Rupinder Singh Suri
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Founder, Suri & Company | New Delhi (INDIA)
Ancestry
Rawalpindi (undivided British India)
Birthplace:
Ludhiana, Punjab (India)
Residence
New Delhi (INDIA)
Quest for Excellence: Retreat not an Option
Mr Rupinder Singh Suri can be best described in the words of Shakespeare: “And then the justice, in fair round belly with good capon lined, with eyes severe and beard of formal cut, full of wise saws and modern instances; and so he plays his part.”
My father, Late Shri Kartar Singh Suri, an Indian Revenue Services officer, started his legal practice in taxation laws post-retirement, and, later on, went to hold the prestigious post of Vice President of the Income Tax Bar Association of Delhi. My mother, Late Smt Arjan Kaur, a loving homemaker, taught me the value each relationship holds. The environment at home was spiritual with an emphasis on values. We always had a room dedicated to the Guru Granth Sahib ji and the presence of the holy book in the house is the source of strength to the entire family.
Punjabi spirit of sewa finds a reflection in me as a lawyer
I was born on 1 October 1951 in Ludhiana, Punjab, after three daughters. I lost my eldest sister at a very young age. My other two elder sisters, Kiran Suri Nanda and Gurmeet Suri Malik, were exceptionally gifted students and have brought many accolades to the family.
Being the youngest in the family, I was pampered far too much, which made me a timid and weak child. A turning point came in my life when the preferential treatment was stopped on the insistence of a close relative, and I was given a flavour of the real world. DAV School, a Hindi-medium school in Hoshiarpur, saw a better version of Rupinder who was learning to deal with the wrath of the real world while managing to ace both in studies and sports and went on to become a district level badminton player.
A catastrophic event in 1969 marked my beginning in Delhi when my name did not reflect in the list of selected candidates of my dream college, St Stephen’s. My father, the eternal optimist, advised me to get myself an interview. He said, “You’ve got nothing to lose, but everything to gain, son. Go and get yourself an interview.” Puzzled at this strange advice, I went back to the college and sat outside the principal’s office patiently until all the interviews for the day had been conducted. When the principal walked out and saw me, he agreed to make an exception and interviewed me. My father’s words of wisdom gave me an early learning in life when the next day, my name was on the top of the list of selected candidates. However, it was just the beginning of the many challenges I would face ahead in life.
What you vividly imagine, ardently desire and enthusiastically act upon shall inevitably come to pass
At first, my lack of proficiency in English posed to be a major impediment in proving my capabilities. I learnt the value of English when my British Professor, Mr Pearson Sureta, asked us to write an essay on ‘Cocktail’. I, not entirely sure about the meaning of cocktail, wrote an article on ‘tail of a cock’. When he started reading each essay out loud, I became a laughing stock. This great man stood up and rebuked the entire class for their conditioned mind and praised me for my out of the box thinking, making me a hero in the eyes of my peers. A small advice of his – read the books voraciously with a dictionary alongside to add new words to your vocabulary – has changed my life. I completed my Masters in Economics in 1973 from St Stephen’s, University of Delhi.aaa
I took the road less travelled and that has made all the difference
I never had a resolute aim but undoubtedly wanted to pursue something that leaves an indelible mark on society. The traditional career choices did not appeal to me; I employed the method of elimination and set my foot on the path of the legal profession by pursuing Law from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, alongside my dear friend Late Shri Arun Jaitely, former Cabinet Minister, and Rajya Sabha Member Mr Pavan Varma in 1976. I started my legal practice with my father as a tax lawyer and later joined Dr YS Chitale, where I worked for a brief period and subsequently forayed into Constitutional and Criminal matters.
While doing law, I was faced with a dilemma as to whether I should take a job or go for independent practice. I realised the value of planning. At that time, I had a feeling that a practice earning me Rs 1.5 lakh annually was a good practice. Then I calculated and realised that for me to be a successful lawyer, I needed 100 clients each giving me Rs 1,500 fees a year. I set a time limit of five years to make these numbers real; however, I achieved it in one year.
In 1984, I established my law firm, Suri & Company. In the early days, it was just me, a stenographer and a rented second-hand typewriter. Later, others joined in, I remain indebted to people like Narayan, my personal assistant who has been an anchor to my ship throughout my journey with his sensitivity, perception and dedicated nature. The firm today has done tremendous pro-bono work across the board without distinction of caste and creed. I made it a point to recruit lawyers and clerks from all communities. Today, the firm has grown and is among the top 10 law firms in North India.
Over the years, I consciously decided to take up cases which fulfilled my passion for serving the society. I have had the opportunity to be associated with landmark cases such as the Uphaar tragedy, 1984 Sikh riots, Kashmiri pandits, Anti-tobacco litigation, to name a few. I was the counsel for the Punjab Police in Operation Blue Star case, gladly during the tenure of the then DGP, Mr KPS Gill. I am still handling the contentious interstate water dispute for Punjab. I find solace in being the voice of minority communities, victims of terrorism and cancer patients to give back to the society as much as Wahe Guru has blessed me with.
Busted the myth that a busy lawyer cannot have a balanced professional and personal life
I found myself at crossroads when in 2009, I was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India. Initially, I decided to close the firm which I had nurtured over the years. The clouds of doubt disappeared when my confidante and wife, Gurvinder stepped in. All the Senior Associates of the firm approached me with determination and asked me to give them a chance to run the firm. I decided to take the road less travelled and limit my role as the founder of the firm, with Gurvinder as the Managing Partner of the firm.
We got married on 4 June 1978. It was an arranged marriage; nonetheless, people thought it was a love marriage because I’d known her since college days. The fact that she studied law in 1993 while being a hands-on mother to our young children is just one instance of her unwavering companionship in all my endeavors.
I only got more support and found myself veering in different arenas of the law with the births of Suruchi and Simar, my two daughters. Suruchi, a partner in Suri & Company, has now completed over 15 years in the legal profession. Simar, who read law at the London School of Economics, heads the International Practice Group of the Firm. She is happily married to Tarun Pall and has as an adorable daughter, Ira.
Life took a full circle when my daughters joined the profession and shouldered the responsibility of the firm. I can proudly say that my daughters have successfully carried on the beacon of the family name.
Affirmatively stating, “My best is yet to come”
In the early 1980s, I joined an organisation called ‘Indian Junior Chamber or Jaycees’, which focused on self-development and leadership; with whom I have conducted training programmes in Nepal, Sri Lanka and India. I was the executive member for seven years and then the National Trainer at International Junior Chamber. I would attribute my major success to training at Jaycees. In 1987, I was appointed as Standing Counsel for Punjab, a position I held for over two decades. With the years, I have held the coveted positions of President, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Supreme Court Bar Association and President, Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association. I was the Nominated Director of the National Film Development Corporation Ltd by the then Information & Broadcasting Minister Hon’ble Sushma Swaraj (2000–2003). Currently, I am the National Representative of India at ‘Union Internationale des Avocats’ (UIA), the world’s oldest organisation of lawyers. I am a Member Legal National Services Authority of India, constituted by Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India since 1998 on the recommendation of the then-Chief Justice of India Hon’ble Mr Justice AS Anand. Despite holding such positions of high prestige, I have remained grounded and rooted in my values. The teachings of my parents in my formative years have taught me never to leverage the goodwill I earned over the years.
Philosophy
Believe in staying focused on whatever you do.
I love…
To watch action thrillers and read self-help books which add to my knowledge and perspective of life. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey is amongst my favourite.
Success Mantra
Communication is the most significant aspect of legal practice.
I’d suggest the youth…
To make the most of the opportunities they are presented with. Never shy away from exploring the capabilities that can take you far.
The world doesn’t know that…
I was recommended for High Court Judgeship at the young age of 36 years, but I decided to continue with my legal practice. I have never regretted passing up on these opportunities as I feel I have much to achieve and miles to go before I sleep.
AKA
King of Raisins | Punjabi-American farmer
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695