Bijan Kumar Mukherjea

Avocation

Joined Calcutta Bar in 1914

Junior Govt. Pleader Calcutta High Court, 1934 Senior Govt. Pleader, Calcutta Court, 1936 Judge Calcutta High Court, November 1936 – 1948 Member Bengal Boundary Commission, 1947 Judge, Federal Court/Supreme Court 14 Oct. 1948-22 Dec.1954.

Chief Justice of India 1954-31 Jan 1956

It is noteworthy that on Patanjali Sastri’s retirement in January 1954, Nehru had asked B.K. Mukherjea to take over as Chief Justice. However Mukherjea had declined, saying that Mehr Chand Mahajan was senior to him. When Nehru pressed him, the judge said he would sooner resign than usurp the highest office before his turn. Only after Mahajan retired did Mukherjea become CJI.

Education and academics

After completion of his education in Hooghly College, Bengal, he joined the Surendranath Law College under the University of Calcutta.

He was a M.A.(History), B.L.(Gold Medalist), M.L.(Gold Medalist), Doctor of Law.

He was an Anauth Dev Research Prizeman, Tagore Law Lecturer (Calcutta University), and also a Saraswati (Sanskrit).

Personal life

Mukherjea was born to R.D. Mukherjea and Sarat Kumari Devi. Married Labanyalata Devi and had a son Amiya Kumar Mukherjea.

Memberships and association

Fellow of the Calcutta University President of the Bengal Sanskrit Association

Associated with Scouts Movement in Bengal

Acted as District Commissioner, South Calcutta Boys Sc Association

Connected with Literary and Cultural Society Bibudha Janani Sava, Nabadwip, Gita Sava, Calcutta, St. Sahitya Parishad; Calcutta etc.

Publication

Problems & Law

Hindu Law of Religious and Charitable Trusts.