The following judges made their mark in the Indian Judicial history. They are the path breakers who broke the ranks of the colonial era courts which were mainly composed of European judges.

 

  1. Shah Muhammad Sulaiman:
  • Justice Shah Muhammad Sulaimanwas the first Indian Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, and the second Indian Chief Justice during British Colonial rule in India.
  • After his BA education, Sulaiman completed his further education abroad. He returned to India a barrister and commenced his practice in Jaunpur. However, in 1912 he shifted his practice to Allahabad.
  • Apart from his legal career, he is also a physicist, even questioning Einstein’s theory of relativity. Also, he served twice as the Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University.
  1. Romesh Chandra Mitter
  • Justice Romesh Chandra Mitterwas the first Indian officiating judge of the Calcutta High Court. He became a judge of the High Court at the young age of 34 years.
  • In 1882, he was appointed to act as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court when Chief Justice Sir Richard Darth went on leave. He served in this position for two months. During his years of judgeship, he also served concurrently as a member of the Viceroy’s Legislative Council.
  1. Nanabhai Haridas
  • Justice Nanabhai Haridaswas the first Indian permanent judge of the Bombay High Court. On the establishment of the Bombay High Court, Justice Haridas was admitted as a Vakil on the Appellate Side.
  • Over an 11-year period Justice Haridas acted as a temporary judge nine times. His appointment followed an evolving policy of the British administration to have at least one native judge in the Presidency High Courts. When he was not serving as a temporary judge, he reverted back to his practice as Government Pleader or taught as a Professor of Law. In 1884, he was appointed a permanent judge of the High Court.
  • He held the office till his death in 1889. Justice Haridas is credited for having great knowledge of Hindu law.
  1. TRA Thumboo Chetty
  • Trichinopoly Rayalu Arakiaswamy Thumboo Chettywas born to Catholic parents in April 1837. Following a stint in the Legislative department, Chetty went on to clear judicial exams to eventually become the first Indian Chief of the Chief Court of Mysore.
  • In 1879, he was recommended for appointment as District and Sessions Judge, the first Indian to be so appointed. In due course, he was appointed as one of three judges of the Chief Court of Mysore which was constituted in 1884. In 1890, he was made the Chief Justice of the Court, which was the highest court of appeal in Mysore.
  1. Pramada Charan Banerjee
  • Justice Pramada Charan Banerjeewas the second Indian judge to be appointed a judge of the Allahabad High Court.
  • In 1893, he was appointed Additional Judge of the Chief Court of Oudh at Lucknow. Thereafter, he was elevated to the High Court of Allahabad.
  • Justice Banerjee retired from judicial service in August 1923. He was also a member of the Faculty of Law at the University of Allahabad, where he also served as Vice-Chancellor.

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