Justice Leila Seth: Former Chief justice of Himachal Pradesh

Justice Leila Seth was Chief Justice of the Himachal High Court based at Shimla . Leila Seth's autobiography, On Balance, was recently published by Penguin India. In this book, she talks about her early years of homelessness and struggle, her straying into law while in England with her husband Prem, and later practising in Patna, Calcutta and Delhi; and her happy marriage of over fifty years, including the experience of bringing up three remarkable children: writer Vikram Seth, peace activist Shantum and film-maker Aradhana. Also dwelt upon are her views regarding corruption, discrimination and delay in the legal system; some judgments dealing with education and with inter-personal and constitutional law; and her experiences as a member of the 15th Law Commission.

Dr. NC Saxena: Poverty Commissioner

Dr. Naresh C. Saxena was a senior civil servant in Government of India (GOI). He worked as Secretary, Planning Commission (1999-2002), Secretary, Rural Development (1997-99), GOI, and Director of the National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie (1993-96). He was a member of the National Advisory Council (2004-08) chaired by Ms Sonia Gandhi. He is a member on the Editorial Board, Development Policy Review, London, International Forestry Review, Oxford, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, Stockholm. He was a Director on the ADB Institute, Tokyo from 2002-2004. On behalf of the Supreme Court of India, Dr Saxena monitors hunger based programmes in India.