
Tue Oct 07 13:34:28 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text followed by a rewritten news article:
**Summary:**
Former Indian Union Minister of Law and Justice, Ashwani Kumar, has been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the “Panthéonisation ceremony” of the late French jurist Robert Badinter in Paris on October 9, 2025. Kumar, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, expressed his gratitude for the invitation and praised Badinter as a distinguished humanist and advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, noting he had the honor of knowing him. Panthéonisation is a high honor bestowed by the French Republic on individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation, entailing interment or commemoration at the Panthéon in Paris.
**News Article:**
**Former Indian Law Minister to Attend Pantheon Ceremony for French Jurist Robert Badinter**
**New Delhi, October 7, 2025** – Ashwani Kumar, former Union Minister of Law and Justice and senior advocate of the Supreme Court, will travel to Paris to attend the prestigious “Panthéonisation ceremony” honoring the late French jurist Robert Badinter. The ceremony, scheduled for October 9th, will mark Badinter’s interment (or commemoration) at the Panthéon, a monument reserved for France’s most distinguished citizens.
Mr. Kumar received a personal invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron, which he gratefully acknowledged. In a press statement, Kumar described Badinter as a “distinguished humanist, jurist, and statesman” who was a “relentless crusader for the abolition of the death penalty.” He added that he had the “honour of knowing Mr. Robert Badinter” and visiting him in Paris on several occasions.
“His selflessness and passionate espousal of human rights and public causes distinguished him as a great son of the French Republic,” Kumar stated. He thanked President Macron and the French government for bestowing this exceptional honor on Badinter.
Panthéonisation is a rare and significant recognition given by the French Republic to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation. Badinter, a former Justice Minister of France and President of the Constitutional Council, joins a distinguished group of luminaries already enshrined in the Panthéon, including Voltaire, Jean‑Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, and Marie and Pierre Curie.