Sir Lawrence H. Jenkins,was brought from Calcutta and made
the Chief Justice on the death of Kershaw in 1899.His Lordship was
educated at Cheltenham and University College, Oxford. His
Lordship was called to the Bar in 1882, and practised at the
Chancery Bar before he came out to India about 1895, as a judge of the
Calcutta High Court. His Lordship was particularly well up
in both English and Indian law. His Lordship surprised the Bar
by the extent of his knowledge of Indian law, which he had apparently
read up on his voyage out. His Lordship effected many changes and
did much to overhaul various departments of the Bombay High Court, and
also the subordinate Courts. His Lordship greatly
encouraged the Indian Bar; and it was during his regime that Indian
practitioners on the Original Side obtained a firm footing there.
His Lordship animated the Mofussil Judiciary, which before his
time had been somewhat neglected and had fallen into a certain degree
of laxity and lassitude. His Lordship revived the practice
of periodically deputing one Judge to inspect the Mofussil Courts. His
Lordship also revised the rules and forms of the High Court,
which had become obsolete in some respects, and brought them into line
with English practice. One important reform which he introduced
was in connection with the hearing of Original Side appeals, which
formerly were heard only one day in the week, to the immense
inconvenience of Counsel and litigants. His Lordship
reserved one month for these appeals, and heard them from everyday
until the board was disposed off. Jenkins inspired confidence in both
parties and pleaders by his great knowledge of law and his anxiety to
do justice. Jenkins also did very important work as a member of the
Committee appointed by the Government of India to revise and recast the
Civil Procedure Code of 1882. The labours of the Committee
resulted in the systematic Code of 1908. Jenkins retired from
Bombay in 1908.
|
