BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE

A powerful delegation from India headed by the Honorable Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, the Chief Justice of India was in Atlanta this April. The Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (GIACC), along with TiE hosted an eloquent reception in his honor on Friday, April 3rd at the Four Seasons Hotel.

In his address, Justice Balakrishnan said he was very encouraged by the Indo-American ties in all aspects and hopeful of its expansion into the legal field as well. The Chief Justice praised the talented Indians in the legal field and noted most of the Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale consisted of students of Indian origin. He was also very pleased with the NRI community for their investments back home in India.

Justice Balakrishnan extended his appreciation to all Indians who he said worked with utmost dedication and was happy that Indian population was well received by the American community. When asked about his visit to Atlanta, the Chief Justice said that he had a good time and that he had enjoyed his visit to the Swami Narayan Mandir earlier in the day. The Chief Justice and his delegation were in Atlanta and Athens, GA taking part in various events in these areas, including a visit to the Gandhi Statue at the Martin Luther King Center, where he delivered the closing remarks on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The Chief Justice was accompanied by Justice Dr. Arijit Pasayat, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Honorable Mr. G.E. Vahanvati the Solicitor General of India, Mr. Sanjiv Arora the Consul General India to Southeast USA, Dr. S.K. Thorat the Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) of Govt. of India, Mr. Sunil Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Govt. of India, Mr. T. K. Viswanathan, IAS, Law Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, Govt. of India, Dr. S. Sivakumar, Officiating Director, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, Mr. Rakesh Munjal, Executive Member Governing & Academic Council, Indian Law Institute and Mr. Dalip Kumar, Registrar, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi.

Ritesh Desai, the President of GIACC thanked all of their sponsors and members. Sanjiv Arora, the Consul General of India in Houston introduced the eminent members of the delegation to the audience. He also briefed the illustrious employment history of the Chief Justice, K.G. Balakrishnan which started in 1968 where he enrolled as an advocate in the Kerala Bar Council. He was later appointed as a Munsif in the Kerala Judicial Services in 1973. In 1985, he was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court, and was transferred to the Gujarat High Court in 1997. He became the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court in 1998, and in 1999, he assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Madras. On the 8 June 2000 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. He was sworn in as the Chief Justice of India on 14 January 2007 by then President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. 

An elegant dinner befitting the prominent delegation was organized by GIACC. The relaxed delegation retired into the night as Atlanta awaits more days to host such distinguished personalities in the future.