 CHIEF JUSTICE MAHOMMEDALI CURRIM CHAGLA | |
| B.A.(Oxon.), Bar-at-Law | 1948-1958 |
| Honourable Mr. Mahommedali Currim Chagla was the first permanent Indian Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court on the attainment of Independence. His Lordship was born on September 30, 1900, in a well-known merchant family of Bombay. In 1922 he took the degree of B.A. achieving distinction in the Honours School of Modern History and was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple. In 1927 he was appointed Professor of Constitutional Law at the Government Law College, Bombay. His Lordship soon began to make headway at the Bar and was Honorary Secretary to the Bombay Bar Council. In 1941was elevated to the Bench of the Bombay High Court as Puisne Judge after the retirement of Mr. Justice B.J.Wadia. His Lordship was most assiduous in his attention to the prefect discharge of his duties and maintained the prestige, dignity and independence of his high Judicial Office. His Lordship scrupulously followed four things that belong to a Judge : to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially. The lucidity with which he analysed the evidence of a very complicated nature, and the directness with which he came swiftly to his conclusions both upon facts and law, bear ample testimony to the acute grasp of a master mind. His Lordship's judgments, were chiefly based on sound first principles, and bear the impress of great perception. During the eleven years that he administered justice from his exalted office, he won great esteem and respect by his legal acumen, high character, and gracious and kindly manner. The vigour and clarity of his mind, coupled with his wide knowledge and experience which he brought to his high office, secured him the distinction of being are of the great Judicial figures in the history of the Bombay High Court. His Lordship retired as Chief Justice of Bombay High Court on 26th October,1958. After his retirement as Chief Justice, he was appointed as Indian Ambassador to U.S.A, there was transfer of Honourable Mr. M.C. Chagla from judicial to the political and diplomatic sphere. | |