Opposition’s V-P Pick Reddy’s Verdict Had Set Back Fight Against Naxals? The 2011 Verdict

Last Updated:August 19, 2025, 17:44 IST

Among Reddy’s key judgments is one given in 2011, striking down Salwa Judum, a key anti-Naxal initiative of the Chhattisgarh government

Former Supreme Court Judge Sudershan Reddy (File Photo)

The Opposition’s INDIA bloc has announced the name of former Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy for the upcoming Vice-Presidential election.

The announcement has set the stage for a contest between Reddy, the opposition’s nominee, and CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate.

Announcing the INDIA bloc’s candidate, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “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."

The 2011 verdict

Among Reddy’s key judgments is one given in 2011, striking down Salwa Judum, a key anti-Naxal initiative of the Chhattisgarh government.

The case was driven by Nandini Sundar, long accused of proximity to Maoist groups and named in a Bastar murder First Information Report (FIR) (later dropped).

The verdict was seen as a setback to India’s anti-Naxal fight, coming at the height of Maoist violence.

Many pointed out that at a time when the Modi government is working to finish Naxalism, the Opposition has chosen a nominee whose judicial legacy raised questions of weakness towards forces aligned with Maoists.

Who is Reddy?

B Sudershan Reddy, born in 1946 in Telangana, served as the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court.

He began his legal career after enrolling as an advocate with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on December 27, 1971. Reddy practised primarily in writ and civil matters at the Andhra Pradesh High Court, where he also served as Government Pleader between 1988 and 1990.

In 1990, he briefly worked as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government, and later served as Legal Adviser and Standing Counsel for Osmania University.

On May 2, 1995, he was appointed as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

When is the V-P election?

The Election Commission has scheduled the Vice Presidential election for September 9, with both polling and counting to be completed the same day.

The deadline for filing nominations is August 21, and candidates will be able to withdraw their papers until August 25.

The office fell vacant after Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down on July 21, the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, citing health concerns.

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August 19, 2025, 17:44 IST

News india Opposition’s V-P Pick Reddy’s Verdict Had Set Back Fight Against Naxals? The 2011 Verdict

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