Gujarat BJP Rajya Sabha member Abhay Bharadwaj passes away

December 01, 2020
Gujarat Saurastra

Gandhinagar: Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Shri Abhay Bhardwaj (66) passed away after battling for long with coronavirus infection and other related complications. Rajkot based Bhardwaj died during treatment in Chennai.

Prime Minister Modi in a tweet paying tribute to later Rajya Sabha member said: Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Shri Abhay Bharadwaj ji was a distinguished lawyer and remained at the forefront of serving society. It is sad we have lost a bright and insightful mind, passionate about national development. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti.

Bharadwaj after his election to Rajya Sabha early this year suffered covid19 infection and couldn’t attend the upper house even for a single day because of his hospitalization. He had however took oath as Rajya Sabha member on July 22.

Bharadwaj’s name was declared as Rajya Sabha candidate of BJP on 11 March this year. He filed nomination on 13 March. He was declared victorious on 19 June. He took oath on 22 July. He was detected covid positive in the last week of August and taken to Rajkot based civil hospital for treatment. Mid September he was put on ventilator support. In November second week he was airlifted to Chennai for lung transplant.

Last week, another sitting Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat Shri Ahmed Patel passed away due to covid19 infection and related multi organ failure. Gujarat will witness by-election for two seats of Rajya Sabha probably in the first quarter of the next calendar year.

Abhay Ganpatram Bharadwaj

-Born into a primary school teacher’s family on 2nd April, 1954 in Uganda, Africa

– In 1969, was forced to leave Uganda and shift to Rajkot, India with family due to Civil War

– Being the eldest son, began working at the age of 16 as a journalist in Rajkot to fulfill family needs.

– Married to Alka Abhaykumar Bharadwaj in the year 1984

– Father to three children namely Ashka, Amruta, and Ansh

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

– B.A., LL.B.

– Enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Gujarat in 1980

EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONAL

– Elected to Rajya Sabha

– Ex-Member, Law Commission of India

– Member, Search-cum-Selection Committee for selection to the post of Presiding Officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunal

– Founder and managing partner, Abhay Bharadwaj & Associates

BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (JANA SANGH)

– Swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh with a Sangh Aayu of more than 40 years

– General Secretary, Janata Yuva Morcha , Gujarat Pradesh (1978-80)

– General Secretary, Janata Party, Rajkot Mahanagar (1978-80)

– National Executive Committee Member, Janata Yuva Morcha

KEY PRACTICE AREAS

MEMBER, 21st LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA

– Contributed towards the drafting of legislations such as Triple Talak,Uniform Civil Code, etc.

– Offered dissenting opinions in various reports of the law commission.

– Suggested law to protect Indian women from NRI husbands and proposed husbands.

– Suggested many amendments in the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act, and other related legislations.

LITIGATION

– Experience of over 35 years in almost all type of litigation work with a dedicated team of over 60 lawyers.

– Experience of handling large number of cases of offences relating to body, cheating, forgery etc. under Indian Penal Code, cases under The Negotiable Instruments Act, The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Trademarks Act, SARFAESI Act and allied criminal and civil laws in District Courts, Gujarat High Court and Supreme Court of India

– Experience in representing various Multinational Companies, Educational Institutions, Corporations, Hotels etc. in commercial litigation before District Courts, High Courts and Supreme Court of India.

– Pro-bono represented 69 accused in the Gulbarg Society Massacre Case – epicenter of 2002 Gujarat riots – and got acquittal for most of the innocent accused.

– Drafted and represented several PILs including Wildlife trust’s PIL challenging translocation of Lion from Gujarat (Gir) to Madhya-Pradesh (Kuno) and got stay from Supreme Court.

– Was representing the Government of Gujarat, as Special Public Prosecutor in the controversial Jayanti Bhanushali murder case and Pradeep Sharma anti-corruption case.

– The clientele varied from MNC to poor litigants (who are being represented pro-bono).

SELECT PRESENTATIONS & HONOURS

– Winner of Award by Uganda Government for best student at the age of thirteen.

– Joined as press reporter in Jansata, a regional newspaper, at the age of seventeen and was made Desk-editor at the age of 18, the youngest Deskeditor in history of India .

– Honoured by Bar Council of India for the only National Legal Clinic out of State capital.

– Authored book on criminal acts namely “Criminal Major Acts” published by Kamla Publication, the book being reprinted in three editions.

– Many of his associates are adoring the Bench at various levels and have been designated Senior Counsels in High Courts.

– Had been a permanent visiting faculty in Universities and other institutions for educating young lawyers and law students with latest developments in law.

#Abhay Bhardwaj

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