Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College enjoys the distinction of being the oldest law school in Asia and has, since its inception in 1855, essayed a seminal role in the evolution of India’s legal and judicial landscape. Any discussion of India’s legal system and culture today is incomplete, in fact, meaningless without a mention of Government Law College, Mumbai. Looking back over the years, one realises the immeasurable role this pioneering law institution has played in India’s judicial, political, and historical life. Government Law College, with its illustrious history and a heritage spanning over a century and a half, has nurtured some of the greatest minds of today, not only in the field of law but in various other walks of life.
Esteemed personalities like Sir Dinshaw Mulla, Sir Bomanji Wadia, and Shri. A.A.A. Fyzee have served as Principals of GLC, Mumbai. Free India’s first Law Minister and one of the principal architects of India’s Constitution – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has also served as Principal of this historic institution.
The College boasts a history of an illustrious faculty, including the First Chief Justice of the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay-Shri. M.C. Chagla. Shri. Badruddin Tyebji, Shri. G.S. Rao, Shri. V.F. Taraporwala, Shri. B.G. Gokhale, Shri. S.G. Patwardhan, Shri. N.A. Palkhivala, and Shri. Tehemtan Daruwala are among others.
The alumni of Government Law College have been pivotal in placing India on the globe even before she became independent. The great freedom fighter Shri. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an alumnus of this institution. Other distinguished alumni include Justice Harilal Kania, Former Chief Justice of India (CJI); Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former CJI; Justice M.H. Kania, Former CJI; Justice S.P. Bharucha, Former CJI; Justice S.H. Kapadia, Former CJI; Justice B.N. Srikrishna, Former Judge, Supreme Court (SC); Justice S.N. Variava, Former Judge, SC; Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court; Mr. M.C. Setalvad, Former Attorney General of India; Soli Sorabjee, Former Attorney General of India; Fali S. Nariman, Former Additional Solicitor General of India; Ram Jethmalani, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court; M.G. Ranade, Social Reformer and Economist; L.K. Advani, Former Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha & Former President; Dilip Walse-Patil, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly; and Rahul Bajaj, Chairman of Bajaj Auto.
The former First Female President of India, Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Patil, also received her legal education from Government Law College.
Government Law College has, in its 169th year of existence, continued to uphold its tradition of producing meritorious legal scholars dedicated to public service and reform. Generations of distinguished legal luminaries who have been nurtured by this unique institution have made a seminal contribution globally to the evolution of the legal fraternity.
With the strength of its glorious past, Government Law College strives incessantly and unremittingly towards a grand future.