Former SC judge Sudershan Reddy is Opposition’s candidate for Vice President election

INDIA Bloc has decided to commonly field retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as a candidate to contest in the upcoming Vice President elections.

The decision was taken unanimously, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told in a press conference, flanked by leaders of INDIA Bloc.

This vice-presidential contest is an ideological battle, and all the opposition parties agreed on this, and this is the reason we have nominated B Sudershan Reddy as the joint candidate...,” Mr. Kharge said. The AAP, which is not part of INDIA Bloc, has also reportedly supported his candidature. 

Calling Justice (Retd) Reddy as one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists, Mr. Kharge added: “He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice. He is a poor man and many judgments if you read, will know that how he favoured the poor people and also protected the Constitution and fundamental rights.”

Justice (Retd.) Reddy served as a Supreme Court judge between 2007 and 2011, for four-and-a-half years. He had rendered several landmark judgments on various branches of law, in particular on issues of criminal jurisprudence, Constitution, taxation, service law and human rights.

He served as Goa’s first Lokayukta, but subsequently resigned within seven months. He had also served as the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court until he became a Supreme Court judge.

Born in a village in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Justice (Retd.) Reddy graduated in law from Osmania University. He became an additional judge in Andhra Pradesh High Court in 1993.