One of the most passionate human rights lawyers in the Country. He passed away today of a cardiac arrest in Hyderabad. Here’s what Outlook had once said about him;
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A relentless crusader for human rights for three decades now, Andhra Pradesh HC lawyer Balagopal has fought cases from extra-judicial killings of political dissenters to atrocities against Dalits and women. And he has often suffered personal attacks for his efforts, by the police and others shamed by his exposes. But he has never faltered. His reports on encounter killings, backed by painstaking investigative work, had such credibility that even the state could not ignore it. He doesn’t take legal fees from poor clients. And he travels endlessly across rural India, giving a voice to the opinions and problems of the poor—from farmers and tribals being displaced by SEZs in Nandigram or Visakhapatnam, to beedi workers seeking minimum wages, to tribals trying to protect their homes and forests. One of the most respected civil liberties activists in the country, Balagopal has inspired an entire generation to engage with the causes he espouses.
In recent times, his most notable case was AP Civil LIberties Union v. Gov. of Andhra Pradesh. We had covered it here. We were also suppose to invite him for the ‘Socio-Legal Debates’, and it is our loss that we weren’t fortunate enough to have him participate.
May his soul rest in peace.
[...] Aditya pays tributes: A relentless crusader for human rights for three decades now, Andhra Pradesh HC lawyer Balagopal has fought cases from extra-judicial killings of political dissenters to atrocities against Dalits and women. And he has often suffered personal attacks for his efforts, by the police and others shamed by his exposes. But he has never faltered. His reports on encounter killings, backed by painstaking investigative work, had such credibility that even the state could not ignore it. He doesn’t take legal fees from poor clients. And he travels endlessly across rural India, giving a voice to the opinions and problems of the poor—from farmers and tribals being displaced by SEZs in Nandigram or Visakhapatnam, to beedi workers seeking minimum wages, to tribals trying to protect their homes and forests. One of the most respected civil liberties activists in the country, Balagopal has inspired an entire generation to engage with the causes he espoused. [...]
For tributes to K Balagopal and an archive of his writings see:
http://balagopal.org
Federation for People’s Rights (FPR), Puducherry express deep heartfelt condolence for the sudden death of Dr. K. Balagopal, a prominent Human Rights Activist of India and it is a great loss to Human Rights Movement.
Dr. K. Balagopal, was born in Anantapur District in Andhrapradesh, obtained Doctorate in Mathematics and worked as a lecturer in Kakadia University at warrangal. After leaving his job he dedicated to Human Rights as full time activist.
On 8th October 2009, due to chest pain, he was taken to a private hospital at Hyderabad and the Doctors there told that he was already dead.
As General Secretary of “Andhrapradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC)”, he struggled against the state oppression on Naxalite movement. He also concentrated in fighting against the Custodial Violence, Fake Encounter killings and Abolition of Death Penalty.
Since, he had confident opinion against any form of violence; he developed difference with naxalite movement and quitted APCLC. Then founded “Human Rights Forum (HRF)” and continued his service on Human Rights.
He worked for more than 10 years as lawyer at Andhrapradesh High Court at Hyderabad and argued to get a historical Judgment on fake encounter that if an encounter occurs, a case should filed under Section 302 IPC against the police personals who involved.
He was a left intellectual and his uncompromised and honest writings were well recognized by the intellectual community around the world.
I am closely associated with him from 1993 and in 1996 I was a member in an All India Fact Finding Committee and facing high risk from Police toured with him in naxalite prone four districts of Andhra to probe fake encounter killings.
In 1998, his voice is the first against the Death Penalty, while 26 persons were awarded Death Sentence in Rajiv Gandhi murder case. Consulting with him, we organised a two day All India Conference in Puducherry for abolition of death penalty in India.
I also participated in an All India Fact Finding Committee with him to probe the violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka. This is the last moment I met him. He concentrated and fought for the poor Tribal people, who were affected by the projects of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in his last period.
The people of different walks of life of Andhra including the political leaders of Congress and Marxist – Leninist Parties condoled for his death. I deeply convey my heartfelt condolence to the family members and associates of Dr. K. Balagopal.
I knew Balagopal for more than 25 years and am saddened by his death. As for the case mentioned in the article – there is no AP Civil Liberties Union that balagopal is associated with. He was in the APCLC (Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee) from circa 1981 until circa 1997. He latter formed the HRF (Human Rights Forum) circa 1998.
Human rights protection centre-Tamilnadu, express condolence for the sudden death of Dr. K. Balagopal, a curage Human Rights rebelion of India and it is a great loss to Human Rights Movement.APCLC action is gives to light all human rights activist in india. Dr. K. Balagopal contribution is remarkable and rememberable. we sustained and follow his activities that can only pay to respct Dr.Balagopal, we respect him.
Sir, This is not the time for your demise.Unfortunately GOd takes those who are most dearest to him so early. There are two ways of treating things..MEANS & ENDS..People who treat power,authority,knowledge possessed etc etc as ends will finally end up in despair.they may be intellectuals but their knowledge will not be useful to the mankind in anyway.
Those who treat their possessings as ‘Means’ will find each & every oppurtunity for public good.They wl become enlightened persons by their end.They travel & leave a path for the coming generations.Either it be Balagopal sir or Jaiprakash Narayan sir or arundhati roy or medha patkar or whomever it may be… Their lives have a purpose.They are balanced individuals.Those kind of people will have their words,thoughts & deeds in harmony…….. They are the ENLIGHTENED ones. We SALUTE you sir.