INDIA bloc nominates ex-SC judge Sudershan Reddy as Vice-Presidential candidate

Former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy, 79, has been named the joint candidate of the INDIA bloc for the Vice-Presidential election scheduled on September 9. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made the announcement on Tuesday in New Delhi, joined by senior leaders of alliance partners. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), though not part of the bloc, has also expressed support for his candidature.

Justice (Retd.) Reddy was born on July 8, 1946, in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. He graduated in law from Osmania University and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh in December 1971. He practiced in writ and civil matters at the Andhra Pradesh High Court, served as a government pleader from 1988 to 1990, and was additional standing counsel for the Central government in 1990. He also acted as legal adviser and standing counsel for Osmania University.

He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in May 1995 and later became the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in December 2005. In 2007, he was elevated to the Supreme Court, where he served until his retirement in July 2011. Justice Reddy was also appointed as Goa’s first Lokayukta, though he resigned from the position within seven months.

During his four-and-a-half years in the Supreme Court, Justice Reddy delivered judgments on matters covering constitutional law, criminal jurisprudence, taxation, service law, and human rights. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described him as “one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists” and said he had been “a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic, and political justice.”

The INDIA bloc’s decision comes two days after the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced its nominee for the Vice-Presidential election. The NDA has fielded C.P. Radhakrishnan, 68, the Governor of Maharashtra, who earlier served as Governor of Jharkhand, held additional charge of Telangana, and was also lieutenant governor of Puducherry. The last date for filing nominations is August 21.