Mehr Chand Mahajan

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.

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.

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.

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.

Other Positions of Note

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