Shahabuddin, Justice Mohammad

Shahabuddin, Justice Mohammad (1895-1971) Chief Justice of Dhaka High Court, Acting Governor of East Bengal, Judge of the Federal Court of Pakistan. Born on 13 May 1895 in Madras (now Chennai), Justice Shahabuddin joined the Indian Civil Service in December 1921. He served as district judge at Koembatar, Saran and in Chitor district ((1936-1937) and was elevated to the additional judge in the Madras High Court in February 1943. After partition of India in 1947 he opted for Pakistan and joined as judge in the Dhaka High Court on 16 November 1947. He became a member of the special court of Sind in 1948 and had been the Chief Justice of Dhaka High Court from 16 March to 25 April 1949. While a judge of the Federal Court of Pakistan he was appointed as Acting Governor of East Bengal. Justice Mohammad Shahabuddin took oath of office on 22 December 1954.

During his governorship, political activities in East Bengal resumed which was suspended following the imposition of Section 92A of the Constitution (29 May 1954). On 3 June 1955, Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Chaudhury withdrew Section 92A and handed over power to the East Bengal cabinet headed by Abu Hossain Sarkar. Governor Shahabuddin was unaware of the development and felt himself disgraced for not being consulted by the Prime Minister before announcing his decision. He resigned on 4 June 1955 from the governorship of East Bengal and resumed as judge of the Federal Court of Pakistan.

Jstice Shahabuddin died in Lahore on 13 April 1971. [Abu Jafar]