Born: 1974
Biography:
Menaka Guruswamy is a renowned Indian lawyer and Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India. Born on November 27, 1974, she has made significant contributions to the field of law, playing a pivotal role in several landmark cases. Her expertise spans across various legal domains, including Constitutional Law, Corporate Law, White Collar Defense, and Arbitration.
Guruswamy’s journey in law began after she completed her primary education at the Hyderabad Public School. She then pursued her high school education at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in New Delhi. In 1997, she obtained her B.A.LL.B. (Hons) degree from the prestigious National Law School of India University in Bangalore. Her academic achievements and exceptional legal aptitude were recognized when she was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to pursue the BCL degree at the University of Oxford in 2000. Subsequently, she secured the Gammon Fellowship to complete her LL.M. at Harvard Law School in 2001.
Continuing her academic pursuits, Guruswamy obtained her D.Phil from the University of Oxford in 2015, focusing her research on ‘Constitutionalism in India, Pakistan, and Nepal.’ Her scholarly work reflects her dedication to understanding and advancing the principles of constitutionalism within these South Asian nations.
Throughout her illustrious career, Guruswamy’s exceptional legal skills have been sought after by prestigious institutions. From 2017 to 2019, she served as the B.R. Ambedkar Research Scholar and Lecturer at Columbia Law School in New York. Additionally, she has been a visiting faculty member at renowned institutions such as Yale Law School, New York University School of Law, and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.
Guruswamy has left an indelible mark on Indian jurisprudence through her involvement in numerous groundbreaking cases before the Supreme Court. Notably, she played a vital role in the Section 377 case, contributing to its landmark decriminalization and advancing LGBTQ+ rights in India. Her efforts in cases such as the bureaucratic reforms case, the Augusta Westland bribery case, the Salwa Judum case, and the Right to Education case have also had far-reaching impacts on society.
Recognized for her expertise, Guruswamy extends her legal prowess beyond India’s borders. She has advised esteemed organizations like the United Nations Development Fund in New York, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in both New York and South Sudan, and has actively supported Nepal’s constitution-making process. Her involvement in international human rights law demonstrates her commitment to promoting justice and equality on a global scale.
In a historic moment for LGBTQ+ rights in India, Guruswamy, along with her partner, Arundhati Katju, played a pivotal role in convincing the Supreme Court to decriminalize Section 377 in 2018. Their efforts were not only professional triumphs but deeply personal victories as well.
Menaka Guruswamy’s impressive legal career and relentless pursuit of justice have established her as a prominent figure in Indian law. Her unwavering dedication to upholding the principles of constitutionalism and her contribution to landmark cases have left an enduring legacy within the legal fraternity and society at large.