The Supreme Court has given 37 advocates the rare privilege of ‘senior advocate’ designation after a long gap of four years. This is considered an exceptional recognition by the highest judicial institution on lawyers for their professional merit and ability.
One of the 37 advocates has a unique past.
He has served the nation as an Army officer before deciding to protect national interest as an advocate in the highest court of the country. Little did Thanjavur native R. Balasubramanian know that he would one day gain entry into the highest echelons of advocacy in the country when he started out as a lawyer at Madurai in 1982.
Three years later, Mr. Balasubramanian joined the Army’s Judge Advocate General department.
He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2006 by the President for his distinguished service. A globe-trotter, Mr. Balasubramanian also served in the United Nations as its legal advisor, winning commendations from the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary General and Force Commander United Nations for “exceptional devotion to peace-keeping duties” in the United Nations Missions in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
He was thrice awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation as well as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and Army Commander Eastern Command commendations.
Premature retirement
“I took premature retirement and renewed my legal practice in 2006. I decided to continue serve my country in a different way,” said Mr. Balasubramanian, who retired as a Colonel.
In the Supreme Court, he has represented the government and assisted successive Attorney-Generals and Solicitor-Generals in high-stakes cases like the Rafale deal.
