Noted lawyer PP Rao dead

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 13

Noted lawyer and constitutional expert PP Rao died here today following a cardiac arrest, family sources said. He was 84. He will be cremated at the Lodhi Road Crematorium tomorrow.

A former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Rao was a regular commentator on legal affairs on TV channels. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2006, he had completed 50 years in legal practice in July this year. He was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1967 and designated as Senior Advocate in 1976.

Rao had the privilege of assisting legendary lawyers  HM Seervai, MC Setalvad, CK Daphtary, NC Chatterjee, SV Gupte, AK Sen and Niren De. No surprise he excelled in constitutional law. Be it defending President’s rule or opposing capitation fee in educational institutions, Rao was there in many landmark cases that shaped the legal landscape of India.

He had represented the State of Andhra Pradesh as Advocate on Record in the famous ‘Kesavananda Bharati’ case and had argued in several landmark cases, including those on reservation, corruption and powers of the Chief Election Commissioner.