Sir Shadi Lal (14 May 1874 – 27 March 1945) was an Indian jurist.
He served as the
Chief Justice of
Lahore High Court
The Lahore High Court () is based in Lahore, Pakistan. It was established as a high court on 21 March 1882. The Lahore High Court has jurisdiction over Punjab (Pakistan). The High Court's principal seat is in Lahore, but there are benches in th ...
between 1920 and 1934, the first Indian head of an
Indian high court.
Born in
Rewari,
Punjab Province Punjab Province may refer to:
* Punjab Province (British India), a former province of British India from 1849 to 1947
In Pakistan
* Punjab, Pakistan, a province in Pakistan from 1970 onward
* West Punjab, a province of Pakistan from 1947 to 195 ...
, Lal was educated at
Punjab University Punjab University may refer to:
India
* Punjab Agricultural University, a state agricultural university in Ludhiana, Punjab
* I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, a State university in Jalandhar, Punjab
* Panjab University, a public collegia ...
and
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided the ...
. He was called to the English bar at
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wa ...
in 1899. Returning to India, he was called to the Lahore bar, and became Principal of the Law College, Lahore, and Dean of the Law Faculty of Punjab University. He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Council by Punjab University in 1909, and was re-elected in 1912 and 1913.
Lal was appointed a Judge of the Lahore High Court in 1919, and promoted Chief Justice in 1920, becoming the first Indian to head an Indian high court. He was
knighted in 1921. In 1934 he was appointed to the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is the highest court of appeal for the Crown Dependencies, the British Overseas Territories, some Commonwealth countries and a few institutions in the United Kingdom. Established on 14 Augus ...
and sworn of the
Privy Council under the provisions of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1929, in succession to
Sir Dinshah Mulla. He resigned in 1938 and returned to India.
Legacy
Haryana Government has named Civil Hospital of District Rewari after him which was also extended to the Trauma center.
He is known for the Legend Bhagat Singh case as well. He was one of the witnesses against Bhagat Singh.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lal, Shadi
Knights Bachelor
1945 deaths
People from Rewari
University of the Punjab alumni
Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
Members of Gray's Inn
Indian Knights Bachelor
Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Indian judges
1874 births
Chief Justices of the Lahore High Court
Punjab University Law College faculty