Guru-Shishya Bond: CJI Honours AG R Venkataramani with Prof Madhava Menon Award
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant presented the Prof Madhava Menon Memorial Award to AG R Venkataramani, celebrating a legendary guru-shishya bond.
In a poignant ceremony at the Kerala High Court in Ernakulam, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant presented the second Prof. (Dr.) NR Madhava Menon Memorial “Tribute of Honour” Award to the Attorney General for India, R Venkataramani. The event was more than just an award ceremony; it was a celebration of a profound mentor-student relationship that has left a lasting mark on the Indian legal landscape.
A Legacy of Legal Transformation
While presenting the honour, the CJI highlighted the monumental contributions of Professor N R Madhava Menon, a visionary who fundamentally reshaped how law is taught in India. The CJI recalled that in 1986, at the behest of the Bar Council of India, Professor Menon established the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru. This move introduced the five-year integrated LL.B. programme, a shift that modernised legal education across the country.
Professor Menon's vision did not stop there. He went on to found other prestigious institutions, including:
- The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata.
- The National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.
The CJI emphasised that Professor Menon believed law should not be viewed merely as a professional licence, but as a powerful instrument for social transformation. This philosophy was evident in his push for legal aid clinics, ensuring that legal training remained socially relevant and focused on the needs of the poor and marginalised.
The 'Truest Kind' of Guru-Shishya Bond
The ceremony took a personal turn as the CJI reflected on the relationship between Professor Menon and R Venkataramani. The Attorney General's journey into law began in 1974 at the Government Law College in Pondicherry, where he enrolled after graduating in physics. That same year, Professor Menon joined the college as its principal, sparking a "guru-shishya bond of the truest kind."
The CJI noted that Venkataramani had previously shared how his mentor's guidance met his own deep desire to understand the true purpose of law and justice, with the college library serving as a vital second classroom during those formative years.
From Classroom Values to the Highest Legal Office
The values instilled by Professor Menon are evident in the career of R Venkataramani. Over nearly five decades at the Bar, the Attorney General has handled a diverse and complex array of legal matters, including:
- Constitutional and Environmental law.
- Taxation laws.
- The rights of tribal communities, women, and children.
The CJI praised Venkataramani's temperament, describing him as principled, measured, and unfailingly courteous—qualities that the CJI remarked are refined through a lifetime of learning rather than conferred by any official office.
A Living Monument
Concluding the address, the CJI stated that the award serves as a recognition of both the Attorney General's professional achievements and the enduring influence of Professor Menon. He described the moment as "a teacher's vision finding vindication in a student's achievement."
"Our truest monuments are not made of stone. They are the minds we shape and the institutions we leave behind," the CJI remarked, noting that the honour carries the memory of a teacher who gave the nation its law schools and gave his students a sense of purpose.