4th Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture [13th April 2026]

The 4th Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture is scheduled to be conducted on 13th April, 2026 at India International Centre, New Delhi. The event brings together leading voices from the judiciary and academia to reflect on the evolution of India’s legal system and its future trajectory. The Ashok Desai 4th Memorial Lecture will witness Chief Justice of India, Justice Suryakant and Shri Manu S. Pillai as the Speakers.  

4th Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture – Event Details  

Date - Monday, 13th April, 2026 

Time - Evening session (opening address followed by keynote lecture) 

Venue - Kamala Devi Multi-Purpose Hall, India International Centre, Max Muller Marg, New Delhi 

Speakers & Topics 

The evening will open with an address exploring the future of the Indian judiciary and its evolving role in a rapidly changing society. 

• Justice Suryakant, Chief Justice of India shall discuss “Reimagining Justice: The Indian Judiciary 50 Years Hence”
• Manu S. Pillai, Author and Historian shall express his thoughts on “Resisting Injustice: The Raj, the Law, and the Making of Modern India” 

Remembering Ashok Desai 

The Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture series honours Ashok H. Desai, a distinguished Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India. He served as the Solicitor General of India during 1989–1990 and as the Attorney General for India during 1996–1998. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2001.  

Ashok Desai was known for his fearless advocacy, particularly during the Emergency (1975–77), when he defended citizens against the misuse of state power. His legal career was marked by significant involvement in landmark cases, including Navtej Singh Johar case which led to the decriminalisation of Section 377, Nandini Sundar case challenging the Salwa Judum militia, and the Narmada dam litigation.