Ranjana Prakash Desai: Indian Jurist and Former Supreme Court Judge

Ranjana Prakash Desai, a distinguished Indian jurist and former judge of the Supreme Court of India. Also known as Justice R. P. Desai, she broke barriers as one of the few women to reach the highest court in the country, shaping modern Indian law through bold, rights-based judgments. Her career wasn’t just about sitting on the bench—it was about changing how justice is understood for women, minorities, and ordinary citizens caught in legal gray zones.

She didn’t just interpret the law—she pushed it forward. As chair of the Law Commission of India, she led reviews on outdated personal laws and recommended reforms to protect women’s inheritance rights. Her rulings on sexual harassment in the workplace, custodial violence, and the rights of tribal communities became benchmarks. When she wrote the landmark judgment in the Vishakha v. State of Rajasthan case, she didn’t just cite precedent—she created it, laying the foundation for workplace safety rules still in use today. Her work is deeply connected to Indian Supreme Court, where her voice carried weight in decisions that affected millions. She also influenced how constitutional law is applied in cases involving gender equality, making sure the Constitution wasn’t just a document on paper but a living tool for justice.

What made her stand out wasn’t just her legal mind—it was her clarity. She avoided legalese. Her opinions were direct, grounded in real-life consequences. She often reminded courts that laws aren’t abstract—they impact a mother in a village, a domestic worker in Mumbai, or a young girl denied her share of land. Her legacy lives on in every case where a woman’s right to dignity is upheld. You’ll find echoes of her work in recent rulings on marital rape, property rights, and judicial accountability. Even after retiring, she remained active in legal education and human rights advocacy, mentoring young lawyers and speaking out against backsliding on civil liberties.

Below, you’ll find a curated collection of articles that touch on the legal, social, and political landscape she helped shape—from landmark Indian court decisions to the ongoing fight for gender justice in South Asia. These aren’t just news stories—they’re the living result of the principles she stood for.