Top Legal Honour: Senior Advocate Harin Raval Honoured With Dipankar Gupta National Award In New Delhi

In a major recognition of exceptional service to Indian jurisprudence, Senior Advocate Harin P. Raval was conferred the prestigious Solicitor General of India Dipankar Gupta National Award at a ceremony in the national capital on Sunday. Former Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna presented the honour in the distinguished presence of Justice A. K. Patnaik, celebrating Raval’s vast contributions to the legal fraternity over a career spanning nearly four decades.

A Third-Generation Legal Legacy

Born in December 1963 into an eminent legal family, Raval represents the third generation of legal practitioners in his lineage. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Gujarat in 1987, starting his practice at the Gujarat High Court under the guidance of his father, the late Senior Advocate Pravinkant Raval.

His sharp legal acumen led to his designation as a Senior Advocate by the Gujarat High Court in July 2009. Over the years, Raval has built an expansive practice encompassing civil, criminal, constitutional, land, revenue, and taxation laws across various High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

In addition to private practice, he has served as retainer counsel for numerous public and government bodies, including state cooperative banks, municipalities, panchayats, and agricultural produce market committees.

Key Role In Landmark National Cases

Raval’s career includes significant law officer tenures for the Union of India. He served as the Assistant Solicitor General of India for Gujarat from July 2007 to July 2009, before taking on the mantle of Additional Solicitor General of India from July 2009 to April 2013.

During his stint as Additional Solicitor General, Raval represented the Central Government in some of the country's most high-profile matters before the apex court, including:

• The 2G Spectrum allocation case
• The Satyam accounting scam proceedings
• Matters pertaining to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy
• Crucial child rights litigations

Since June 2013, Raval has operated as an independent Senior Advocate before the Supreme Court, handling complex commercial disputes and arbitrations for top industrial houses. He has also been entrusted to represent several state governments—including Rajasthan, Punjab, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala—in landmark litigations before the Supreme Court and state High Courts.

Institutional And Academic Leadership

Beyond the courtroom, Raval has contributed to legal education and governance. He currently serves on the Board of Governors at Sardar Vallabhbhai Global University in Gujarat. Previously, he was associated with the Governing Council of National Law University, Ranchi, as well as the Governing Body of Gujarat National Law University.

The Dipankar Gupta National Award stands as a testament to his long-standing dedication, professional distinction, and steadfast commitment to the rule of law.