standing counsel for Osmania University, additional standing counsel for the Centre in 1990.
President of then AP High Court Advocates’ Association in 1993-94.
On May 2, 1995, appointed judge of the AP High Court.
In December 2005, elevated as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court.
On January 12, 2007, appointed judge of the Supreme Court; retired on July 7, 2011.
In March 2013, appointed Goa’s first Lokayukta, resigned in October on personal grounds.
In 2022, the Supreme Court appointed him as “oversight authority” to ensure that mining operations in Karnataka adhered to the comprehensive environmental plan for mining impact zone, to restore land in Ballari, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru districts affected by rampant mining.
QUOTES
Justice Reddy is deeply committed to the rule of law and dedicated his life to upholding constitutional values.
L. Prabhakar Reddy, a long-time associate.
Justice Reddy is highly organised, and his ability to streamline processes is awe-inspiring. V. Satyam Reddy, senior counsel
Justice Reddy dedicated his life to constitutional values within the democratic framework.
Madabhushi Sridhar Acharyulu, former Central Information Commissioner
Justice Reddy had delivered several landmark judgments in both the High Court and the Supreme Court, always prioritising human rights.
Desai Prakash Reddy
Former Advocate-General, Telangana
