Mohammad Hidayatullah
Born 17 December 1905 · Uttar Pradesh
Died 18 September 1992
Served as Chief Justice of India and twice as interim President of India.
🔔 Add birthday reminderMohammad Hidayatullah, OBE was an Indian jurist and statesman who twice served as interim President of India, in 1969 and 1982. He concurrently served as Chief Justice of India from 1968 to 1970 and then as Vice President of India from 1979 to 1984.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Mohammad Hidayatullah is the only Indian to have served as Chief Justice of India, Vice President, and Acting President of the country.
1. 🌟 In 1927, Mohammad Hidayatullah sailed to study at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he secured a gold medal in 1930 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn at just 25 years old.
2. In 1943, at the age of 37, he became the youngest Advocate General of Central Provinces and Berar, a post he held until 1946 before ascending to Additional Judge of the High Court.
3. 📜 By 1958, Hidayatullah was the youngest Justice ever elevated to the Supreme Court of India, setting the stage for his appointment as the 11th Chief Justice in 1968.
4. In 1969, he stepped into the unusual role of interim President of India following the death of President Zakir Husain, serving until the election of V.V. Giri, a rare instance of judiciary leadership assuming the nation's highest office.
5. ⚖️ Between 1968 and 1970, as Chief Justice of India, he authored the landmark majority judgment in Madhav Rao Scindia v Union of India, influencing constitutional law on state governance.
6. From 1979 to 1984, he served as Vice President of India, during which he again acted as interim President in 1982, underscoring his unique triple role in Indian governance.
7. 📚 Beyond courts, he was Chancellor of Hyderabad University (1986–1990) and led the Indian Law Institute and the Indian Society of International Law, shaping legal education and international legal discourse.
8. ❓ How did Mohammad Hidayatullah's rare combination of poetical heritage, international education, and legal acumen converge to influence both Indian jurisprudence and its highest constitutional offices?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Order of the British Empire
🔍 One thing most people don't know
In 1930, at Cambridge, Hidayatullah not only earned a gold medal but also presided over the Indian Majlis, showcasing leadership among Indian students abroad.
🖼️ Through the Years
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
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📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Hidayatullah's judgments, particularly in Madhav Rao Scindia v Union of India, clarified the constitutional relationship between the Union and states, impacting federal governance. His leadership roles in legal institutions like the Indian Law Institute advanced legal scholarship and international law studies in India. His interim presidencies bridged constitutional transitions with judicial steadiness, demonstrating the integration of the judiciary with executive responsibilities.
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