M. C. Setalvad, Jurist, India’s First Attorney General
Jurist, India’s First Attorney General

M. C. Setalvad

Born 12 November 1884 · Maharashtra — Died 1 January 1974

First and longest serving Attorney General for India from 1950 to 1963.

Motilal Chimanlal Setalvad was an Indian jurist. Setalvad was the first and longest serving Attorney General for India, serving from 1950 to 1963. He also remained the Chairman of the first Law Commission of India (1955–1958), which has 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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A detail that
surprised us

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Setalvad was actively involved in the Radcliffe Tribunal, which carved out the India-Pakistan border in 1947, a process that still shapes geopolitics.

The Story

1
In 1950, Motilal Chimanlal Setalvad was appointed the first Attorney General of independent India, a role he held for 13 years during the nation's formative legal years.
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🌍 From 1955 to 1958, he chaired the inaugural Law Commission of India, creating the blueprint for future legal reforms and advising the government on crucial legislation.
3In 1961, Setalvad became the first Chairman of the Bar Council of India, shaping the professional regulation of lawyers across the country.
4⚖️ Setalvad played a pivotal role in the Radcliffe Tribunal, which in 1947 defined the contentious borders between India and Pakistan amidst Partition chaos.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1957
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Setalvad was deeply involved in the Radcliffe Tribunal in 1947, a secretive and highly pressured process that demarcated the India-Pakistan border amidst Partition violence and chaos.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Bombay
Motilal Chimanlal Setalvad was born in Bombay to noted lawyer Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad, setting his path in law.
1884
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Education
Studies at Government Law College
Setalvad pursued legal studies at Government Law College, Mumbai, a premier institution for Indian lawyers at the time.
c.1900
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Career
Involvement in Radcliffe Tribunal
Setalvad was involved with the Radcliffe Tribunal responsible for demarcating the Indo-Pak border post-Partition.
1947
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Career
Appointed Attorney General of India
Setalvad became the first Attorney General of independent India, a post he held until 1963.
1950
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Career
Chairman of First Law Commission
He chaired the first Law Commission of India, laying the foundation for systematic legal reform.
1955
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Award
Awarded Padma Vibhushan
Setalvad was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, recognizing his legal contributions.
1957
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Career
First Chairman of Bar Council of India
Setalvad became the inaugural Chairman of the Bar Council of India, overseeing legal professional standards.
1961
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Death
Death
Motilal Chimanlal Setalvad passed away, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian law.
1974
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🗝️Discoveries

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🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1957, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, during his tenure as Attorney General, highlighting his national recognition while still in office.

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🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Setalvad’s chairmanship of the first Law Commission (1955–1958) not only recommended legal reforms but also established how the Commission would function for decades, institutionalizing legal reform in India.

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👤PERSONAL

His family legacy includes his son Atul Setalvad, a noted Mumbai lawyer, and his granddaughter Teesta Setalvad, a prominent activist and journalist involved in human rights issues decades later.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Setalvad’s tenure as India’s Attorney General set precedents in the interpretation and application of the Constitution during its earliest years. His leadership in the first Law Commission established a continuing mechanism for systematic legal reform, influencing reforms in criminal, civil, and constitutional law. His role in founding the Bar Council of India created a lasting framework for legal professional standards and ethics.

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