He hailed from the Nagarathar community and his native is Devakottai, Tamil Nadu. He served as chairman of the Law Commission of India during 2006–2009. Lakshmanan was representing Tamil Nadu in the Mullai Periyar Panel appointed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The panel is headed by Justice A.S. Anand.
He died in August 2020 from COVID-19, two days after his wife died from the virus.[4]