Sujeet Kumar (born 17 November 1975) is an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party,[1][2][3][4] representing Odisha in the Rajya Sabha (The Council of States or The Upper House of the Indian Parliament).[5][6][7][8] He previously served as a Member of Parliament representing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) from April 2020 to September 2024. In addition to his political career, Kumar is a lawyer and a trained arbitrator, practicing in the Supreme Court of India, as well as in various High Courts and Tribunals. He has held several significant positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Petitions in the Rajya Sabha, where he was one of the youngest members to chair a Parliamentary Committee.[9] Previously, he served as the Advisor to the Special Development Council (SDC) of the Government of Odisha, with a rank equivalent to Chief Secretary,[10] and as the Special Secretary of the Odisha State Planning Board. These roles involved senior-level policy planning and development responsibilities within the state government.
Kumar began his professional career as a software engineer with Infosys Technologies Ltd. He later transitioned to the development sector, working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on its "ICT for Development" project in Odisha, which aimed to introduce digital technology to remote areas of the state. Subsequently, Kumar joined the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was involved in designing and managing significant projects.
In 2011, Sujeet Kumar returned to India and established the Kalinga Kusum Foundation, a social enterprise, as well as LexMantra LLP, a business and legal consulting firm. He continues to serve as an advisor and mentor to these organizations, offering strategic direction and guidance.
Kumar's career spans multiple sectors, including corporate, government, and development work at international, national, and grassroots levels. He has participated in various conferences and forums both in India and internationally. In recognition of his contributions as a policymaker and legal entrepreneur, as well as his work at the intersection of law, technology, development, and public policy, Kumar received the Youth Inspiration Award in 2017.[12]
Sujeet Kumar is a practicing legal professional, working in the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, and Tribunals. He also established a law firm LexMantra that provides legal services to domestic and international corporations, multinational companies, multilateral and government agencies, investors, and individuals.
Kumar holds memberships in several professional organizations, including being a Life Member of the Orissa High Court Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR), the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA), and the Construction Industry Arbitration Council (CIAC). He is also affiliated with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), the Supreme Court of India Bar Association, and serves as a Patron Member of the Bar Association of India (BAI).
Parliamentary Committees
Kumar has previously served on several esteemed Parliamentary Committees, including:
1. Chairman, Committee on Petitions of Rajya Sabha[17]
2. Member, Standing Committee on Home Affairs
3. Member, Committee on Official Language
4. Member, Press Council of India
5. Member, Committee on Rural Development
6. Member, Indian Council of World Affairs
7. Member, Committee of Privileges
8. Member, Committee on Information and Communication Technology Management in Rajya Sabha
9. Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs
10. Member, Consultative Committee on East Coast Railways
Private Members Bills
Kumar has introduced several Private Members' Bills in Parliament over some very important issues. Key Bills introduced are:
The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Bill, 2023 - This bill proposes reservations for women in Central Educational Institutions to address gender disparities in higher education. It seeks to promote equality under Article 14 of the Constitution and enhance women's access to education, thereby enabling greater societal participation.[18]
The Antiquities and Art Treasures (Amendment) Bill, 2023 - This bill aims to strengthen the penal provisions under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act to combat the smuggling of cultural heritage. It highlights the need to address insufficient punitive measures against the illicit export of antiquities and art treasures. The bill seeks to review and revise the penal provisions concerning the export or attempted export of antiquities and art treasures in violation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act.[19]
The Net Zero Emissions Bill, 2022 - This bill provides a framework for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 in line with India’s commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It includes provisions for maintaining a vulnerable population registry to protect communities from severe climate events.[20]
The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2022 - This bill seeks to redefine procedural frameworks concerning bail provisions. It addresses the lack of definitions for terms like "Bail" and "Anticipatory Bail" in the current Code of Criminal Procedure and aims to refine the categorization of offences.[21]
The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) (Amendment) Bill, 2022 - This bill proposes amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, including a comprehensive ban on tobacco use in public places and raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years.[22]
The Prevention and Prohibition of Witch-branding and Witch-hunting and Other Harmful Practices Bill, 2022 - This bill aims to prevent and prohibit practices such as witch-branding and witch-hunting. It proposes measures for protecting individuals, especially women, from associated violence and discrimination eliminating the torture, oppression, humiliation, killing, sexual assault, stigmatization, discrimination, ostracization while providing provisions for relief and rehabilitation of victims.[23][24]
The Legislation and Expenditure Accountability Bill, 2022 - This bill seeks to enhance accountability and Parliamentary oversight in legislative and policy-making processes. It also aims to improve the quality of expenditure by the Union Government.[25][26]
Public Cause
SDC Cup 2020
As the Advisor to the Special Development Council (SDC) of the Government of Odisha, Sujeet Kumar oversaw the organization of the SDC Cup 2020, a football tournament designed to engage indigenous youth from Odisha. The event featured competitive matches at district and state levels, culminating in a final match at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, attended by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik[27] and Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia. Supported by the Football Association of Odisha (FAO) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the championship involved over 10,000 participants from nine tribal-dominated districts, with competitions held in both men’s and women’s categories.
Kalahandi Dialogue
Kumar initiated the “Kalahandi Dialogue” (http://www.kalahandidialogue.org/) held in September 2018, as a collaborative platform to engage stakeholders including policymakers, global leaders, development practitioners, entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, elected representatives, intellectuals, and local citizens in discussions on development.[28] The event, hosted in Kalahandi, aimed to foster dialogue and action on regional development issues and served as an inspiration for similar platforms.
Legislative Engagement
Kumar was involved in legislative engagement and advocacy through Kalinga Kusum, a non-profit organization, in partnership with UNICEF. This initiative aimed to orient Odisha Legislative Assembly members (MLAs) on areas such as budgeting, child rights, and ease of doing business. Kumar provides mentorship support to Kalinga Kusum and promotes the use of technology to enhance governance and address critical challenges.
Child-Friendly Constituency (CFC)
Kumar played a role in conceptualizing and implementing the Child-Friendly Constituency (CFC) initiative, developed in collaboration with the Kalinga Kusum Foundation and UNICEF. The initiative focuses on creating constituencies that prioritize child welfare and rights. The first CFC project in India was implemented in the Khandapada Assembly Constituency of Odisha’s Nayagarh district, with the support of local MLA Anubhav Patnaik. The project received recognition from UNICEF for its innovative approach to promoting child-friendly policies.
Awards, Recognition and Honorary positions
Odisha Youth Inspiration Award 2017, Odisha Diary Foundation[29]
Mason Scholar and Hauser Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, 2010–11[30]
Asia Pacific Leadership Fellow (APLP) at East West Centre, Hawaii, 2009-10.[31]
Chair of Young Indians (Yi), Bhubaneswar Chapter 2012-13 [32]
Global Leadership Fellow, One of twenty fellows selected by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Switzerland from about 3000 odd applicants, 2006 [33][34]
Adjunct Faculty, Sri Sri University (SSU) & Advisor, SSU Global Centre for Indigenous Study [35]
