Often the legal world is Often the legal world is s
seen as an insular realm seen as an insular realm seen as an insular realm a
of stiff shirts and dry of stiff shirts and dry
arguments. Karuna Nundy, arguments. Karuna Nundy, arguments. Karuna Nundy, u
however, is not just a lawyer however, is not just a lawyer
but also a public activist but also a public activist but also a public activist but also a public activist but also a public activist but also a public activist soapublicactivi
who ably—and bravely—who ably—and bravely—who ably—and bravely—y
uses her voice both inside uses her voice both inside
and outside the courtroom and outside the courtroom and outside the courtroom r
to bring about change. She to bring about change. She
is a champion of women’s is a champion of women’s is a champion of women’s e
rights who has advocated rights who has advocated rights who has advocated rights who has advocated rights who has advocated whohasadvoca
for the reform of anti for the reform of anti for the reform of anti rape rape rape a
laws and fought cases relatlaws and fought cases relatlaws and fought cases relats --
ing to sexual harassment ing to sexual harassment
in the workplace. Most in the workplace. Most
recently, she is litigating recently, she is litigating recently, she is litigating n
a challenge to India’s rape a challenge to India’s rape a challenge to India’s rape a challenge to India’s rape a challenge to India’s rape a challenge to India’s rape a challenge to India’s rape lengetoIndiasr
law that contains a legal law that contains a legal law that contains a legal g
exemption for marital rape. exemption for marital rape.
Karuna also takes great Karuna also takes great Karuna also takes great g
pains to explain legal issues pains to explain legal issues pains to explain legal issues s
in a way that engages the in a way that engages the in a way that engages the t
media and public. She can media and public. She can
discuss the law simply discuss the law simply
and deftly. By doing so and deftly. By doing so
she creates an accessible she creates an accessible
discourse about rights in a discourse about rights in a
time when those rights are time when those rights are
at risk. at risk.
Guruswamy is a senior Guruswamy is a senior
advocate at the Supreme advocate at the Supreme
Court of IndiaCourt of India
KKaruna aruna
NundyNundy
Effective advocate
B Y M E N A K A G U R U S WA M YB Y M E N A K A G U R U S WA M Y
58 Time June 6/June 13, 2022 PHOTOGRAPH BY PRARTHNA SINGH FOR TIME