When Karunanidhi was arrested during the anti-Hindi struggle and was in Palayankottai jail, Rathinavel Pandian used to visit him every day.

Vaiko, the general secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, was one of his junior lawyers.

After Mr. K. Narayanasamy Mudaliar became a Judge of the Madras High Court, Mr. Pandian worked as a Junior Advocate with Mr. Cellapandian and with Mr. Rajagopala Iyer.

The statue of Manu Neethi or Samaneethi Cholan was erected by Justice Ratnavel Pandian at the Madras High Court premises.

Madras Bar Association had given "Life Time Achievement Award" to Justice S. Ratnavel Pandian.