Success Samrat

Father of modern Legal Education in India, Dr.NR Madhava Menon has passed away on May 7th, 2019.He was famous for changing Indian legal education by the establishment of the National Law Schools. Born in Thiruvananthapuram on 4th May 1935 to Ramakrishna Menon and Bhavani Amma. He graduated in Zoology in 1953 from SD College, then completed his Law from the Government College, University of Kerala.He did his Master’s in Law and Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University and M.A. Degree from Punjab University. In 1956 he got enrolled as an Advocate in the High Court of Kerala.

Dr. Menon joined as a faculty in Aligarh Muslim University in 1960.In 1965 became Professor and Head of the Campus Law Center, Delhi University. At the same time on being deputation he also performed the duties of Principal of Government Law College, Puducherry and Secretary of the Bar Council of India Trust.

He was the brain behind the the five year integrated LLB course, that replaced the former 3-year course. So, in 1986 on the invitation of Bar Council of India he went to Banglore and laid the foundation the National Law School of India University in 1987. He was the founder Director of the National Law School of India University. He was also the founder Vice Chancellor of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences which was established in 1998.The Supreme Court Of India took his services for the establishment of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal in 1993 and was its founder director. Dr.Menon was the member of Commission on Center-State Relations. He chaired the Government of India committee to draft a National Policy on Criminal Justice. After his retirement he continued to contribute the legal system . He was also a member the Law Commission of India for two terms.

Prof. Menon was more academician then a lawyer.He penned a dozen books in the field of law related to legal education, profession,aid, judicial training and administration of justice. He was also the author of book “Turning Point” published in 2010.The book is on his life and profession.The other books written by him are, Education and Public Health: Legislative Initiatives in Fifty Years of the Republic and Criminal Justice India Series.

In 1994, the International Bar Association awarded him by Living Legend of Law Award.In 2003, the Government Of India awarded Dr. Menon by India’s fourth highest Indian Civilian Award,the Padma Shree. On 9th September, 2009, the Society of Indian Law Firms stared an annual Best Law Teacher Award.The day is celebrated as National Law Teachers Day.The award includes of a lakh of rupees and a plaque instituted in Prof. Menon’s name.