Whether a person is accused of a crime against a person, a crime against property, or any other criminal issue, the role of a criminal lawyer is very important. Read this blog to gain knowledge about the top criminal lawyers in the country.

In India, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt is proven. It is stated that ten criminals might be acquitted, but conviction should not be provided to any innocent person. Assumption of innocence is a standard that is protected in Indian criminal jurisprudence. Innocence and guilt are to be ascertained by considering the crime; therefore, it is not suitable to make use of the terms in the context of civil matters. 

It has been stated that it is trite law that the assumption of innocence falls under the criteria of human rights and could not be overthrown, subject to some exception.

It is not suitable for an advocate to deny defending an individual on the basis that the individual believes him to be criminal and the advocate himself is guilty as per professional misconduct. In the context of a criminal lawyer, there are several qualities needed for success in this field. A criminal lawyer must be dedicated, willing to do difficult work, physically fit, and persistent.

Looking for Indian court decisions? Our search engine offers comprehensive access to judicial rulings from all levels of the Indian court system. Browse through case law and legal precedents, search by keyword or citation, and stay up-to-date on the latest legal developments.

These four attributes and integrity are essential to a successful career in criminal law. It has been assumed by a number of people that the criminal law field includes limited drafting and that the work pressure is not heavy. However, whether it is a trial strategy or cross-examination, it is critical for the criminal law lawyer to conduct extensive research prior to the start of the court.Some of the top criminal lawyers in India are listed below:

Ram Jethmalani

Ram Jethmalani was born in 1923, and he is one of the most prominent veteran criminal lawyers in India, a politician, and an emeritus professor of law. He has provided services as the Union Law Minister of India and as the country’s chairman of the Bar Council. In addition to this, he is also the highest-paid lawyer in the country. Jethmalani is very good at cross-examining witnesses, and his knowledge as a trial advocate is enviable. He has defended clients whose political ideology is broadly distinct from his own, and he has demonstrated individuals from significantly distinct social backgrounds. Moreover, Jethmalani has also participated in several high-profile defence cases.

Gopal Subramanium

Gopal Subramanium, aged 56, has obtained a position as a senior lawyer in the Supreme Court of India as well as the High Court of Delhi. He has provided services as the solicitor general of the country from 2009 to 2011 and has also served as the Bar Council’s chairman throughout his stint as the solicitor general. 

Gopal was the main individual required in the establishment of the All India Bar Examination, a mandatory exam for all graduates to be able to practise in India.In 1993, the Supreme Court appointed him as a senior lawyer suo moto, making him one of the Supreme Court’s youngest senior lawyers.

Gopal is one of the prominent lawyers who has served as the government’s main counsel on a broad range of issues, including comprehensive questions of criminal law like the representation of the State of Bombay in the terrorist attack. Following his resignation as a solicitor general, he appeared in the case of the SEBI chief’s appointment.

 

K.T.S Tulsi

Tulsi, a former additional solicitor general of India and senior member of the Supreme Court, is a recognised luminary.From 1973 to 1976, he worked as a part-time lecturer before beginning a successful career in criminal law.He is also the author of two books, and in 1976, he was recruited as a reporter for the Indian Law Reports. Gradually, he drifted into the field of criminal law upon his recruitment as a special prosecutor against the terrorists in Delhi, Assam, and other places. 

While terrorism was growing in the Punjab and no lawyer wanted to come forward and prosecute terrorists, Tulsi accepted the significant duty of prosecuting Grade A terrorists, including the case of Talwara Bank Dacoity and others. Tulsi’s ethics set him unique and distinct from other advocates, as was observed when he created headlines for denying and arguing for the government of Gujarat in the case of the Sohrabuddin encounter. 

Despite the significant fee that Tulsi has changed, he is known for providing free assistance to those in need.He is also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, and again, he proved his dedication to public service. He was elected president of the criminal justice society of the country, a position he has held since.

Sushil Kumar

Sushil Kumar is the senior advocate of the Supreme Court and is observed as the “only one” who could always manage to create gaps in the prosecution theory and gain his client the advantage of doubt. He is a spiritual person and was significantly influenced by the teachings of Krishnamurthy, a well-known philosopher. Sushil Kumar has also participated in a number of high-profile cases and has an excellent record to show for it. Some of the major clients involve Mohammed Afzal, who made an attack on Parliament; 2G accused A. Raja and Kanimozhi, and others.

Shanti Bhushan

Bhushan is an earlier law minister of the country, having held office at the Ministry of Law and Justice under the Morarji Desai Ministry. He has been appointed as the Supreme Court’s most senior advocate.Shanti Bhushan is also recognised as the saviour of the Indian Constitution. His son, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, also obtained the position of senior lawyer in the Supreme Court. 

In 2009, the duo of father and son featured on the “powerful Indians” list, which was circulated through the Indian Express. In the course of his term as a minister of law, he introduced the 44 constitutional amendments that have repealed a number of unconstitutional provisions of the other 42 amendments. 

The Shanti Bhushan has represented a number of well-known corruption figures.At present, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan are facing numerous contempt of court charges because of their criticism of the judiciary.

Majeed Menon

Majeed was born in 1945 and is a well-known criminal lawyer as well as the leader of the Nationalist Congress party.He has been a part of several Indian personalities, including politicians, human rights activists, and film industry figures involved in criminal matters.Majeed has protected numerous people detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in several high-profile cases, including those connected with the bomb blast in Mumbai.

Ujwal Nikam

Ujwal is one of the leading public prosecutors in the real sense, and he has received the Padma Shri award. His name would always be written in the golden words in the history of India’s legal system.Ujwal began his career as the district government public prosecutor of Jalgoan, but quickly made headlines after taking on the role of public prosecutor in serial blast cases in Mumbai in 1993, and later bringing entire perpetrators to justice.Ujwal’s ethics and integrity set him apart from other lawyers and make him one of the most respected and dignified members of the legal community.

Conclusion

Overall, the role of criminal lawyers in India is very significant. Learn about various aspects of criminal laws, processes, the judicial framework, drafting, and other legal information and advice from the experts at Vakilsearch. To get tailored legal assistance, you can consult lawyer online through their platform.