Sindh High Court Bar Association is an association of 2000 Professional lawyers and is responsible for the administration of High Court of Sindh. Mr. Mustafa Lakhani is a President of this Association.

This Blog is designed to discuss the problems of Lawyers community of High Court.

History of High Court of Sindh:-

A Sadar Court for the Province of Sindh was established by Bombay Act XII of 1866. This Sadar Court was the Highest Court of appeal for Sindh in Civil and Criminal matters and was presided over by a Judge called the “Judicial Commissioner of Sindh”. In 1906 the Bombay Act XII of 1866 was amended by the Sindh Courts Amending Act (Bom. I of 1906) and the Sadar Court was converted into the Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sindh consisting of three or more Judges. Apart from being the highest Court of Appeal for Sindh in civil and criminal matters, the Court was the District Court and the Court of Session in Karachi. On 21st August, 1926 the Sindh Courts Act (Bom. VII of 1926) was passed into law-making provision for the establishment of a Chief Court for the Province of Sindh.

On the coming into operation of Part III of the Government of India Act, 1935, on 1st April, 1937, Sindh became a separate Province and the Judges of the Court of Judicial Commissioner of Sindh were appointed by Royal Warrant by the British Government.

As the Sindh Courts Act, 1926 followed closely the lines of the Letters Patent of the Bombay High Court, it was felt that the immediate need of the Province could be satisfied by bringing that Act into operation thereby raising the status of the Court to that of the Chief Court of Sindh. Ultimately the Government of India Act, 1935, was suitably amended by Parliament and on 15th April, 1940 the Sindh Courts Act, 1926, was brought into operation and the Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sindh became on that day the Chief Court of Sindh.

In 1907, the Court consisted of a Judicial Commissioner, and three Additional Judicial Commissioners. However, in 1935, the number of Additional Judicial Commissioners was increased from 3 to 4, and in that year the following were the Judges.

Judicial Commissioners of Sindh

1. V.M. Forrers, Esq., I.C.S. (Retired, May 1935).
2. Godfrey Davis, Esq., I.C.S. (From June, 1935)

Additional Judicial Commissioners of Sindh

1. Rupchand Bilaram, Esq., B. A., LL. B.
2. Dadiva C. Metha, Esq., M.A., LL. B.
3. M.A. Havelivala, Esq. Bar-at-Law.
4. Charles M. Lobo, Esq., B. A., LL.B. (Officiating).

In 1937 the Judicial Commissioners, by the Order in Council were designated as the Judges. Significantly for the first time that in 1938 a Muslim namely, Mr. Hatim B. Tyabji, Bar-at-Law was appointed as the Acting Judge of the Court.

In 1947 Mr. Hatim B. Tyabji became the Chief Judge of Sindh Chief Court and the Court consisted of the following Judges.

1. The Hon’ble Mr. Dennis Nail O’Sullivan, Bar at Law.
2. The Hon’ble Mr. T. V. Thadani, Bar-at-Law.
3. The Hon’ble Mr. George Baxandell Constantine,B.A.(Oxen), I.C.S., Bar-at-Law.
4. The Hon’ble Mr. Hassanali G. Agha, B.A. LL.B.
5. The Mr. Maneksha Rustomji Mehar, I.C.S. (Offg.)”