Ashwani Kumar, who previously served as the Union Minister of Law and Justice during the second term of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and is a distinguished senior advocate of the Supreme Court, has graciously accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron. He will attend the ‘Panthéonisation ceremony’ in Paris on October 9, commemorating the esteemed French jurist, Robert Badinter.
Panthéonisation is a profoundly symbolic French ceremonial act, involving the interment or commemoration of a highly distinguished deceased individual at the Panthéon in Paris. This honor is bestowed by the French Republic upon those who have made extraordinary contributions to the nation across various fields. The revered individuals already interred at the Panthéon include historical figures such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Louis Braille, and the scientific pioneers Marie and Pierre Curie.
In a recent press statement, Mr. Kumar shared his thoughts on the occasion: “Mr. Badinter was a remarkable humanist, a brilliant jurist, and a true statesman of France, known for his relentless advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty. I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Robert Badinter, a former Justice Minister of France and President of the Constitutional Council of France, for many years, and visited him in Paris on several occasions recently.”
He further added, “His unwavering selflessness and passionate dedication to human rights and public causes truly set him apart as a great son of the French Republic. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Macron and the French government for granting Mr. Robert Badinter the extraordinary honor of being interred in the Panthéon in Paris.”