Gopal Sri Ram was a renowned Malaysian judge, jurist and constitutional expert who left a lasting legacy in the Malaysian legal system.
He is known for his lucid and original judgments in many areas of law and his involvement in a number of high-profile cases involving politicians and public figures.
He was also a respected and influential figure who mentored many young lawyers and judges. He was the first practicing lawyer in Malaysia to be appointed directly to the Court of Appeal in 1994 and he served as a judge of the Federal Court until his retirement in 2010.
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- Full Name: Gopal Sri Ram
- Date of birth: August 16, 1943
- Age: 79 years old (time of death)
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Nationality: Malaysian
- Occupation: Judge, lawyer, constitutional jurist
- Height: 183 cm
- Parents: Gopal Ayer Ramaswamy and Kamala Devi
- Siblings: Gopal Ayer Sreenevasan, Gopal Ayer Rajagopal and Gopal Ayer Ramanathan
- Spouse: Chandra Sri Ram
- Children: Vinayak Sri Ram and Govind Sri Ram
- Relationship status: Single
- Net worth: $2 million
Early life and education
Gopal Sri Ram, who would have turned 80 in 2023, has died at the age of 79, just months before his 80th birthday.
He was born on 16 August 1943 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is the second of four sons of Gopal Ayer Ramaswamy and Kamala Devi.
His brothers include Gopal Ayer Sreenevasan, Gopal Ayer Rajagopal and Gopal Ayer Ramanathan.
His father was an assistant commissioner of labour in the state of Selangor, and was awarded an MBE and OBE for his services.
His mother was a homemaker who instilled in him a love of reading and learning. He grew up in a multi-racial and multi-cultural environment and was exposed to many different languages, religions and cultures. He is fluent in English, Malay, Tamil and Hindi.
He received his early education at Batu Road School and Victoria Institute, where he achieved academic excellence and participated in various extracurricular activities.
He was also an avid debater and speaker, winning many awards and accolades for his eloquence and intelligence. He developed an interest in law and politics from an early age and was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He pursued further education in England and obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London in 1968. He was called to the English Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1969 and was awarded the Tancred Scholarship for his outstanding performance.
Lincoln’s Inn appointed him as a judge in 2005, becoming the first Malaysian to receive such an honour. He returned to Malaysia in 1970 and was called to the Malaysian Bar the same year. He began his legal career as a barrister and solicitor and quickly established himself as a formidable and fearless lawyer.
Personal life
Gopal Sri Ram was married and had two children. He married Chandra Sri Ram, and together they had Vinayak Sri Ram and Govind Sri Ram.
He was devoted to his career and family and always maintained a close relationship with his parents and siblings.
He was particularly close to his brother, Datuk Gopal Ayer Sreenevasan, a pioneering Malaysian surgeon who played a pivotal role in the development of medical services in Malaysia.
He also has many friends and colleagues who admire and respect him for his intelligence, integrity and generosity.
He was known for his kindness and compassion and often helped those in need, especially the poor and oppressed.
He also patronized the arts and culture and enjoyed reading, writing, music and theatre. He was a fan of Shakespeare, Dickens and Tagore and wrote a number of articles and essays on a variety of subjects, including law, history and philosophy.
Career
Gopal Sri Ram had a distinguished and illustrious career as a judge, barrister and constitutional jurist. He actively practiced law until his elevation to the Court of Appeals on 17 September 1994.
He is the first practicing lawyer in Malaysia to be appointed directly to the Court of Appeal, bypassing the High Court.
He is known for his independence and fairness, often making bold and unconventional judgments that challenge the status quo and defend the rule of law.
He wrote approximately 800 judgments in the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court from 1994 to 2010, covering various areas of law such as constitutional, administrative, criminal, civil, commercial and human rights law.
He was also known for his eloquence and clarity and often used literary and historical references, anecdotes and metaphors in his judgments. Some of his landmark judgments include:
- The case of Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhammad bin Taib v. Public Prosecutor in 1997, in which he held that the presumption of corruption under section 4(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 was unconstitutional and violated the right to a fair trial.
- Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim v. Prosecutor in 2004, in which he dissented from the majority and argued that the conviction for sodomy against former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was unsafe and should be quashed.
- The case of Lina Joy v Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan [2007]where he disagreed with the majority and held that a civil court had the authority to determine the religious status of a person who wanted to abandon Islam and convert to Christianity.
- The case of Semenyih Jaya Sdn Bhd v Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Hulu Langat in 2017, in which he held that the right to own property is a fundamental freedom under the Federal Constitution and any deprivation of property must be accompanied by adequate and timely compensation.
He retired in 2010 and returned to practicing law. He continued to be involved in a number of high-profile cases involving politicians and public figures, either as a lawyer or prosecutor.
He represented former Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his final appeal over allegations of anal sex with former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
He was the lead prosecutor in the RM1.25 billion hybrid solar power project corruption case involving former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
He also led the prosecution of Najib Razak on 25 counts of abuse of power and money laundering related to RM2.28 billion of 1MDB funds deposited into his AmBank account.
He is also a respected and influential figure in the Malaysian legal community, who has mentored and inspired many young lawyers and judges.
He is a frequent speaker and writer on various legal issues and often shares his views on the state of the judiciary, the Constitution and the rule of law.
He was also a staunch defender of the independence and integrity of the judiciary and often criticized any attempts to undermine or interfere with the judicial process.
He is also a strong advocate for reform and improvement of the legal system. He often proposes new ideas and proposals to improve the quality and efficiency of justice.
Death
Gopal Sri Ram died on January 29, 2023, after being treated for a lung infection a week earlier.
He was in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he breathed his last. He was 79 years old when he died. He was cremated according to Hindu rites, and his ashes were scattered at sea.
He was mourned by family, friends, colleagues and fans who paid tribute to his life and legacy.
He was also honored by the Malaysian government by declaring a national day of mourning and flying flags at half-mast.
He was posthumously awarded the Tun Hussein Onn Award for his great contributions to the country.
Argumentative
Gopal Sri Ram is also not without controversy as he often faces criticism and opposition from many quarters for his judgments and actions.
He was accused of being biased, prejudiced and politically motivated, especially in cases involving the government, the opposition or the royal family.
He also suffered threats, harassment and bullying, both online and offline, by people who disagreed with or disliked him.
He was also sued by several parties for libel, contempt of court, and sedition because they felt offended or distressed by his statements or writings.
However, he never backed down or compromised on his principles and always defended his position and reputation with courage and dignity.
Social media
- Instagram Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
Net worth
Gopal Sri Ram’s net worth is around $2 million, although he has never disclosed his income or assets to the public.
However, given his long and successful career as a judge and lawyer, it can be assumed that he was quite wealthy.
He is also known for his simple, humble lifestyle and lack of extravagant spending.
