Mahavir Singh

Justice Mahavir Singh (1920-1997) was a justice, an authority of law and social reformer of India. He was born on 14 September 1920 in Ailum, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. He passed MA (Economics) and LL.B. in 1942 together in two years, in first Division and second position in both and colour holder in athletics and rowing. He was awarded Gold Medal for being all round best boy in the University in 1941-42.

Judicial work

Singh taught Economics in J.V. College Baraut for two years. He was selected as Munsif through competitive examination conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission and appointed Munsif on 10 May 1946. He rose to become District and Session Judge in April 1970 and then was appointed as Additional Judge of Allahabad High Court on 17 November 1977. He was appointed Judge on 15 November 1979. He retired from judicial service on 14 September 1982. He was designated a Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India in 1983-84.

Legal authority

Singh had authored many Law books, including:

• Nathuni Lal's Law of Arbitration, fourth Edition, 1983 ISBN 81-7012-168-X
• Bharat ka Sanvidhan (Constitution of India), 1987 In Hindi (In 2 Volumes), ISBN 81-7012-313-5
• Ejaz Ahmad's Commentaries on U.P. Co-operative Societies Act, 1965 fifth Edition, 1989 With Supplement, 1992 ISBN 81-7012-405-0
• Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1965,5th Edition, 1995, (In Hindi) Reprinted with Supplement, 1999 ISBN 81-7012-558-8
• Consolidation Process in Uttar Pradesh
• Nyay Panchayat in Uttar Pradesh
• Criminal procedure Code Published by Govt. of India and its (third edition 2010 )
• Law and pleadings

Social reforms

Singh was associated with many social organizations. He was President of Sarvakhap Panchayat. Sarvakhap Panchayat is an organization of group of many villages doing works of social reforms. Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Prayag awarded him Honorary degree of Vidhi-Vachaspati (equivalent to Ph.D.) in October 1989 on his ‘Commentary on Constitutions of India’ (Hindi). He was vice-president of All India Hindi Law Institute Lucknow. As a judge he delivered about forty percent of his judgments in Hindi language so that people can understand well.

He was committed to the development of rural poor people. He started first Cooperative Society in his own village in 1945 that became the highest profit earning Society in U.P. He founded a junior high school in 1947 in his village. He started a woman Polytechnic in 1986 in his own house that provided free one-year course to rural girls on sewing, weaving, embroidery, painting and food technology. He was also Visitor Gurukul Kangri Vishwa, Vidyalaya, and Haridwar. He was connected with Arya Samaj and was president of nyay sabha of sarvdeshik Arya pratinidhi sabha. He was associated with Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior. He attended almost every year All India Kisan Rana Mela organized by Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad at Gwalior fort on the occasion of Ram Navami. He died of cancer on August 11, 1997.