Name M. Setalvad | Role Attorney Died 1974 | |
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Full Name Motilal Chimanlal Setalvad Books The Common Law in India, My Life: Law and Other Things | ||
M. C. Setalvad | Wikipedia audio article
M. C. Setalvad (c. 1884 - 1974) was an eminent Indian jurist, who became the first and longest serving Attorney General for India (1950–1963). He also remained the Chairman of the First Law Commission of India (1955–1958), which is mandated for legal reform in the country by Government of India. He became the first Chairman of the Bar Council of India in 1961.
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He was award the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour by Government of India in 1957.
Biography
The son of noted lawyer Sir Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad, Motilal Chimanlal Setalvad was brought up in Bombay. He studied at Government Law College, Mumbai.
He started practicing law in Bombay and eventually became Advocate General of Bombay and Attorney General for India in 1950, in the formative years of Government of India, under Jawaharlal Nehru.
He appeared for the government in a host of important and, at times, controversial cases. He was also involved with the Radcliffe Tribunal for demarcation of the India-Pakistan border and several UN proceedings on Kashmir. He chaired the first Law Commission of independent India, in which capacity he not just advised the government on crucial reforms and legislation but also created a framework for the Commissions’ future functioning.
He died in 1974.
Personal life
His son, Atul Setalvad (25 October 1933 - 22 July 2010) was a Mumbai-based lawyer and his daughter-in-law Sita Setalvad, a rural crafts exponent, while his granddaughter, Teesta Setalvad, is a journalist, activist and educationist.