Gopal Subramanium

Subramanium was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He studied at St. Xavier's School, Delhi. He did his B.Sc. (Hons.) degree at Hansraj College, Delhi. He then completed his degree in Law from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. == Legal career ==

Early career Subramanium started his legal career with Shardul S. Shroff in Delhi in 1980. He appeared as counsel for the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, often traveling to these states for hearings. His legal work has included roles in several commissions and proceedings. Between 1991 and 1992, he served as counsel to a commission headed by J. S. Verma that examined security lapses related to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In 1993, he acted as prosecuting counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation in cases relating to the Bombay bomb blasts, and continued to be associated with related proceedings during subsequent appeals. In 2001, he served as counsel to a commission led by K. Venkataswami, which inquired into defence-related corruption allegations arising from investigative reporting. He also served as Special Public Prosecutor in proceedings related to the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. From 2005 to 2009, Subramanium held the office of Additional Solicitor General of India, before being appointed Solicitor General in 2009. Solicitor General of India Subramanium served as Solicitor General of India 2009–2011. During his tenure he also served as the Chairman of the Bar Council of India. In his role as a senior law officer, he represented the Government of India in matters involving constitutional and criminal law. During his tenure, he appeared in several cases before the Supreme Court of India. These included proceedings related to the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving terrorist of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He appeared on behalf of the Government of India in litigation relating to the allocation of 2G spectrum to telecom operators. In Raja Ram Pal v. Speaker, he represented the Union of India in proceedings concerning parliamentary privilege. In 2011, he assisted the Supreme Court as amicus curiae in Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, which addressed issues related to child trafficking. Resignation as Solicitor General In 2011, Subramanium chose to resign from his position as Solicitor General in protest of the government's decision to field a private lawyer, Rohinton Fali Nariman, in a telecommunications case before the Supreme Court. In July 2011, the Ministry of Law and Justice appointed Nariman as the Solicitor General of India for a period of three years. His resignation occurred during a period when the Supreme Court delivered judgments in matters relating to black money investigations, including directions for the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and in the Salwa Judum case, which examined the constitutionality of the appointment of Special Police Officers. Legal work 2011–2015 Between 2011 and 2015, Subramanium assisted the Supreme Court of India as amicus curiae in several matters, including proceedings related to the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. During the same period, he was a member of a committee chaired by Justice J. S. Verma that recommended amendments to criminal law following public debates on legal protections for women and children. In 2015, he appeared before the Supreme Court in proceedings relating to a bail application filed by Mohammed Nisham. The businessman was accused of running over a security guard with his Hummer SUV over a delay in opening the gates of his apartment. On October 9, 2015, the SC bench led by Justice Dipak Misra dismissed the bail application. In the same year, he appeared in Devidas Ramachandra Tuljapurkar v. State of Maharashtra, a case concerning issues of artistic and literary expression. Between 2016 and 2019, he assisted the Supreme Court as amicus curiae in BCCI v. Cricket Association of Bihar, which addressed the implementation of recommendations relating to cricket administration in India. In 2019, he served as a member of an arbitral tribunal presided over by R. S. Pathak in a dispute between Transammonia AG and MMTC Limited. In the same year, he appeared as senior counsel for Amazon in the Future Retail-Amazon case. In 2021, Subramanium was called to the Bar of England and Wales at Gray's Inn. In October 2021, Subramanium was appointed an Honorary Fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. == Appointments and affiliations ==

During his tenure as Chairman of the Bar Council of India, Subramanium was associated with the introduction of the All India Bar Examination, a qualifying test for law graduates seeking to practice in India. His arbitration work has included appearances as lead counsel for Indian companies in international and domestic proceedings, including those conducted under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, as well as participation as an expert on Indian law in international arbitration forums such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. He has been involved in cases before the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts relating to arbitration law, including matters concerning the appointment of arbitrators, arbitrability of disputes, and challenges to arbitral awards across sectors such as infrastructure and defence contracts. Subramanium has held positions including supplementary judge at the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre and honorary bencher at Gray's Inn. He has also been associated with the barristers' chambers 3 Verulam Buildings. == Academia ==

Subramanium has written and spoken on topics related to legal philosophy, including democracy, social inequality, and civic education. His work has also explored the relationship between psychology and legal concepts. He has been associated with academic discussions on mental health, including conditions such as clinical depression, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. Subramanium contributed to and edited Supreme But Not Infallible: Essays in Honour of the Supreme Court of India, published by Oxford University Press in 2004, which examines the functioning of the Supreme Court of India. He has served as a visiting professor at the University of Delhi and has delivered lectures at institutions including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Harvard University. In October 2021, he was inducted into the Chancellor's Court of Benefactors at the University of Oxford. == Philanthropy ==

Subramanium has supported academic and cultural initiatives, including contributions to Somerville College, University of Oxford, where he has funded postgraduate scholarships for students from India. In 2019, he was elected a Foundation Fellow of the college. He established the Gopal Subramanium Scholarships at Somerville College to support postgraduate study in legal policy. He has also supported institutional activities such as a choir tour to India in 2018. Subramanium has been associated with organisations including the Southbank Centre, the mental health charity SANE, and the All India Heart Foundation in honorary or patronage roles. ==Awards and recognition==

In 2009, Subramanium received the National Law Day Award from the President of India, for his contributions and adherence to the highest traditions of the Bar. He has been involved in a range of legal matters, including representing the Union of India in proceedings relating to a dispute between Reliance Industries and Reliance Natural Resources Limited before the Supreme Court of India. He also appeared as Special Public Prosecutor on the high-profile murder case of Jessica Lal case. He was associated with initiatives concerning judicial administration, "National Consultation for Strengthening the Judiciary towards Reducing Pendency and Delays" and establishment of "Society for Delivery of Justice and Legal Reform". In 2013, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Law from the Central University of Orissa, Koraput for his contributions. Comments about his professional work have appeared in public sources, including statements by Fali Nariman regarding developments in legal practice such as the introduction of bar examinations. ==References==