Subhamaykarjee at 19:20, 7 February 2026

2026-02-07T19:20:43Z

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{{Short description|Senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Geeta Luthra
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| alma_mater = [[Faculty of Law, University of Delhi]],<br /> [[University of Cambridge]] <small>([[Master of Laws|LLM]]), ([[MPhil]])</small>
| occupation = [[Senior Counsel|Senior Advocate]] at the [[Supreme Court of India]]
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'''Geeta Luthra''' is a [[Senior Counsel|Senior Advocate]] in the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name="Singh 2018"/>

==Career==

Luthra began practicing law in the 1980s.<ref name="Sarda2020">{{cite news |last1=Sarda |first1=Kanu |title=Geeta Luthra: Together with guts and wits |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/mar/08/geeta-luthra-together-with-guts-and-wits-2113810.html |access-date=11 February 2021 |agency=New Indian Express |date=20 March 2020}}</ref> For thirty years, she practiced law with Senior Advocate [[Pinky Anand]].<ref name="Rasheed">{{cite web |last1=Rasheed |first1=Mustafa |title=Women in Law: Interview of Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra with Her Forum |url=https://www.lawctopus.com/women-in-law-geeta-luthra/ |website=Lawctopus |access-date=11 February 2021 |date=September 1, 2020}}</ref> Luthra's legal practice experience includes criminal law, arbitration law, constitutional law, human rights and economic offenses.<ref name="DD">{{cite web |title=Geeta Luthra |url=https://difficultdialogues.in/geeta-luthra/ |website=Difficult Dialogues |access-date=11 February 2021 |date=2018 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125043031/http://difficultdialogues.in/geeta-luthra/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her cases have included women's maintenance and property rights, bail in offenses against women, and the right for transgender people to serve in the paramilitary forces in India.<ref name="Sarda2020"/> She has also provided free legal services, including for female prison inmates in Bihar.<ref name="Singh 2018" /><ref name="Rasheed" /> In 2018, Luthra told the ''[[ThePrint]]'', "Everyone deserves a chance at a fair trial," and "It is not my place to say what is right and what is wrong, I have always strived to work for a true sense of fairness. That is what makes me tick."<ref name="Singh 2018" />

Luthra currently represents former Union Minister [[M. J. Akbar]] in the criminal defamation case he filed against [[Priya Ramani]] for sexual harassment allegations she made against him during the [[Me Too movement (India)|MeToo movement in India]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saran |first1=Mekhala |title=Akbar-Ramani Case: How a Journalist Was Tried for Saying #MeToo |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/law/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-case-background-explained-verdict-10-february |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=The Quint |date=February 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=FP Staff |title='Factually incorrect, mala fide': MJ Akbar's lawyer Geeta Luthra presents rejoinder in defamation suit against Priya Ramani |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/factually-incorrect-mala-fide-mj-akbars-lawyer-geeta-luthra-presents-rejoinder-in-defamation-suit-against-priya-ramani-8999371.html |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=FirstPost |date=November 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=FP Staff |title=MJ Akbar's counsel makes closing arguments in Priya Ramani defamation case; next hearing on 24 Dec |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/mj-akbars-counsel-makes-closing-arguments-in-priya-ramani-defamation-case-says-former-ministers-reputation-was-tarnished-9136221.html |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=FirstPost |date=December 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Priyadarshini |first1=Anna |title=Priya Ramani's Vogue article about sexual harassment is 'fictitious', MJ Akbar's lawyer |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/01/18/priya-ramanis-vogue-article-about-sexual-harassment-is-fictitious-mj-akbars-lawyer |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=Newslaundry |date=January 18, 2021}}</ref> She also has represented [[Tarun Tejpal]] since 2013<ref>{{cite news |title=Hearing resumes on Tejpal's anticipatory bail plea |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/hearing-resumes-on-tejpals-anticipatory-bail-plea/article23155868.ece |access-date=11 February 2021 |agency=The Hindu Businessline |date=30 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tarun Tejpal granted interim bail, lawyers slammed in court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tarun-tejpal-granted-interim-bail-lawyers-slammed-in-court-542833 |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=NDTV |agency=AllIndia |date=November 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Hari |title=Indian Editor Is Arrested in Assault of Employee |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/world/asia/indian-editor-arrest.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=November 30, 2013}}</ref> and Rajiv Kocher, brother-in-law of [[Chanda Kochhar]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Court directs withdrawal of lookout notice against Chanda Kochhar's brother-in-law |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/court-directs-withdrawal-of-look-out-circular-against-chanda-kochhars-brother-in-law/articleshow/69690188.cms |access-date=11 February 2021 |agency=Economic Times |date=7 June 2019}}</ref> In 2016, Luthra represented Shashi Shekhar Thakur in the Delhi High Court.<ref name="Singh 2018" /> She has also represented Dubai-based businessman Rajeev Saxena.<ref>{{cite news |last1=FE Online |title=BREAKING: AgustaWestland accused Rajeev Saxena extradited to India |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/breaking-agustawestland-accused-rajeev-saxena-extradited-to-india/1459637/ |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=Financial Express |date=January 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Rajiv Saxena, Co-Accused in the AgustaWestland Case? |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/rajiv-saxena-accused-agusta-westland-vvip-chopper-scam |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The Quint |date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>

In 2021, Luthra was one of two senior advocates who appeared in the Supreme Court on behalf of [[Bhartiya Janata Party]] leader and lawyer [[Ashwini Kumar Upadhaya|Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay]], who filed a petition seeking the uniform application of gender and religion-neutral adoption and guardianship laws throughout India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Abraham |title=Plea in Supreme Court seeks religion, gender neutral adoption process |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/plea-in-supreme-court-seeks-religion-gender-neutral-adoption-process-101611932404323.html |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=January 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SC agrees to examine plea for gender & religion neutral uniform law on adoption, guardianship |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sc-agrees-to-examine-plea-for-gender-religion-neutral-uniform-law-on-adoption-guardianship/articleshow/80588947.cms |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=The Economic Times |agency=Press Trust India |date=January 29, 2021}}</ref> Luthra also represented the [[National Commission for Women]] (NCW) in its Supreme Court challenge to a Bombay High Court case involving a man accused of groping a 12-year-old girl, where the verdict was an acquittal due to a lack of "skin-to-skin" contact.<ref>{{cite news |title=NCW says skin-to-skin contact verdict 'perverse interpretation', SC issues notice |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=800228 |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=Daijiworld |date=February 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Skin to skin contact: SC agrees to hear NCW's plea against Bombay HC verdict |url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/skin-skin-contact-sc-agrees-075256859.html |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=Yahoo News |agency=Press Trust India |date=February 9, 2021}}</ref>

== Commentary ==
Luthra has argued for statutory safety and privacy while implementing apps like [[Aarogya Setu]], which are claimed to be in public health interest.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Luthra |first1=Geeta |title=Covid-19: Balance between civil liberties and public health |url=https://thedailyguardian.com/covid-19-balance-between-civil-liberties-and-public-health/ |website=The Daily Guardian |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref> In 2017, she provided commentary as a human rights lawyer to ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' after the Supreme Court ruled that the right to privacy is a fundamental right.<ref>{{cite news |last1=IANS |title=SC ruling on privacy will have wider implications, say experts |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/sc-ruling-privacy-will-wider-implications-say-experts-1502458334.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The Statesman |date=August 24, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, she spoke with Faye D'Souza of ''[[Times Now]]'' about the right to vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=D'Souza |first1=Faye |title=Faye D'Souza speaks to Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra on the 'Right to Vote' |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/mirror-now/politics/faye-dsouza-speaks-to-senior-advocate-geeta-luthra-on-the-right-to-vote-exclusive/28733 |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=TimesNowNews |date=April 12, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, Luthra provided commentary to ''[[The Print]]'' about an order from a Nanded family court that included a provision for a man to donate sperm to his estranged wife or have his refusal be used as grounds for divorce.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mandhani |first1=Apoorva |title=What if roles are reversed? Debate on court ordering man to give sperm to estranged wife |url=https://theprint.in/india/what-if-roles-are-reversed-debate-on-court-ordering-man-to-give-sperm-to-estranged-wife/255693/ |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=ThePrint |date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

In 2020, Luthra participated in a public debate about capital punishment with other attorneys that was hosted by the Delhi High Court Women Lawyers Forum.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ravi |first1=Niharika |title=Delhi High Court Women Lawyers Forum Debates Death Penalty |url=https://www.theleaflet.in/delhi-high-court-women-lawyers-forum-debates-death-penalty/# |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=The Leaflet |date=December 19, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, Luthra spoke out about the [[anti-conversion law]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Is anti-conversion law becoming a political tool? |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/is-anti-conversion-law-becoming-a-political-tool-the-big-story/84953 |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=TimesNowNews |date=December 28, 2020}}</ref>

==Associations==

Luthra is the Vice-President of the Indian Council of Arbitration.<ref>{{cite web |title=About ICA |url=http://www.icaindia.co.in/index.htm |website=Indian Council of Arbitration |access-date=13 February 2021 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613090826/https://www.icaindia.co.in/index.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> She is a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers<ref>{{cite web |title=Geeta Luthra |url=https://www.iafl.com/find-a-lawyer/search-results/?forename=Geeta&surname=Luthra |website=International Academy of Family Lawyers |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> and LawAsia.<ref name="DD"/>

== Education ==
Luthra graduated from [[Lady Shri Ram College]] with a BA in Political Science in 1977<ref>{{cite web |title=Distinguished Alumnae |url=https://lsr.edu.in/distinguished-alumnae/ |website=Lady Shri Ram College |access-date=12 February 2021 |date=2019}}</ref> and graduated from the [[University of Cambridge]] with an LLM and M.Phil. after winning the Inlaks scholarship.<ref name="Singh 2018">{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Nandita |title=The LSR graduate who's a lawyer representing both MJ Akbar and Tarun Tejpal |url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/the-lsr-graduate-whos-a-lawyer-representing-both-mj-akbar-and-tarun-tejpal/137633/ |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=The Print |date=October 20, 2018}}</ref> While at Cambridge, [[Elihu Lauterpacht]] was one of her teachers.<ref name="Singh 2018"/> She studied law at Campus Law Centre, [[Faculty of Law, University of Delhi]].<ref name="Singh 2018"/>

==Personal life==
Luthra's father, K.K. Luthra, was a senior advocate, and her brother [[Sidharth Luthra]] is senior advocate<ref name="Singh 2018"/> who has said Luthra helped support the start of his law practice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nangia |first1=Tarun |title=Siddharth Luthra and his mother |url=https://www.newsx.com/national/siddharth-and-his-mother.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=NewsX |date=January 15, 2020 |archive-date=15 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115170746/https://www.newsx.com/national/siddharth-and-his-mother.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Luthra's daughter Shivani has also joined the legal profession.<ref name="Sarda2020" /><ref name="Rasheed" />

== External links ==
* [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DESssC7a1Rs Domestic violence and allied laws: How to tackle] (LCI webinar by Geeta Luthra, April 28, 2020)
* [https://sayfty.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sayfty-Survivors-Toolkit.pdf The Sayfty Survivors’ Toolkit] (a resource for survivors of sexual assault in India, with substantive contributions by Geeta Luthra)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
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[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Senior Counsel]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women lawyers]]
[[Category:Faculty of Law, University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:Lady Shri Ram College alumni]]

Geeta Luthra - Revision history

Subhamaykarjee at 19:20, 7 February 2026