In Memoriam – Mr R K P Shankardass
The Asian Society of International Law regrets to announce the passing of its Executive Council Member, Mr R K P Shankardass.
A Senior Advocate with the Supreme Court of India, he has been in professional practice of law, mainly in the area of constitutional, civil, corporate and international law since 1961.
He was Counsel to the State of Qatar between 1988 and 2001 on issues involving public international law and played a key role on Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain, before the International Court of Justice. He served as Commissioner and Panel Chairman, United Nations Compensation Commission, Geneva from 1996 to 2005 for adjudicating claims arising out of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. He was also Counsel to the Government of India on issues of International Law from 2005 to 2012 in disputes before International Tribunals.
He was highly regarded in the international law community and had served as the President of the International Bar Association from 1986 to 1988, and was elected as its Honorary Life Member in 1990. He was also elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 1997. He was President of the Indian Law Foundation, President of the Bar Association of India and Editor of the Indian Advocate.
He has been the legal advisor to His Excellency the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom since 1974. His many honours include being awarded the “Honorary Order of the British Empire (O.B.E)” and Doctor of Laws (Honoris Cause) by the North Orissa University.
The Society extends its condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
Mr R K P Shankardass (1930 to 2017)