A. R. Cornelius
Encyclopedia
Alvin Robert Cornelius was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
from May 13, 1960 to February 29, 1968. He was a Justice of the Supreme Court for about 17 years. Born in Agra
and known as 'Bobby', he was educated at the Allahabad University
and at Selwyn College, Cambridge
. He was a Roman Catholic.
, where he held the positions of Assistant Commissioner and District and Sessions Judge till 1943 when he joined Law Department of Government of Punjab as Legal Remembrancer. In 1946 Mr. Cornelius was elevated to the Bench of Lahore High Court
.
In 1950-51 he served as Secretary of Law and Labour at Karachi
. Justice Cornelius was appointed to the Federal Court of Pakistan in November 1951 and continued as Judge with regular intervals till 1953 when he was confirmed as a Judge of the Federal Court of Pakistan.
In 1954, the National Assembly of Pakistan tried to change the constitution to establish checks on the Governor-General's powers, in order to prevent a repeat of what had happened to Nazimuddin's
government. In response, Ghulam Muhammad dismissed the Assembly, an action that was challenged in the Supreme Court. Ghulam Muhammad emerged victorious when the Chief Justice Muhammad Munir
upheld the dismissal in a split decision, despite the dissenting opinion written by the renowned Justice (later Chief Justice) A. R. Cornelius, and despite protests from the members of the Assembly.
Justice A.R. Cornelius was appointed as the Chief Justice of Pakistan in 1960.
. He was the main founding figure of Pakistan cricket after partition.
Cornelius one of the three original vice-Presidents of the Pakistan Cricket Board
(then B.C.C.P.) and became Chairman of the working committee, serving until he first relinquished his connection with the Board in early 1953.
Cornelius was in September 1960 made Chairman of the first Ad Hoc Committee, created to run cricket in Pakistan until May 1963.
Cornelius's proudest achievement in cricket was to found the Pakistan Eaglets, an informal club of promising young Pakistani cricketers, which made tours of England in 1952 and 1953 in preparation for the first full Test tour of England in 1954
.
Cornelius died at the age of 88 on 21 December 1991, in Lahore and was buried in the city's Christian cemetery
.
Supreme Court of Pakistan
The Supreme Court is the apex court in Pakistan's judicial hierarchy, the final arbiter of legal and constitutional disputes. The Supreme Court has a permanent seat in Islamabad. It has number of Branch Registries where cases are heard. It has a number of de jure powers which are outlined in the...
from May 13, 1960 to February 29, 1968. He was a Justice of the Supreme Court for about 17 years. Born in Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
and known as 'Bobby', he was educated at the Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
and at Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
. He was a Roman Catholic.
Career
He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1926. He served in PunjabPunjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
, where he held the positions of Assistant Commissioner and District and Sessions Judge till 1943 when he joined Law Department of Government of Punjab as Legal Remembrancer. In 1946 Mr. Cornelius was elevated to the Bench of Lahore High Court
Lahore High Court
The Lahore High Court is based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was established as a high court on March 21, 1919. The Lahore High Court has jurisdiction over Punjab...
.
In 1950-51 he served as Secretary of Law and Labour at Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. Justice Cornelius was appointed to the Federal Court of Pakistan in November 1951 and continued as Judge with regular intervals till 1953 when he was confirmed as a Judge of the Federal Court of Pakistan.
In 1954, the National Assembly of Pakistan tried to change the constitution to establish checks on the Governor-General's powers, in order to prevent a repeat of what had happened to Nazimuddin's
Khawaja Nazimuddin
Hajji Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, KCIE , was the second Governor-General of Pakistan, and later the second Prime Minister of Pakistan as well.-Early life:...
government. In response, Ghulam Muhammad dismissed the Assembly, an action that was challenged in the Supreme Court. Ghulam Muhammad emerged victorious when the Chief Justice Muhammad Munir
Muhammad Munir
Muhammad Munir was Chief Justice of Pakistan from 1954 to 1960. After doing MA from Government College Lahore he joined Law College to earn his L.L.B. He started his career as a lawyer at Amritsar in 1921, later on he shifted to Lahore in 1922....
upheld the dismissal in a split decision, despite the dissenting opinion written by the renowned Justice (later Chief Justice) A. R. Cornelius, and despite protests from the members of the Assembly.
Justice A.R. Cornelius was appointed as the Chief Justice of Pakistan in 1960.
Cricket
Cornelius was closely associated with the Lahore Gymkhana Cricket Club which played at Bagh-e-JinnahBagh-e-Jinnah
Bagh-e-Jinnah is a historical park in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. It was formerly known as Lawrence Gardens. Today, the large green space contains a botanical garden, a mosque, and Jinnah library situated in a Victorian building.There are also entertainment and sports facilities within the...
. He was the main founding figure of Pakistan cricket after partition.
Cornelius one of the three original vice-Presidents of the Pakistan Cricket Board
Pakistan Cricket Board
The Pakistan Cricket Board is a sporting organization that is responsible for governing all professional cricket including Test cricket and One Day International matches played in Pakistan...
(then B.C.C.P.) and became Chairman of the working committee, serving until he first relinquished his connection with the Board in early 1953.
Cornelius was in September 1960 made Chairman of the first Ad Hoc Committee, created to run cricket in Pakistan until May 1963.
Cornelius's proudest achievement in cricket was to found the Pakistan Eaglets, an informal club of promising young Pakistani cricketers, which made tours of England in 1952 and 1953 in preparation for the first full Test tour of England in 1954
Pakistani cricket team in England in 1954
The Pakistani cricket team toured England in the 1954 season. The team played four Test matches against England, winning one, losing one and drawing two. These were the first Test matches played between the two sides...
.
Death
Gora Kabristan, Lahore
The Gora Kabristan or Gora Cemetery in Lahore, Pakistan is the city's only operational Christian cemetery. It is also known as the Jail Road Cemetery.-History:...
.
Works
- Law and judiciary in Pakistan; Lahore Law Times Publications; (1981)
- The ethical basis for democracy in Pakistan; Hamdard National Foundation, Pakistan; (1971)