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Justice D.A. Desai

A prominent figure in the Indian judiciary, Justice D.A. Desai's career was characterized by his contributions to legal reform and his service in the Supreme Court of India. Justice Desai was born on May 9, 1920, and his education included studies at Jamnabai, Sarvajanik Middle School, Dehen; T & T.V. Sarvajanik High School, Surat; M.T.B. College, Surat, and Sarvajanik Law College, Surat. He enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay in October 1945, and in 1960, he enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court of Gujarat. He handled Civil, Criminal, Tenancy, Land Revenue, Labour and Industrial Court, and Central Excise cases in Surat. His judicial career began with his appointment as Assistant Judge and Assistant Sessions Judge on May 11, 1960. He was promoted and posted as District and Sessions Judge, Baroda on November 4, 1961. Justice Desai was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court for a year starting February 19, 1968, and was re-appointed for two years from February 19, 1969. He became a permanent Judge on February 25, 1970. He was a member of the Judicial Reform Committee set up by the Gujarat Government in 1971 and served as Chairman of the Labour Laws Committee in 1972. In 1973, he was appointed as the One Man Pay Commission for restructuring pay-scales and service conditions for Gujarat State employees, teachers, and university staff. He also served as Vice-Chairman of the State Legal Aid Committee and Chairman of the High Court Legal Aid Committee in 1973. Justice Desai's career culminated with his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on September 30, 1977. He was due to retire on May 9, 1985.