Mahendra P Singh
Encyclopedia
Mahendra Pal Singh popularly known as M.P. Singh, is a renowned Constitutional Law
scholar of India. He is best known amongst students of Constitution of India
for being the revising author of V.N. Shukla's Constitution of India a standard textbook for lawyers on Constitution of India. Internationally however, he is more famous amongst scholars of comparative constitutional law and comparative administrative law for his work, German Administrative Law in Common Law Perspective. He started his career as a lecturer in law at the University of Meerut, but later moved to the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
. He also served as the Director of the Indian Law Institute
. Presently, he is the Vice Chancellor of The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the NUJS Law Review, which is a quarterly publication of that university..
On his 70th birthday on 15th July, 2010, a festschrift
titled "Law and (In) Equalities" was released in his honour. The book dwells on the aspects of societal inequality in India, a theme which has remained central to Professor Singh's study of Indian Constitution and law. In another gesture, on 12th December, 2009, the All India Law Teacher's Congress presented Professor Singh the 'Life Time Best Teacher Award'.
in Uttar Pradesh
. Having lost his parents at a very young age, he was brought up by his grand parents. Most of his childhood and adulthood were spent in this rural environment, an element which according to him as left a lasting impression on his understanding of the nature of Indian legal systems. He did his Bachelor in Arts from the University of Agra, followed by an L. L. B. from the same institution. He has said that he was motivated to study Constitution after having read Professor Corwin's
"The Higher Law" Background of American Constitutional Law. He read for his L. L. M. degree at the University of Lucknow
under the guidance of the leading constitutional law expert, Professor V. N. Shukla, whose learned work on Indian Constitution he now revises. He later followed it up with another L. L. M. at the Columbia Law School
, where he had the opportunity to study under one of the foremost authorities on administrative law and civil liberties, Professor Walter Gellhorn. He came back to India to read for his L. L. D. from the University of Lucknow. In 1970, Professor Singh joined the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, where he was to remain as a Professor of Law till 2005. In the University of Delhi, Professor P. K. Tripathi had an important influence on his work. From 1980 till 1982 and then again in 1985, he studied and researched in Germany at the South Asia Institute of the University of Heidelberg, and at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
. The result was not only a fruition of learned academics, but also life long association with leading German scholars. Most important of these was Professor Dietrich Conrad, one of the leading scholars of constitutional law from post-World War II Germany. Another important influence has been Honourable Mr. Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, the former Chief Justice of India.
Professor Singh was also a visiting professor and Head of Law Division at the South Asia Institute, University of Heidelberg in 1987-88 and visiting professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Heidelberg in 1991-92. In 1999-2000 and 2001 he was fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
, Heidelberg. He was a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong and the City University of Hong Kong
in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 and 2005, Kansai University
, Osaka in 2002, National University of Singapore
in 2005 and Jawaharlal Nehru University
, New Delhi in 2006. In 2002-03 he was fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin
and in 2004, at the Indian Institute of Science
, Bangalore. In 2008 Renmin University of China
, Beijing honoured him as visiting professor for three years. His publications include over one hundred papers in different legal journals and edited works and ten books including German Administrative Law in Common Law Perspective, Freedom of Trade and Commerce in India, Comparative Constitutional Law, Legal Dimensions of Market Economy and Human Rights and Basic Needs.
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
scholar of India. He is best known amongst students of Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
for being the revising author of V.N. Shukla's Constitution of India a standard textbook for lawyers on Constitution of India. Internationally however, he is more famous amongst scholars of comparative constitutional law and comparative administrative law for his work, German Administrative Law in Common Law Perspective. He started his career as a lecturer in law at the University of Meerut, but later moved to the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
The Faculty of Law was established in 1924 and was initially housed in the Prince's Pavilion in the Old Vice regal Lodge Grounds. In 1963, the faculty moved to its present location at the Chhatra Marg, University of Delhi, Delhi....
. He also served as the Director of the Indian Law Institute
Indian Law Institute
The Indian Law Institute was founded in 1956 primarily with the objective of promoting and conducting legal research. The objectives of the Institute as laid down in its Memorandum of Association are to cultivate the science of law, to promote advanced studies and research in law so as to meet the...
. Presently, he is the Vice Chancellor of The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the NUJS Law Review, which is a quarterly publication of that university..
On his 70th birthday on 15th July, 2010, a festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
titled "Law and (In) Equalities" was released in his honour. The book dwells on the aspects of societal inequality in India, a theme which has remained central to Professor Singh's study of Indian Constitution and law. In another gesture, on 12th December, 2009, the All India Law Teacher's Congress presented Professor Singh the 'Life Time Best Teacher Award'.
Early life and influences
Professor Singh was born in an ordinary farmer's family in a village called Jitholi in the district of MeerutMeerut District
Meerut district , is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Meerut is the district headquarters. Meerut district is a part of Meerut division.-Demographics:...
in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Having lost his parents at a very young age, he was brought up by his grand parents. Most of his childhood and adulthood were spent in this rural environment, an element which according to him as left a lasting impression on his understanding of the nature of Indian legal systems. He did his Bachelor in Arts from the University of Agra, followed by an L. L. B. from the same institution. He has said that he was motivated to study Constitution after having read Professor Corwin's
Edward Samuel Corwin
Edward Samuel Corwin was president of the American Political Science Association.-Biography:He was born in Plymouth, Michigan on January 19, 1878. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1900; and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1905...
"The Higher Law" Background of American Constitutional Law. He read for his L. L. M. degree at the University of Lucknow
University of Lucknow
The University of Lucknow is a university in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is affiliated to University Grants Commission; Association of Commonwealth Universities ; Association of Indian Universities ; Distance Education Council...
under the guidance of the leading constitutional law expert, Professor V. N. Shukla, whose learned work on Indian Constitution he now revises. He later followed it up with another L. L. M. at the Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, where he had the opportunity to study under one of the foremost authorities on administrative law and civil liberties, Professor Walter Gellhorn. He came back to India to read for his L. L. D. from the University of Lucknow. In 1970, Professor Singh joined the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, where he was to remain as a Professor of Law till 2005. In the University of Delhi, Professor P. K. Tripathi had an important influence on his work. From 1980 till 1982 and then again in 1985, he studied and researched in Germany at the South Asia Institute of the University of Heidelberg, and at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
The Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law is a legal research institute located in Heidelberg, Germany. It is operated by the Max Planck Society...
. The result was not only a fruition of learned academics, but also life long association with leading German scholars. Most important of these was Professor Dietrich Conrad, one of the leading scholars of constitutional law from post-World War II Germany. Another important influence has been Honourable Mr. Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, the former Chief Justice of India.
Central themes in work
Unarguably, Professor Singh's most important contribution has been by way of analysing and understanding persistent inequalities in Indian society. Within the framework of Indian Constitution, he has argued for a distinction between distributive justice and compensatory justice, emphasizing upon the importance of the latter in battling the age old hierarchies within Indian society. His work on reservation for backward classes and minorities has led to him to conclude that the fundamental rights mentioned in the Constitution should be interpreted in an Indian context, which means that a betterment of the society has to be brought about in terms of understanding and improving the Indian ways of life, rather than attempting their surgical replacement.Positions held
Professor Singh has been a fellow and visiting professor at several institutions and universities of international repute. In 1985 he was designated as the Professor of Law in the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. in 1994, he was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Head of the Department of Law, University of Delhi, positions that he retained till 1997. In 1980-1982 and again in 1985 he was Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the University of Heidelberg. The result of this stay was not only his works on German administrative law, and on minorities, but also a long and fruitful association between Indian and German legal academia. He briefly served as the Director of the Indian Law Institute in 1997. He joined the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences as its Vice Chancellor in December, 2006.Professor Singh was also a visiting professor and Head of Law Division at the South Asia Institute, University of Heidelberg in 1987-88 and visiting professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Heidelberg in 1991-92. In 1999-2000 and 2001 he was fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
The Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law is a legal research institute located in Heidelberg, Germany. It is operated by the Max Planck Society...
, Heidelberg. He was a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong and the City University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong is a comprehensive research university in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and became a fully accredited university in 1994. It has achieved fast growth in recent years and received international recognition for its academic achievements...
in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 and 2005, Kansai University
Kansai University
, or , is a private non-sectarian and coeducational university located in Suita, Osaka, Japan and in two other locations: Osaka City; and Takatsuki, Osaka.-History:Kansai University was founded as Kansai Law School in November 1886, in Osaka...
, Osaka in 2002, National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
in 2005 and Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
, New Delhi in 2006. In 2002-03 he was fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin
Institute for Advanced Study, Berlin
The Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin in an interdisciplinary institute created 1981 in Berlin-Grunewald for studies in natural, social sciences for various research projects. It is a member of the group Some Institutes for Advanced Study....
and in 2004, at the Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science is a research institution of higher learning located in Bangalore, India. It was established in 1909.-History:After a chance meeting between Jamsetji N...
, Bangalore. In 2008 Renmin University of China
Renmin University of China
Renmin University of China; RUC, also known as People's University of China , colloquially Renda , is a major research university in Haidian District, Beijing, China. Its campus neighbors those of Peking University and Tsinghua University....
, Beijing honoured him as visiting professor for three years. His publications include over one hundred papers in different legal journals and edited works and ten books including German Administrative Law in Common Law Perspective, Freedom of Trade and Commerce in India, Comparative Constitutional Law, Legal Dimensions of Market Economy and Human Rights and Basic Needs.