KS Radhakrishnan

KS Radhakrishnan (KSR)
Website	www.ksradhakrishnan.in

K S Radhakrishnan is a political analyst, legal expert, human rights activist, writer and columnist hailing from Tamil Nadu.

KSR, as he is fondly called, was born on December 31, 1956 in an agricultural family in Kurunjakulam village, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. After completing his post graduation and a degree in Law, he got himself enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in 1981, and started practicing writ in original side and appellate side of civil and criminal jurisdiction of the High Court of Judicature, Madras and arbitration as well. He is a Life Member of Indian Law Institute – New Delhi, Member of International Law Association (India Chapter) and Indian Council of Arbitration. He is the Joint Secretary of Indian Lawyer’s Association (Tamil Nadu Chapter). He has held various positions in the Public and Government sectors. In the past, he had provided his services as an Advocate representing the State for the HR&CE, Government of Tamil Nadu and was a Legal Advisor for Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Tamil Nadu Industrial Corporation. He served as an Arbitrator for Cochin Port Trust, Govt. of India. He was a former member of Central Board of Film Certification (under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India). He held the position of Committee Member at CBFC for three consecutive terms spanning 12 years.

As a member of many organizations he has extended his services to satisfaction for all stakeholders. He was a member of Central Advisory Board on Child Labor and Worker’s Education Board (both under Ministry of Labor) and ZRUCC and SRUCC (under Ministry of Railways).

He is a Life Member of Alliance Françoise De Madras and Common Cause (Public Interest Litigation Forum).

Practicing the Law for the People

He is known and appreciated for his eminence in legal activism. He has filed Public Interest Litigations (PIL) in the Supreme Court of India and in the High Court of Madras for common causes. Some of the best-known petitions were the ones that seek Nationalization of Rivers, Linking of National Rivers and diverting the west-flowing rivers from Kerala to Tamilnadu (originating from Western Ghats) since 1983. He had also fought for voting rights for Prisoners and 3-tier system for Panchayat Raj in the Supreme Court of India.

In the High Court of Judicature at Madras, he has filed some significant writs.

1. In 1983, his writ petition to arrest pollution and undertake remedial actions to prevent industrial hazardous materials emitted by Tamilnadu Cements in Alankulam, Virudunagar district was successful enough to make an interim order possible and consequently the plant was closed down till rectification. The High Court had directed the Government of Tamil Nadu to sanction over 70 crores INR to modernize the plant and implement environment friendly measures. This timely intervention was a lifesaver for the farmers of Rajapalayam and Sivakasi areas.
2. As the State Government of Kerala made impediments to the devotees of Kannagi Temple in the Cumbum Valley, he persuaded for the police protection to the worshippers from Tamil Nadu and restored the People’s right to worship in the High Court of Madras.
3. In 1983, his writ made the Government to declare the districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin as drought hit districts due to monsoon failures.
4. He filed many PILs on the cases related to custodial deaths and secured compensation for the victims.
5. His writs on agricultural and environmental issues are still pending for the Court to intervene.
6. He had filed writs with National Human Rights Commission-New Delhi and State Human Rights Commission-Chennai on various compelling issues.
7. He was the first writ petitioner for the Koodankulam issue.

He has appeared as Counsel to many inquiry commissions appointed by the State government and for many Public Interest Litigations. As a Political Activist, he has seen the inner walls of the prisons quite often.

Human Rights and Environmental Issues

Actively associated with international organizations like Amnesty International, National and Regional Agencies of Human Rights and Democracy, he has undertaken various studies and research on the status of civil liberties, child labor, prostitution and other social issues. He is a warrior against death penalty and appeared as a counsel for the convicts. He writes extensively on Human Rights in the media and published several books on the subject. His extensive study about environment issues in the Western Ghats is worth a mention.

Writing

He is a writer and litterateur and a notable personality in the media and publishing circles. He is the joint editor of Kathai Solli – a folklore magazine alongwith Thiru Ki. Rajanarayan (Veteran Tamil Writer) and an avid reader of Modern Tamil Literature.

He has written many books in English and Tamil. Some of the important titles are:

1. Urimaikku Kural Koduppom (On political, economical and human rights issues)
2. Manitha Urimaigal Endral Enna? (A primer on human rights)
3. Nimira Vaikkum Nellai (A history of Tirunelveli district)
4. Tamil Nadu – 50
5. Karisal Kaatil Kavithai Cholai Bharathi
6. Kanavaaki Pona Katcha theevu
7. Eeelam Tamil’s Issue
8. Sethu Canal Project
9. 123 – India Odathey! Nil!! (Nuclear Agreement with US)
10. Thookkukku Thookku
11. Mullai Periyaru Dam Issue
12. Human Rights Act – Some Notes
13. Tamil Nadu Legislative Council
14. DMK – Social Justice
15. Impunity in Sri Lanka

Currently he is working on projects that document the Central and State relationship in India. The edited volumes exploring federal concept will be shortly published. Books exclusively on Tamil Nadu River Water issues, History of Farmers agitations in Tamil Nadu and Veerpandia Kattabomman’s legacy are under print.

External links

1. www.ksradhakrishnan.in