Justice M.Y. Eqbal

His Lordship was born on 13th February, 1951 in a middle class family. He completed his initial education from Ranchi Zila School in the year 1967. After obtaining his bachelor degree in Science from Ranchi University, he pursued his Degree in Law and obtained degree with 1st Class Distinction (Gold Medalist) in the year 1974, which was a rare phenomenon in those days. He started practice in the year 1975 in Civil Court and specialized in civil side. By virtue of his resourceful skills and unique talent, he was named standing counsel for almost all the banks, insurance companies and financial institutions. He shifted his practice to Ranchi Bench of Patna High Court in the year 1988. He was appointed as a Government Pleader in the year 1990, and was later appointed as Government Advocate in Ranchi Bench of Patna High Court in the year 1993. In a short span of time, he rose to top ranks. Almost all Institutions appointed him as their standing counsel including Universities, Electricity Board, Housing Board. His profound knowledge of law and unfaltering courage, led to his elevation to the Bench and he became Judge of Patna High Court on 9th May, 1996 and on 15th November, 2000 he became a Judge of the Jharkand High Court. In 2003, he was nominated by the Hon�ble Chief Justice of India as one of the members of Ravi and Beas Water Tribunal (Water Dispute between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan). He also held the post of Chairman, Jharkhand Human Rights Commission and Executive Chairman of Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority. Was also Judge-In-charge of Judicial Academy, Jharkhand. He was also appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court. His outstanding blend of scholarship as an efficacious speaker is evident on the various papers he had presented on variegated facets of law. His methodical, incisive and focus mind reflects on the judgments he had delivered on different aspects of law, namely, Administrative law, Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Labour Laws, Motor Vehicles Act, Personal Laws, Service Laws, etc. His stand with respect to the concept of �domicile� in Prasant Vidyarthy & Anr. vs. State of Jharkhand & Ors reported in 2003 (1) JCR 3 is a landmark judgment in upholding constitutional jurisprudence. His vision with respect to Women�s right of personal liberty can be seen from a historical judgment delivered in Ranjana Verma vs. State of Jharkhand & others reported in 2006 (4) JCR 1 in which he allowed the minor girl to live with her husband and held the earlier view taken by Division Bench as per incuriam, which was also affirmed by the Supreme Court. Apart from that, he also has to his credit of holding innumerable Lok Adalats. His Lordship was elevated as Chief Justice of the Chartered High Court of Judicature at Madras on 11.6.2010 and was at the helm of affairs of Judiciary in the State of Tamil Nadu till 21.12.2012. After serving as a High Court Judge, as also the Chief Justice, for almost 16 years, His Lordship was elevated to the highest court of the country and became a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 24.12.2012. Retired on 12.02.2016 (F.N.)