Honourable Mr. Hashmatrai Khubchand Chainani succeeded Mr.
Chagla as the Chief Justice in 1958. His Lordships has the
distinction of being the first I.C.S. Judge to be appointed
permanent Chief Justice of Bombay.
His Lordships was born on February 29, 1904. In 1925 he took the
degree of B.A. in Natural Science Tripos and came off with flying
colours in the I.C.S. Examination of 1926. On returning to India
in 1927 His Lordships was first appointed Assistant collector
at Sholapur and then at Nasik, Khandesh and Poona. His
Lordships was transferred to the Judicial Department and acted
as Assistant Judges at Poona in 1933, and thereafter was promoted as
District and Sessions Judge at Sholapur. In 1935, he
was appointed Secretary to the Bombay Legislative Council and
Assistant Legal Remembrancer.
His Lordship acted in 1944 as Joint Secretary to the Government of
Bombay, Home Department. Subsequently, he was transferred as
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department. In
January 1944 he held the post of Commissioner, Central Division.
On August 28,1948, he was appointed a Puisne Judge of the Bombay High
Court. There is no branch of public service on whose efficiency,
integrity, and calm judgment, the rights and liberty of the people so
largely depend as upon the judiciary. For nearly a
decade the Hon'ble Mr. Chainani has discharged his high judicial
function with conspicuous ability, sobriety and
impartiality. His Lordship's calm and polite behaviour on
the Bench, his way of handling intricate details of cases coming
before him, as his keen desire to impart perfect justice
without fear or favour fully justified the expectation that he would
uphold the highest and best traditions of his exalted office. |
