A. M. Ahmadi
Encyclopedia
A. M. Ahmadi is a former Chief Justice of India
. After serving as a judge in the Gujarat High Court
, Ahmadi was appointed judge to the Supreme Court in 1988. He was then elevated to the post of Chief Justice, and served from 1994-1997. Today, he serves as Chancellor at the Aligarh Muslim University
.
in 1964. During this time, Ahmadi was appointed as Secretary of the Legal Affairs of the State of Gujarat in 1974, which soon led to an appointment as Judge of the Gujarat High Court
in 1976.
As Judge of the Gujarat High Court
, Ahmadi worked as Chairman of various advisory boards for:
Also, he worked as a Member of the Ravi & Beas Waters Disputes Tribunal under the Rajiv-Longowal Settlement (Punjab Settlement).
Ultimately this led to an appointment as a Justice in the Supreme Court of India
in December 1988. After six years, Ahmadi was appointed as Chief Justice of India
in October 1994. Ahmadi became the third Muslim ever to serve as Chief Justice of India. After serving for two and a half years, he eventually stepped down to retire in March 1997.
Justice Ahmadi as Chief Justice of India on September 13, 1996 in a judgement authored by Justice Majmundar, in the UCC case, concurred with the view that the offence fell within the scope of section 304A,IPC and not within the scope of section 304 (II), IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Later the accused were tried user section 304A and were convicted and sentenced to 2 years punishment, further the NGO's raised a hue and cry and persuaded the government to file a curative petition in the Supreme Court which was decided by a 5 judge bench, which upheld the view taken by the Justice Ahmadi bench, and dismissed the petition.
A decision which is blot on the judicial system of the country ( India ), The Contempt Petition (c) No. 203 of 1996 ,By the Justice A.M. Ahmadi Former Chief Justice of India and another Justice.The Judgment provides " No body can be punished in India till this Judgment is alive."
A decision which is blot on the judicial system of the country ( India ), The Contempt Petition (c) No. 203 of 1996 ,By the Justice A.M. Ahmadi Former Chief Justice of India and another Justice.The Judgment provides " No body can be punished in India till this Judgment is alive."
at the renowned Aligarh Muslim University
. In 2007, Ahmadi was re-elected Chancellor of Aligarh for three years.
Since entering academics, he has been invited to speak at various universities and forums worldwide. Particularly in India, he has used his status to speak out on political issues such as minority rights.
Muslim. Today he remains active in Indian politics as an advocate of minority rights, most recently through a book entitled A Guide To Uplift Minorities by the city-based Human Welfare Trust http://www.vision2016.org.in.
Putting emphasis on education, Ahmadi has frequently mentioned that the vast Muslim population of India is struggling to put children in school. He encourages federal and state governments to solve this problem, stating that, "the country simply cannot afford to have a certain percentage of population unable to contribute to the country's development.".
Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
. After serving as a judge in the Gujarat High Court
Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...
, Ahmadi was appointed judge to the Supreme Court in 1988. He was then elevated to the post of Chief Justice, and served from 1994-1997. Today, he serves as Chancellor at the Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
.
Judicial career
Having received Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Ahmadi joined the Bar in 1954. He eventually was appointed judge to the City Civil & Sessions Court of AhmedabadAhmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
in 1964. During this time, Ahmadi was appointed as Secretary of the Legal Affairs of the State of Gujarat in 1974, which soon led to an appointment as Judge of the Gujarat High Court
Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...
in 1976.
As Judge of the Gujarat High Court
Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...
, Ahmadi worked as Chairman of various advisory boards for:
- Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities
- Prevention of Black Marketing
- Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities.
Also, he worked as a Member of the Ravi & Beas Waters Disputes Tribunal under the Rajiv-Longowal Settlement (Punjab Settlement).
Ultimately this led to an appointment as a Justice in the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
in December 1988. After six years, Ahmadi was appointed as Chief Justice of India
Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
in October 1994. Ahmadi became the third Muslim ever to serve as Chief Justice of India. After serving for two and a half years, he eventually stepped down to retire in March 1997.
Justice Ahmadi as Chief Justice of India on September 13, 1996 in a judgement authored by Justice Majmundar, in the UCC case, concurred with the view that the offence fell within the scope of section 304A,IPC and not within the scope of section 304 (II), IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Later the accused were tried user section 304A and were convicted and sentenced to 2 years punishment, further the NGO's raised a hue and cry and persuaded the government to file a curative petition in the Supreme Court which was decided by a 5 judge bench, which upheld the view taken by the Justice Ahmadi bench, and dismissed the petition.
A decision which is blot on the judicial system of the country ( India ), The Contempt Petition (c) No. 203 of 1996 ,By the Justice A.M. Ahmadi Former Chief Justice of India and another Justice.The Judgment provides " No body can be punished in India till this Judgment is alive."
Foreign Recognition
Among many recognitions include:- Member of the American Inn of Laws (May 1995)
- Honorary Master BencherBencherA bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of the Honourable Society of Middle TempleMiddle TempleThe Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, London (November 1996) - Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) conferred on by University of LeicesterUniversity of LeicesterThe University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. (July 1998) - Nominated on International Committees:
- Human Rights violation in East TimorEast TimorThe Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
(United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
) - To assist the judiciary in LiberiaLiberiaLiberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
(International Court of JusticeInternational Court of JusticeThe International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
) - To review the state of relations between the judiciary, the legal profession and the executive and violation of human rights in ZimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
(International Bar AssociationInternational Bar AssociationThe International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
)
- Human Rights violation in East Timor
A decision which is blot on the judicial system of the country ( India ), The Contempt Petition (c) No. 203 of 1996 ,By the Justice A.M. Ahmadi Former Chief Justice of India and another Justice.The Judgment provides " No body can be punished in India till this Judgment is alive."
Chancellor at Aligarh
After stepping down from the supreme court, Ahmadi became ChancellorChancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
at the renowned Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
. In 2007, Ahmadi was re-elected Chancellor of Aligarh for three years.
Since entering academics, he has been invited to speak at various universities and forums worldwide. Particularly in India, he has used his status to speak out on political issues such as minority rights.
Muslim Rights
Using his status, Ahmadi also continues to speak out for Muslim Rights in India, himself being a Dawoodi BohraDawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra is a subsect of Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Islām. While the Dawoodi Bohra is based in India, their belief system originates in Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam...
Muslim. Today he remains active in Indian politics as an advocate of minority rights, most recently through a book entitled A Guide To Uplift Minorities by the city-based Human Welfare Trust http://www.vision2016.org.in.
Putting emphasis on education, Ahmadi has frequently mentioned that the vast Muslim population of India is struggling to put children in school. He encourages federal and state governments to solve this problem, stating that, "the country simply cannot afford to have a certain percentage of population unable to contribute to the country's development.".