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{{short description|3rd Chief Justice of India}}
Mehr Chand Mahajan, born December 23, 1889, was the third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. Prior to that he was the Prime Minister of Kashmir during the regin of Maharaja Hari Singh and played a key role in accession of Kashmir to India. He also played a historical role in the Radcliff Commission that defined the boundaries of India and Pakistan.
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
[[Image:Example.jpg]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mehr Chand Mahajan
| image = Justice_Mehr_Chand_Mahajan.jpg
| order = 3rd
| office = Chief Justice of India
| appointer = [[Rajendra Prasad]]
| term_start = 4 January 1954
| term_end = 22 December 1954
| predecessor = [[M. Patanjali Sastri]]
| successor = [[Bijan Kumar Mukherjea]]
| office2 = [[Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir]]
| term_start2 = 15 October 1947
| term_end2 = 5 March 1948
| predecessor2 = [[Janak Singh]]
| successor2 = [[Sheikh Abdullah]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1889|12|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kangra district|Kangra]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br><small>(now in [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]])</small>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1967|12|11|1889|12|23|df=y}}
}}


'''Mehr Chand Mahajan''' (23 December 1889 – 11 December 1967) was an Indian jurist and politician who was the third chief justice of the [[Supreme Court of India]]. Prior to that he was the prime minister of the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] during the reign of Maharaja [[Hari Singh]] and played a key role in the accession of the state to [[India]]. He was the [[Indian National Congress]] nominee on the [[Radcliffe Line|Radcliffe Commission]] that defined the boundaries of India and [[Pakistan]].
Justice Mahajan made a name as an accomplished lawyer, a respected judge, and a very influential politician. All Indians will remember his services during his time as the Prime Minister of Kashmir. As a judge he was incisive and forthright and had many leading judgments to his credit.


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 judgements to his credit.


== Early life ==
Mehr Chand Mahajan was born on 23 December 1889 at Tika [[Nagrota Bagwan|Nagrota]] in the [[Kangra district]] of Punjab, [[British India]] (now in Himachal Pradesh). His father, Lala Brij Lal, was an advocate, who later established a reputed legal practice at [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharmsala]].<ref name=Rohmetra>Ravi Rohmetra, [http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/mehr-chand-mahajan-pm-jk/ Mehr Chand Mahajan as PM of J&K], Daily Excelsior, 23 December 2016.</ref>

After completing middle school, Mahajan went to study in the [[Government College, Lahore]], graduating in 1910. He enrolled in M.Sc. Chemistry, but switched to law following persuasion from his father. He earned an LL.B. degree in 1912.<ref name=Rohmetra/>

== Career as a lawyer ==
Mahajan started his career as a lawyer in 1913 in Dharamsala, where he spent a year practising. He spent the next four years (1914-1918) as a lawyer in [[Gurdaspur]]. 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).

==Justice of Punjab High Court ==

He became a Justice in the pre-independence [[Lahore High Court|Punjab High Court]]. While he was serving there, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir called him to [[Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947–1948#Pakistan's_preparations,_Maharaja's_manoeuvring|become his Prime Minister for the negotiations regarding merger with India]].<ref>Mahajan, Mehr Chand (1963), Looking Back: The Autobiography of Mehr Chand Mahajan, Former Chief Justice of India, Asia Publishing House, pp 123.</ref>

==Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir==
Mahajan visited Kashmir on invitation of the Maharani [[Tara Devi of Jammu and Kashmir|Tara Devi]] in September 1947 and was asked to be the Prime Minister of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] which he accepted. On 15 October 1947, Mahajan was appointed the Prime Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and played a role in the accession of the state to India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/what-soured-the-promise-of-kashmir/cid/1686431|title=What soured the promise of Kashmir|website=www.telegraphindia.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-18}}</ref> Jammu & Kashmir acceded to India in October 1947 and Mahajan thus became the 1st Prime Minister of the Indian state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], serving in that post until 5 March 1948.


== Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India ==
== Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India ==
Justice Mahajan took office as the third Chief Justice of India on January 4, 1954. He was the head of the India's judicial system for almost a year, until his retirement on December 22, 1954 (mandatory retirement at age 65). Before becoming the 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.
Mahajan took office as the third [[Chief Justice of India]] on 4 January 1954. He was the head of India's judicial system for almost a year, until his retirement on 22 December 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 4 October 1948 to 3 January 1954.

Over the course of his tenure on the Supreme Court, Mahajan authored 132 judgments and was a part of 337 benches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mehr Chand Mahajan |url=https://www.scobserver.in/judges/mehr-chand-mahajan/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Supreme Court Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Other positions of note ==
* Director, [[Punjab National Bank]], 1933–43
* Pres. D.A.V. College, Managing Committee, 1938–43
* Fellow and Syndic, [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]], 1940–47
* Judge, [[Lahore High Court]], 1943
* All India Fruit Products Association Bombay Session, 1945
* Member, R.I.N. Mutiny Commission, 1946
* 1947 Dewan of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] State 1947-48
* Judge, East [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] 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
* Commission on Belgaum (dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra), 1967

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/mcmahajan.htm Mehr Chand Mahajan]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Janak Singh]]
| title = [[Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir]]
| years = 1947–1948
| after = [[Sheikh Abdullah]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-start}}
{{S-legal}}
{{succession box | title=[[Chief Justice of India]] | before=[[M. Patanjali Sastri]] | after=[[Bijan Kumar Mukherjea]] | years=3 January 1954 – 22 December 1954}}
{{s-end}}


{{Chief Justices of India}}


{{Authority control}}
== Career as a Lawyer ==
Justice Mahahan started his career as a lawyer in 1913 in Dharmshala, where he spent a year practising. He spent the next four years (1914-1918) furthering his career as a lawyer in Gurdaspur. Subsequently, he established himself as a prominent lawyer in Lahore, practising there for twenty-five illustruous years from 1918 to 1943. During his time there, he was elected as the President of the High Court Bar Association of Lahore for fifteen years from 1938 to 1943.


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahajan, Mehr Chand}}
[[Category:Chief justices of India]]
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1967 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:People of the 1947 Kashmir conflict]]




{{India-law-bio-stub}}
== Other Positions of Note ==
[[Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)]]
1947 Prime Minister, Jammu and Kashmir State 1947-48
Judge, East Punjab High Court
Judge, Lahore High Court, 1943
Constitutional Adviser to His Highness the Maharaja of Bikaner, 1948
Punjab Boundary Commission, 1947
Director, Punjab National Bank, 1933-43
Member, R.I.N. Mutiny Commission, 1946
Fellow and Syndic, Punjab University, 1940-47
Syndic, East Punjab University, 1947-50
Hon. Degree of LL.D., Punjab University; 1948
Pres. D.A.V. College, Managing Committee, 1938-43
All India Fruit Products Association Bombay Session, 1945
Member, Fruit Development Board, Punjab

Latest revision as of 14:09, 20 December 2024

Mehr Chand Mahajan
3rd Chief Justice of India
In office
4 January 1954 – 22 December 1954
Appointed byRajendra Prasad
Preceded byM. Patanjali Sastri
Succeeded byBijan Kumar Mukherjea
Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
In office
15 October 1947 – 5 March 1948
Preceded byJanak Singh
Succeeded bySheikh Abdullah
Personal details
Born(1889-12-23)23 December 1889
Kangra, Punjab, British India
(now in Himachal Pradesh, India)
Died11 December 1967(1967-12-11) (aged 77)

Mehr Chand Mahajan (23 December 1889 – 11 December 1967) was an Indian jurist and politician who was the third chief justice of the Supreme Court of India. Prior to that he was the prime minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh and played a key role in the accession of the state to India. He was the Indian National Congress nominee on the Radcliffe Commission that defined the boundaries of India and Pakistan.

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 judgements to his credit.

Early life

[edit]

Mehr Chand Mahajan was born on 23 December 1889 at Tika Nagrota in the Kangra district of Punjab, British India (now in Himachal Pradesh). His father, Lala Brij Lal, was an advocate, who later established a reputed legal practice at Dharmsala.[1]

After completing middle school, Mahajan went to study in the Government College, Lahore, graduating in 1910. He enrolled in M.Sc. Chemistry, but switched to law following persuasion from his father. He earned an LL.B. degree in 1912.[1]

Career as a lawyer

[edit]

Mahajan started his career as a lawyer in 1913 in Dharamsala, where he spent a year practising. He spent the next four years (1914-1918) as a lawyer in Gurdaspur. 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).

Justice of Punjab High Court

[edit]

He became a Justice in the pre-independence Punjab High Court. While he was serving there, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir called him to become his Prime Minister for the negotiations regarding merger with India.[2]

Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir

[edit]

Mahajan visited Kashmir on invitation of the Maharani Tara Devi in September 1947 and was asked to be the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir which he accepted. On 15 October 1947, Mahajan was appointed the Prime Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and played a role in the accession of the state to India.[3] Jammu & Kashmir acceded to India in October 1947 and Mahajan thus became the 1st Prime Minister of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, serving in that post until 5 March 1948.

Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India

[edit]

Mahajan took office as the third Chief Justice of India on 4 January 1954. He was the head of India's judicial system for almost a year, until his retirement on 22 December 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 4 October 1948 to 3 January 1954.

Over the course of his tenure on the Supreme Court, Mahajan authored 132 judgments and was a part of 337 benches.[4]

Other positions of note

[edit]
  • Director, Punjab National Bank, 1933–43
  • Pres. D.A.V. College, Managing Committee, 1938–43
  • Fellow and Syndic, Punjab University, 1940–47
  • Judge, Lahore High Court, 1943
  • All India Fruit Products Association Bombay Session, 1945
  • Member, R.I.N. Mutiny Commission, 1946
  • 1947 Dewan of Jammu and Kashmir State 1947-48
  • Judge, East Punjab 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
  • Commission on Belgaum (dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra), 1967

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Ravi Rohmetra, Mehr Chand Mahajan as PM of J&K, Daily Excelsior, 23 December 2016.
  2. ^ Mahajan, Mehr Chand (1963), Looking Back: The Autobiography of Mehr Chand Mahajan, Former Chief Justice of India, Asia Publishing House, pp 123.
  3. ^ "What soured the promise of Kashmir". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Mehr Chand Mahajan". Supreme Court Observer. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
1947–1948 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of India
3 January 1954 – 22 December 1954 		Succeeded by



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