Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi: A Life of Inspiration

An Indian Politician and Member of Parliament of the upper house, from Rajasthan, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi belongs to the Indian national Congress party and used to be its spokesman till April, 2012.

His life and Education

Born to a Jodhpur family in the Indian state of Rajasthan on 24^th of February in 1959 to Srimati Kamla Singhvi and Dr Laxmi Mall Singhvi, Abhishek got his education in the premier institute of the country right from his childhood. He was a great learner right from his childhood and completed his high school from St Columba’s School. Wanting to complete his higher education, Abhishek graduated and even got his Masters from St Stephen’s college. Thereafter, he moved to Trinity College for his Ph D and later the PIL from Harvard University. His education speaks volumes about himself. His topic of dissertation was on Emergency Powers (this could be perhaps because of the Emergency Situation India had recently faced then). His quest to attain perfection made him become an eminent lawyer and he thus carried forward the tradition of his family (his father was an eminent Lawyer and former Indian High Commission to the United Kingdom).

Married to singer Anita Singhvi, he has two sons, Anubhav and Avishkar. Among the country’s highest remunerated Directors who have declared their emoluments through professional engagements, Dr Abhishek Amnu Singhvi, at one time, topped the chart with Rs Fifty Crores per annum. In 1997, his career got a new high when he started working as additional Solicitor General of India. 2001 onward he became a serious politician, when he began functioning as the Indian National Congress Party Spokesman. As the party spokesman, he used to appear in electronic news channels and contributed through his writings in the print media.

He took the interaction with media to a new high of articulation with his witty, restrained and sensible talks. He journalists could hardly entangle Dr Singhvi, as his oration and deep thought into any topic made him an instant talker with no prejudices. He became an asset to his own party. In these days of aggressive media business, people like Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi become attraction to widely televised urban elite class of the society.

Role as a politician

Dr Singhvi was elected a Rajya Sabha Member (upper house of the Parliament) in August of 2006 from the state of Rajasthan. To the young Members of the Upper House his talks, interactions and dealing with issues were like lessons. He used to enthrall the audience with his oration and was often the one to silence the critics of his party and the oppositions. It was even admitted among the opposition members of the Parliament that the ruling party would put Dr Singhvi in act to tactically divert attention from public debate and controversies. Often, the Members of the different political outfits were trapped by his subtle web of logic and points. Surely, Dr Singhvi’s articulation was the fiercest in his armory. Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi presided over many Union Government Committees and panels. Simultaneously with his Rajya Sabha tenure, from August 2006 to August 2007 he was the Member, Joint Committee on Offices of Profit Member, Joint Committee.

From August 2009 to July 2011 he remained the member of Committee on Personal and Public Grievances, law and Justice. This public outfit got functioned under the leadership of likes of Dr Singhvi and other panelists who were the luminaries among the country’s famous lawyers.

In September 2006, he became the member of Committee of Privileges. This committee was to look after any charge against the members of the Parliament in regard to their attitude and behavior on the floor of the both the houses.

From July 2010, he started working as the Member of the Consultative Committee for Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In July 2011 he became the Chairman of the Committee of Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice Member, General Purpose Committee.

The Writer

Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi has long been an accomplished writer and columnist.  In 2006, his book ‘Reflection of Abhishek Singvi’ was published and was widely acclaimed and came with a foreword by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.His column ‘Candid Corner’ in the one of the leading dailies, Hindustan Times became much popular among the readers. Later, it was published as a book. He also wrote for a fortnightly column in ‘Indya.com’ and used to write for ‘The Pioneer’ and also ‘Dainik Bhaskar’.

Besides, his articles have also been published in magazines and periodicals. Some Some soon to be out writings by him are ‘Collection of Legal Writings’ and ‘Emergency Powers: A Comparative Study’ are worth mentioning.

With a life of umpteen achievements before him, Dr Singhvi quit as the chairperson of the Parliament Standing Committee on Law and Justice and as the Congress Spokesman on 23^rd of April, 2012

Lokpal Bill Debate : Abhishek Manu Singhvi

As the Lokpal Bill is being debated in the Rajya Sabha, here are the highlights of what Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress spokesperson, said on the floor of the Upper House.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi is an eminent personality in the Indian Political Scenario. He belongs to the Indian National Congress and is also a Member of the Parliament of India representing Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha. Having acknowledged by the Global Leader of Tomorrow Award in 1999, he has been an actively inspiring role model for the youngsters. In 2007, he was invited to hold lectures on Federalism which was printed in the prominent and esteemed IIPA journal apart from the best essay.

• Would have invited Jaitley to help gift us a strong Lokpal as a birthday present. But BJP is parsimonious in giving birthday presents. So don't do it for our sake but join us in passing a Lokpal Bill for the sake of the nation. No use putting a string of conditionalities in your statements. No use saying I want to pass a strong effective bill after three months after referring it again to a committee, after further discussions. You are using conditionality as a pretext not to pass the Bill. If you don't want to pass the Bill, say so. Have the courage of your convictions.

• On process of CBI and investigation, let's look at it seriously, not with the intent to ridicule. CBI is 70-year-old organization. Should birth of a Lokpal mean automatic destruction of every other institution? A 10-year-old CVC, a 70-year-old CBI?

• You want one Lokpal, subsume CVC and CBI under Lokpal, move Citizen's Charter under Lokpal, allow Lokpal suo moto power, have prelim inquiry by Lokpal, actual investigation by Lokpal, prosecution by Lokpal. Thank God you did not say judgement must also come from Lokpal. You are creating a behemoth of unimaginable proportions. PM's office will look like pygmy in comparison.

• You are creating breeding ground for corruption. You are making a body outside the whole system, with inherent conflict of interest. Our conception is of checks and balances. Of equilibrium between holy trinity of CBI, CVC and Lokpal. That is how our Constitution is framed. This bill abolishes need for prior sanction for investigation against govt servants. We have said for 60 years we should have some difference between prosecution and investigation. This separation is created by the bill.  

• Which body does not offer slight majority for government in selection? Now we must create a law where government will be in minority in selection.

• BJP says administrative control of CBI must be given to Lokpal. I hope nobody thinks CAG or CVC are sarkari bodies. They are independent in action in the Constitution. They have controlling authorities in different ministries. But just to earn a few brownie points, or because of state elections, you want to alter the structure so administrative authority does not lie anywhere. The minister in question replies to questions, seeks funding for these bodies.  
• Abhishek Manu Singhvi has appeared as lead counsel in several landmark and leading apex court decisions, including, to name a small number, the Naveen Jindal right to fly the Indian flag case, the DK Basu case on custodial death and torture, the Delhi Airport privatization case, the NTC Bombay Mills case, Renusagar 1 and 2 cases on International Commercial Arbitration, the Badal case on Prevention of Corruption, the Reliance dispute between Anil and Mukesh Ambani, the Vodafone Capital Gains Tax case and many more. Abhishek Manu Singhvi is a top ranking Senior Counsel at the Indian Supreme Court.

• Are we talking of anarchy? There is a method to the madness we have here in India.

• On your side as much as our side, CBI may have been interfered with. But with media entering 24X7 our bedrooms, you think it is possible - to control CBI?

• By talking of federalism, Jaitley wants to play "naarad muni" and appeal to some of our friends on our side. You are talking of assault on federalism. But this discussion on Lokayukta clause and Article 253 was discussed with everyone. Article 252 is a national interest provision - how can it be an assault on federalism? 

• Want to clarify for our friends on this side (reference to TMC). Govt has bent over backwards and has already amended the law to say clause on Lokayukta will only apply with consent to the states. 253 says Parliament shall have power to make law, to allow implementation of treaty, but also to implement a decision taken at an international conference.  

• We are both tee-totallers but your "constitutional cocktail" doesn't have any punch.

• On reservation for members of Lokpal - we don't ask for reservation, we ask for representation.

• We have the courage of our conviction. We have walked the extra mile. We are pioneers of social engineering. We are brave enough to think differently, bold enough to act differently because we believe we can change the world.

• You are giving advance certificates of unconstitutionality. Your 50-year-old ideas of India I cannot change or help.

• On Group C and D employees: They are under the Lokpal but covered by an appropriate mechanism (CVC). I cannot help it if our appropriate mechanism is not your appropriate mechanism. To simplify matters, there is not a sentence here in five lines of Pranab Mukherjee that suggests Citizen's Charter should or must be under the same Lokpal. Or that lower bureaucracy has to be directly under the Lokpal (reference to sense of the house resolution from August 27). When you went to Jantar Mantar (for Anna's debate), you wanted to hear the claps. So you never said a word opposing the Lokayuktas. 

• Just because a good idea is given by Congress General Secretary, it must be shot down - in reference to Rahul Gandhi's proposal to make Lokpal a constitutional body. In writing, you said there was no objection to this.  Then here you say yes we want constitutional status but only if we take away Lokayukta part and if we give strong bill. Now you and I have different ideas of strong bill but what does constitutional status affect the Lokayukta part? You are trying to find excuses to oppose constitutional status. So you don't want that, and you don't want the Lokpal Bill to be passed. It is an excellent idea - constitutional status.