Mehr Chand Mahajan
Encyclopedia
Mehr Chand Mahajan was the third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
. Prior to that he was the Prime Minister
of Jammu and Kashmir
during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh
and played a key role in the accession of J&K to India
. He was the Indian National Congress
nominee on the Radcliff Commission
that defined the boundaries of India and Pakistan
.
Justice Mahajan
made his name as an accomplished lawyer
, a respected judge
, and an influential politician
. As a judge he was incisive and forthright and had many leading judgments to his credit.
. He then practiced law in Lahore
from 1918 to 1943. During his time there, he served as president of the High Court Bar Association of Lahore (1938 to 1943).
on January 4, 1954. He was the head of India's judicial system for almost a year, until his retirement on December 22, 1954 (mandatory retirement at age 65). Before becoming Chief Justice he served as one of the first Judges of the Supreme Court of independent India from October 4 1948 to January 3, 1954.
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
. Prior to that he was the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh
Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...
and played a key role in the accession of J&K to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
nominee on the Radcliff Commission
Radcliffe Line
The Radcliffe Line was announced on 17 August 1947 as a boundary demarcation line between India and Pakistan upon the Partition of India. The Radcliffe Line was named after its architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who as chair of the Border Commissions was tasked with equitably dividing of territory...
that defined the boundaries of India and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Justice Mahajan
Mahajan
Mahajan is an Indian surname or title, found among several castes and communities.The word "Mahajan" is an amalgam of two Sanskrit words: Maha meaning great, and Jan meaning people or individuals...
made his name as an accomplished lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, a respected judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, and an influential politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. As a judge he was incisive and forthright and had many leading judgments to his credit.
Career as a lawyer
Mahajan started his career as a lawyer in 1913 in Dharmshala, where he spent a year practising. He spent the next four years (1914-1918) as a lawyer in GurdaspurGurdaspur
Gurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
. He then practiced law in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
from 1918 to 1943. During his time there, he served as president of the High Court Bar Association of Lahore (1938 to 1943).
Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
Mahajan was Prime Minister of J&K during 1947 and played a role in the accession of the state to India. He was the one who turned down the offer of district Lahore and instead annexed district Gurdaspur to India.Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India
Mahajan took office as the third Chief Justice of IndiaChief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
on January 4, 1954. He was the head of India's judicial system for almost a year, until his retirement on December 22, 1954 (mandatory retirement at age 65). Before becoming Chief Justice he served as one of the first Judges of the Supreme Court of independent India from October 4 1948 to January 3, 1954.
Other positions of note
- Director, Punjab National BankPunjab National BankPunjab National Bank , was founded in 1894 and is currently the second largest state-owned commercial bank in India ahead of Bank of Baroda with about 5000 branches across 764 cities. It serves over 37 million customers. The bank has been ranked 248th biggest bank in the world by the Bankers...
, 1933-43 - Pres. D.A.V. College, Managing Committee, 1938-43
- Fellow and Syndic, Punjab UniversityUniversity of the PunjabUniversity of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
, 1940-47 - Judge, Lahore High CourtLahore High CourtThe Lahore High Court is based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was established as a high court on March 21, 1919. The Lahore High Court has jurisdiction over Punjab...
, 1943 - All India Fruit Products Association Bombay Session, 1945
- Member, R.I.N. Mutiny Commission, 1946
- 1947 Prime Minister, Jammu and KashmirJammu and KashmirJammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
State 1947-48 - Judge, East PunjabPunjab (India)Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
High Court - Punjab Boundary Commission, 1947
- Syndic, East Punjab University, 1947-50
- Constitutional Adviser to His Highness the Maharaja of Bikaner, 1948
- Hon. Degree of LL.D., Punjab University; 1948
- Member, Fruit Development Board, Punjab