'Mahatma Gandhi's licence to practice law cancelled'

MUMBAI: Mahatma Gandhi's licence to practise as a barrister was cancelled in 1923 after he was convicted of sedition.

A coffee-table book on the history of the building of the Bombay High Court reveals that the licence was cancelled by a panel of seven judges of the Bombay High Court in 1923 following an order from the government.

The licence was cancelled on January 17, 1923 persuant to Gandhiji's conviction and imprisonment in 1922 for his articles in "Young India."

Gandhiji was convicted for the articles as they preached disaffection towards the (British) Government while seeking to overthrow it, according to an excerpt from a book that records the Mahatma's trial.

"Letter from the government dated January 13, 1923, forwarding order by the Bench of Inner Temple. Removal of the name of -- Prisoner M K Gandhi from the Roll of Barristers," states the order signed by the bench headed by Chief Justice Sir Norman Cranstoun Macleod.

Among the judges that signed the order of canceling Gandhiji's licence was Justice Dinshaw Mulla, who's statue stands tall at the entrance of the Bombay High Court even on Thursday.

"How can his statue (Justice Mulla) still stand in the premises of the court?" former Chief Public Prosecutor and senior lawyer V P Patil questioned.

After independence, three British Governor's statues were shifted from here to Jijamata Udyan but not that of Justice Mulla, he said.

"The Central Government, Maharashtra Government and Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court must take some joint action regarding this issue, he said.