HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MR SHAH
CHAIRMAN, LEGAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE, BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA & FORMER JUDGE, SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Justice MR Shah is a distinguished jurist with a remarkable legal career. He embarked on his legal journey after obtaining his LL.B from Gujarat University, enrolling as an advocate on July 19th, 1972. His legal acumen shone during over two decades of practice at the Gujarat High Court, where he served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government and was retained as counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation.
In 2004, Justice M.R. Shah was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court, and by June 2005, he became a Permanent Judge. His dedication to the judiciary saw him transferred to the Patna High Court, where he took oath as Chief Justice on August 12th, 2018. His illustrious career reached new heights when he was elevated to the Supreme Court on November 2nd, 2018.
Throughout his tenure on the Supreme Court bench, Justice Shah has been involved in 752 benches and authored 384 judgments, leaving an indelible mark on Indian jurisprudence. Notable among his judgments are the landmark decisions in cases like “All Manipur Pensioners Association v State of Manipur,” where he denounced arbitrary distinctions in pension schemes, and “West U.P. Sugar Mills Association v State of Uttar Pradesh,” where he clarified the relationship between Central and State legislation regarding pricing. Justice Shah’s commitment to justice was also evident in “Vineeta Sharma v Rakesh Sharma,” Justice Shah upheld the Hindu Succession Act (Amendment) Act, 2005, ensuring daughters’ equal rights to ancestral property, regardless of when they were born, thereby promoting gender equality in inheritance.
Currently, Justice M.R. Shah serves as the Chairman of the Legal Education Committee at the Bar Council of India, further contributing to legal education and professional development in the country. His legacy is marked by a profound commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law.