After completing his LL. B., Luther Rangreji left a career in the Maharashtra Civil Services to pursue higher studies in international law, completing an M.Phil/Ph.D, integrated programme at the Centre for Studies in International Law, Diplomacy and International Economics (CSDILE), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). At JNU, he was taught by some of the finest minds in international law: Professor/s R.P. Anand, Rahmatullah Khan, V.S. Mani, B.S. Chimni and Yogesh K. Tyagi.
While completing his Ph.D studies he joined the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (now Organization), New Delhi as Legal Officer. Later, he was selected by the UPSC as a Legal Officer (Under Secretary level) and retired in April 2025 as Additional Secretary, Legal Adviser & Head of the Legal & Treaties Division, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. In a career spanning close to 25 years, he also held charge as Joint Secretary and Director in the Ministry.
Dr. Rangreji has been a member of the Indian delegation to numerous treaty negotiations and has provided legal advice on practically all aspects of international law to MEA and the Government of India. Some of the prominent assignments were: Leader of the Indian delegation at the Oral pleadings/hearings of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on “Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change”, The Hague, 2025; Leader of the Indian delegation at the Oral pleadings/hearings of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Advisory Opinion on “Climate Change and International Law”, Hamburg, 2023; Member of the Indian delegation to the Kulbhushan Jadhav Case (ICJ); Deputy Agent in the Enrica Lexie Arbitration (also Italian Marine Case), PCA, The Hague; Member of Indian delegation in prominent investor-state arbitrations namely-Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Devas, Cairns, Khaitan, Nissan, Deutsche Telecom, Maxis, KOWEPO and others.
Dr Rangreji was appointed – Member of G to G Committee on Nuclear Liability issues, Ministry of External Affairs, 2021; Member, Compliance Committee, Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources, Montreal, 2015-2017; Member of National Committee to draft India’s Antarctic Law and Sub Group on Liability and Legal Issues relating to Antarctica, Ministry of Earth Sciences, 2017; Member (Legal) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC) 2013-2017; Member of National Committee on Developing India’s Space Legislation, ISRO, 2011; Member of National Consultative Committee on Biosafety and Biotechnology, MOEF&CC 2005; Member, Strategic Planning and Working Expert Group of International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to revise its Basic Documents, 2003-2007; Member of India’s Roster of Experts to the Biosafety Protocol, 2016
His passion for teaching and research in international law saw him joining the Faculty of Legal Studies, South Asian University from 2011-2015, where he taught LL.M students courses on Research Methodology, General Principles of International Law, Law of the Sea, Law of International Organizations, International Maritime Law.
Dr. Rangreji has been elected Vice President and a five term Member of the Executive Council of the Indian Society of International Law (ISIL), New Delhi. He has been a visiting faculty at ISIL, Indian Law Institute and other law schools.
He was Editor in Chief of the Indian Journal of International Law, New Delhi in 2023-2024. He has presented numerous papers at national and international conferences on various issues of international law and published articles in peer reviewed journals of international law.