“The preparatory work in Amrapali case will be over in six months”

Supreme Court Senior Advocate R VENKATARAMANI has established himself as one of the most erudite and astute lawyers of India, dealing in matters as varied as constitutional law, environmental law, taxation, tribal rights, child and women’s rights. He has represented several state governments, the Union government, universities and public sector undertakings in major litigation in the Supreme Court and in High Courts. A former member of the Law Commission of India, Venkatara mani was recently appointed by the Supreme Court as Receiver for the Amrapali Group, tasked with unravelling a complex web of financial issues to pave the way for thousands of anguished home buyers to finally get a roof over their heads. In an exclusive interview to INDIA LEGAL BUREAU, he spoke for the first time on his work in the complex Amrapali case and on many other issues. Excerpts:

Please share with us the case that has been closest to your heart.

There are many cases which have deeply engaged me. But one case has stuck in my mind. It was about a very unfortunate adivasi woman, who was sexually assaulted and violated, in a police station. The question was, whether the woman as in the ordinary course should move a local magistrate to get the (guilty) policeman and others who shielded them prosecuted, or to pursue other efficacious remedies.

There was an organisation working for free legal aid in Rajpipla in Gujarat (where the incident happened). The head of this organisation called me up and asked my advice on what best needed to be done in this case. I advised him that we should file a petition in the Supreme Court.

We filed a petition in the Supreme Court. We worked hard on the case and the Supreme Court entertained it. Some of the issues I wanted to raise were on the accountability of custodial institutions like the police, and armed forces, particularly in the context of violation of women’s dignity and liberty.

The question which kept bothering me was that if a woman like her is not protected, then what is access to Justice? After a while, the Supreme Court in this case appointed a commission and the commission submitted a report. Not only was the policeman responsible for doing this dastardly act prosecuted, but so also were other officers who had tried to suppress this issue. Many people were sent to jail.