Patibandla. Chandrasekhara Rao (22 April 1936 – 11 October 2018)[1] was an Indianjurist. He was from Veerullapadu village,Guntur-Krishna District of coastalAndhra Pradesh of what was then calledMadras Presidency.
From October 1996 until 2017 he was ajudge at theInternational Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). He was the president of ITLOS from 1999 to 2002.[2] He was also an honorary visiting professor atDamodaram Sanjivayya National Law University,Visakhapatnam.[3]
Rao graduated from theUniversity of Madras in two subjects, with a double bachelors inArts as well asLaw. Thereafter he did further studies, on completion of which he was awarded a Masters in Law and subsequently adoctorate.[4]
Chandrasekhara Rao initially worked as a researcher for theIndian Society of International Law from 1963 to 1967. He then joined the Ministry of External Affairs (India) where he worked as a Law Officer (1967–1971) and subsequently Assistant Legal Adviser (1971–1976) in the Legal and Treaties Division. During this time, he acted as counsel for the Government of India in the case concerning an Appeal relating to the Jurisdiction of theICAO (India v. Pakistan) before the International Court of Justice in 1972.[5]
Thereafter Rao was appointedLegal Adviser to thePermanent Mission of India at theUnited Nations (New York City) from 1972 to 1976. He continued to hold high level posts in theIndian government'sMinistry of Justice, including Deputy Legislative Counsel, Additional Legal Adviser, Joint Secretary and Legal Adviser, Additional Secretary (1976–1988), Secretary (1988–1996), Union Ministry of Law and Sole Arbitrator in Government contracts (1979–1983). He was the Secretary-General of the International Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, New Delhi (1995–1996).[5]
Since 1 October 1996, Rao has been a judge at theInternational Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.[5]
Rao has also been avisiting professor from 1994 to 1995 atOsmania University,Hyderabad;Kakatiya University (Warangal) andUniversity of Madras in 1995–96. From 1994 to 2000 he was president of theIndian Society of International Law.
Rao was awarded thePadma Bhushan by the Government of India on 25 January 2012 for his contribution to the area of public affairs.
Rao has authored several books[5] on International law including
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
