N. R. Madhava Menon
Encyclopedia
N. R. Madhava Menon is a legal educator from India. He was instrumental in setting up the National Law School of India University (NLSIU)
in Bangalore
, and was its founder-director. He was the founder and vice-chancellor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS)
in Calcutta, run on the NLSIU model. He was the founder Director of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, an institute for training judges. Madhava Menon has worked for nearly five decades to improve Indian legal education.
As a member of the Legal Education Committee of the Bar Council of India
and later as the first Secretary of the Bar Council Trust, Dr. Menon influenced the shaping of legal education policies.
in early 1980s, Dr. Menon volunteered for the job and set up the Bangalore-based National Law School of India University with a USD $150,000 government grant. The school was the first in India to use the Harvard Law School
's case study
method, which later became the mainstream form of legal education in India. After a 10-year tenure at the university, he relinquished the job.
Dr. Menon was invited by the West Bengal
Government to set up the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) on the lines of the Bangalore initiative. As the first vice-chancellor, he developed its infrastructure, educational curriculum and its reputation within the academic/student community. In particular, he allowed the faculty great creative freedom in teaching, which has resulted in law graduates with a broad knowledge of many disciplines.
Before Dr. Menon could complete his term as the vice-chancellor of NUJS in West Bengal, the Supreme Court of India
asked him to take over as the first Director of the newly established National Judicial Academy for training judges.
Dr. Menon has also been:
As of 2008, he was serving on the Board of Governors of the International Organization of Judicial Trainers (IOJT) and is adviser to the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (Canada
).
honoured Prof. Menon with the Living Legend of Law Award in 1994. He also received the Rotary Club Award for Vocational Excellence. The Bar Council of India presented a Plaque of Honour to Dr. Menon for his contribution to the legal profession and the Commonwealth Legal Education Association elected him as its President for a four year term (1994–98).
In 2001 the National Law School of India University conferred on Dr. Menon the degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) (Honoris Causa) and praised him:
Recognizing his contribution to public service, the President of India
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, honoured Dr. Menon in 2003, the first such award to a law teacher in India.
s on a variety of legal subjects.
National Law School of India University
The National Law School of India University is the leading institution for undergraduate and graduate legal education in India. By popular estimates, the school consistently ranks as the most prestigious law school in India...
in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, and was its founder-director. He was the founder and vice-chancellor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS)
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, abbreviated to WBNUJS or NUJS is an autonomous law university offering courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is situated in Salt Lake City of Kolkata, West Bengal, India...
in Calcutta, run on the NLSIU model. He was the founder Director of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, an institute for training judges. Madhava Menon has worked for nearly five decades to improve Indian legal education.
As a member of the Legal Education Committee of the Bar Council of India
Bar Council of India
The Bar Council of India is a statutory body that regulates and represents the Indian bar. It was created by Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961. It prescribes standards of professional conduct and etiquette and exercises disciplinary jurisdiction...
and later as the first Secretary of the Bar Council Trust, Dr. Menon influenced the shaping of legal education policies.
Career
When the Bar Council of India proposed building a new law schoolLaw school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in early 1980s, Dr. Menon volunteered for the job and set up the Bangalore-based National Law School of India University with a USD $150,000 government grant. The school was the first in India to use the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
's case study
Case study
A case study is an intensive analysis of an individual unit stressing developmental factors in relation to context. The case study is common in social sciences and life sciences. Case studies may be descriptive or explanatory. The latter type is used to explore causation in order to find...
method, which later became the mainstream form of legal education in India. After a 10-year tenure at the university, he relinquished the job.
Dr. Menon was invited by the West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
Government to set up the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) on the lines of the Bangalore initiative. As the first vice-chancellor, he developed its infrastructure, educational curriculum and its reputation within the academic/student community. In particular, he allowed the faculty great creative freedom in teaching, which has resulted in law graduates with a broad knowledge of many disciplines.
Before Dr. Menon could complete his term as the vice-chancellor of NUJS in West Bengal, the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
asked him to take over as the first Director of the newly established National Judicial Academy for training judges.
Dr. Menon has also been:
- a teacher at AMU law faculty,(ALIGARH)
- a member of the Law Commission of IndiaLaw Commission of IndiaLaw Commission of India is an executive body established by an order of the Government of India. Its major function is to work for legal reform. It membership primarily comprises legal experts, who are entrusted a mandate by the Government...
- chairman of the Indian Statistical InstituteIndian Statistical InstituteIndian Statistical Institute is a public research institute and university in Kolkata's northern outskirt of Baranagar, India founded by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in 1931...
, KolkataKolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India... - chairman of the Centre for Development StudiesCentre for Development StudiesThe Centre for Development Studies , Trivandrum, Kerala, India is a premier social science research institution. Over the years it has established a tradition of interdisciplinary research on development problems in India. Its main objective is to promote research, teaching and training in...
, Trivandrum - a member of several expert committees including:
- Legal Aid Committee(1973)
- The Civil ServiceCivil serviceThe term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
s Examination Reform Committee (2000–2001) - Criminal JusticeCriminal justiceCriminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
Reform (2002–2003), appointed by the Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
As of 2008, he was serving on the Board of Governors of the International Organization of Judicial Trainers (IOJT) and is adviser to the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
).
Awards and recognition
Appreciating his efforts for founding the National University of Juridical Sciences, the International Bar AssociationInternational Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
honoured Prof. Menon with the Living Legend of Law Award in 1994. He also received the Rotary Club Award for Vocational Excellence. The Bar Council of India presented a Plaque of Honour to Dr. Menon for his contribution to the legal profession and the Commonwealth Legal Education Association elected him as its President for a four year term (1994–98).
In 2001 the National Law School of India University conferred on Dr. Menon the degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) (Honoris Causa) and praised him:
Recognizing his contribution to public service, the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, honoured Dr. Menon in 2003, the first such award to a law teacher in India.
Literary career
Prof. Menon is the author of several books, articles and monographMonograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
s on a variety of legal subjects.