Mr R. Santhanarishnan, President, NIVAARAN, Mediators of the Supreme Court, Life President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
Mr. R. Santhanakrishnan is a stalwart in the legal profession, with contributions that resonate far beyond courtroom walls. Growing up in Hyderabad, his inherent leadership and organisational skills were evident as he spearheaded youth festivals, cultural events, and sports initiatives. At Osmania University, not only did he delve deep into Economics, earning both his Bachelor’s and Postgraduate degrees, but he also showcased his penchant for community involvement. Under his guidance, the ‘Young Folks League’ literary club was born, a testament to his love for literature and community building. Early on, he displayed a fervent commitment to justice and democracy, joining the ‘Organisation for Protection of Democratic Rights’ (OPDR) and advocating for the rule of law. His professional journey saw him take on multifaceted roles. As an employee with the provincial government, he was at the heart of the electoral process, ensuring its smooth operation. This dedication to public service ran in parallel with his academic pursuits; he earned a law degree and simultaneously championed educational and recreational initiatives, organising tours and expeditions. His legal acumen found its ground first at the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad and then, scaling new heights, at the Supreme Court of India in Delhi. With expertise spanning Employment, Administrative, Election, Arbitration, and Constitutional Law, Mr Santhanakrishnan became an indispensable asset to the Road Transport Corporation, representing them for an impressive duration. Outside of direct legal practice, his passion interwove with sports, leading to his election as the President of the Indian Advocates Cricket Association. His vision and leadership skills flourished when he founded the Commonwealth Lawyers Cricket World Cup and nurtured international relations by organising visits to several Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) recognised and respected his dedication, propelling him to roles of increasing responsibility, from Vice-President to President. As President, he embarked on the ambitious ‘Mission Commonwealth Connect’, strengthening ties across the Commonwealth. After his impactful presidency, Mr Santhanakrishnan didn’t slow down. He honed his skills as a mediator, for which he had trained himself more than a decade and a half back under trainers from the UK and founded ‘NIVAARAN’, an initiative dedicated to mediation. His academic contributions continued as a faculty member at the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal. And most recently, his unparalleled dedication was recognised as he was honoured as the Honorary Life President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. Mr R. Santhanakrishnan is a blend of dedication, leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to justice and community.
Mrs Tanu Mehta, Chairperson, Committee for Mediation and Conciliation, Bombay Chamber of Commerce, Legal Counsel, Mediator, and Arbitrator, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Based in Mumbai and Lonavala, Tanu Mehta is a legal professional and has practised as an Advocate, Counsel, Mediator, Legal Advisor, Arbitrator and Conciliator for the last 27 Years. She is empanelled as a Mediator with the High Court of Mumbai, and the City Civil Court of Mumbai, and with many of India’s premier Mediation Chambers, including AMP, CADR Mumbai, CMC, IMC-ADR, IICA , PreSolv 360 and Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre ( GIMAC) She has also been an Advocate and Legal advisor for various private parties, government bodies, NGO’s , Trade Unions and private companies. She has been a speaker at various Mediation/ Dispute Resolution conferences across the world, such as at the Asia Pacific Mediation Forum, the World Mediation Organisation and at Mediators Beyond Borders. She has been invited as a speaker and resource person by the Maharashtra Judicial Academy and other Judicial Conferences of the High Court of Bombay. She is currently also serving as the Chairperson of the Committee for Mediation and Conciliation at the Bombay Chamber of Commerce
Mrs Gandha Sahu, Mediator, Trainer, Advocate.
Gandha Sahu is a prominent Indian advocate, mediator, and corporate trainer specialising in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and workplace culture. She is the co-founder and current Vice-President of the Council of Mediators and Arbitrators (CMA) in Mumbai and serves as a trustee for the Goa Community Mediation Centre. With a legal background that includes roles as a family court practitioner and senior legal manager for major firms like Suzlon Energy, she now focuses on building inclusive workspaces through POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) trainings and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) workshops. Beyond her professional practice, she is a dedicated social advocate who volunteers her legal expertise to the SHB Social Foundation to support women in matrimonial and property disputes, and she actively contributes to suicide prevention and interfaith community harmony initiatives. Her Key Areas of Expertise are: Mediation & Arbitration: Accredited by the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM), she has managed complex international arbitrations under the AAA, ICC, and LCIA. Workplace Culture: Specialist in conflict resolution and POSH inquiry processes for corporate organisations. Social Impact: Legal consultant for women’s rights and a specialist visiting faculty member teaching negotiation at various academic institutions. Community Facilitation: Conducts interfaith dialogue sessions aimed at resolving community conflicts
Dr. Shailendra Kumar Thakur, MBA, LLM, PhD, former Presiding Officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunal and Labour Court, Dhanbad.
Dr Shailendra Kumar Thakur is an accomplished legal scholar and judicial administrator who serves as the Presiding Officer of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal (CGIT) and Labour Court-I in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. A significant cornerstone of his career includes his extensive service within the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. During his tenure at the EPFO, he rose to senior positions, including serving as an Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner (ACC). This foundational experience immersed him in the practicalities of social security administration, fund management, and the complexities of compliance and labour welfare on a national scale. Possessing an exceptionally diverse academic background, Dr Thakur holds an MBA, an LLM (Master of Laws), and a PhD, blending advanced management principles with deep legal expertise. His prior operational and administrative insights from the EPFO uniquely enrich his current judicial capacity at the CGIT. In Dhanbad, he plays a critical role in adjudicating complex industrial and labour disputes, overseeing cases related to worker rights, employment conditions, and industrial relations within major central sphere establishments like mining operations, railways, and banking sectors. His background reflects a unique combination of administrative acumen and legal scholarship, allowing him to navigate the evolving dynamics of labour law and corporate governance with high distinction.
Sh. V. Vijaya Kumar, MA, LLM, Former Presiding Officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunal and Labour Court, Ernakulam, Kerala.
Shri V. Vijaya Kumar is a highly regarded judicial authority and legal professional who serves as the Presiding Officer of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court (CGIT) in Ernakulam, Kerala. With an advanced academic foundation in law, including his Master of Laws (LLM) degree, Shri Vijaya Kumar brings profound statutory understanding to the bench. Much like his peers in the central tribunal system, his career is deeply rooted in social security administration and labor welfare, underscored by his extensive prior experience working within the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). His administrative tenure within the EPFO has given him an intricate, firsthand grasp of employee benefits, fund compliance, and corporate labour obligations. In his current judicial capacity at the CGIT Ernakulam, he is responsible for adjudicating complex industrial disputes, employment conflicts, and statutory appeals (such as those arising under the EPF & MP Act) within central sphere establishments across Kerala. His rulings seamlessly bridge operational administrative expertise with strict judicial neutrality, playing a critical role in balancing industrial harmony with workers’ rights.
Dr Sharad Singh, MBA, Ph,D Retired Regional PF Commissioner, EPFO, Ministry of Labour, Government of India & Senior International Consultant, UNDP Dwaraka, New Delhi.
Dr Sharad Singh studied Management (Master’s at New York University and PhD at IIT Delhi). He worked with Government of India organisations in higher management cadre, and as an international management consultant mainly in the areas of strategic planning, capacity assessment and capacity development planning, HRM & OB, including training and development with UNDP in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Myanmar with UNDP and WHO. He taught HRM & OB as a Professor and Area Chair in a business school in New Delhi. He is a certified Trainer and Consultant of ToT for TNA, DoT and Facilitation and Mentoring Skills gap between national policy execution and global developmental standards.
Dr. Satish Chandra, MBA, LLB, PhD, Retired Regional PF Commissioner Saket New Delhi.
Dr. Satish Chandra is an accomplished advocate and former senior civil servant with over 33 years of extensive public management and techno-legal experience across India, the United States, and Afghanistan. An expert in quasi-judicial processes, constitutionalism, and public policy, he currently practices law in Delhi, providing strategic legal and management consultancy for public, corporate, and non-profit organisations. A major cornerstone of his career includes serving for over 23 years as a Regional Provident Fund Commissioner with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, where he managed investment monitoring, compliance, industrial disputes, and legal affairs. Beyond his long tenure in labour administration, Dr Chandra served as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Honourable Union Minister for Labour and Employment from 2002 to 2004, worked as the Deputy Director General of Shipping from 2007 to 2008, and later contributed as an Advisor to TRIFED and a Principal Advisor to the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Globally, he has utilised his institutional strengthening expertise as an International Advisor and Technical Expert in Afghanistan with the UNDP and the Ministry of Finance, contributing significantly to sub-national governance, legislation development, and public finance management. Dedicated to societal welfare, he also serves as the Founder President of DSSDF, a non-profit public charitable trust established in 2020 that provides free legal aid to indigent and marginalised citizens. His deep professional capabilities are backed by an extraordinary academic portfolio, which includes a PhD in Management from IIT Delhi, an MS in Management from New York University, where he was a Wagner Scholar, a Bachelor’s in Legislative Law (LLB) from Mewar University, and an MBA in Financial and Human Resource Management from IIBM Patna. Additionally, Dr Chandra holds an MPhil in Public Administration, a Master’s in Economics, and multiple professional credentials, including being a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers, a PRINCE2 Foundation certificate holder, and a certified Management Consultant by the Ministry of Science & Technology. He is an active member of the Delhi and Saket Bar Councils, uniquely positioning him to add immense value to corporate legal affairs and techno-legal consultancies.