Rana Bhagwandas

Rana Bhagwandas was a prominent Pakistani jurist who served as a judge and acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He holds the distinction of being the first Hindu to serve as the chief of the highest court in the country.

Early life and education

Rana Bhagwandas was born on 20 December 1942 in Naseerabad, located within the Larkana District of the Sind Province in British India. He belonged to a Sindhi Hindu Rajput family. After completing his studies, he earned a Master's degree in Islamic studies alongside his law degree. He joined the bar in 1965 and practiced law for two years with Abdul Ghafoor Bhurgri, who was an eminent lawyer from Larkana. In 1967, he entered the Pakistani judicial system.

He eventually rose through the ranks to become a sessions judge. He later served as a judge of the Sindh High Court.

Career

Bhagwandas was promoted to the Sindh High Court in 1994. His appointment to the superior judiciary faced a legal challenge in 1999 via a constitutional petition. The petitioner argued that his religion made his judicial bench unconstitutional, claiming only Muslims could hold such positions. This petition was ultimately rejected by the court, and the petitioner received condemnation from many lawyers and judges.

He joined the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2000 after taking an oath under the PCO of Pervez Musharraf. During his tenure, he took strong action regarding a kidnapping case where a girl was forced into prostitution for four years in the North-West Frontier Province. He believed that the law must remain equal for all religious communities. While he defended the legal system against claims of minority suppression, he also spoke out against honour killings of women in rural areas.

In 2007, he presided over a court session where a 6–3 vote was reached on certain petitions. Although he presided over the ruling that removed obstacles to Musharraf's election, he was among three dissenting judges who believed the General should relinquish his post as army chief. This stance earned him significant respect across the country. However, he refused to take an oath under the PCO issued by President Musharraf. Consequently, he was one of 60 judges sacked on 3 November 2007. He retired in December 2007 and received reinstated retired status.

Bhagwandas served as the acting Chief Justice during several critical periods. He filled the role in 2005 while Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry traveled to China, and again in December 2006 during a Haj pilgrimage. He also served as acting CJP from 24 March to 20 July 2007 following the judicial crisis. During these times, he became the second non-Muslim to lead the highest court, following A. R. Cornelius and Dorab Patel.

From November 2009 to December 2012, he served as the Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan. In 2009, he headed the interview panel for selecting federal civil servants. He also held a position on the selection board for Sindh Madressatul Islam University in Karachi.

Personal life

Rana Bhagwandas was not a fan of cricket, though he remained a supporter of the Pakistan cricket team. On 8 February 2005, he received a "Siropa" or robe of honour during a private visit to Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, India. He visited Amritsar, Ropar, and Chandigarh alongside Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday. He died on 23 February 2015 in Karachi while receiving treatment for a heart ailment at a private hospital.

Awards and recognition

The President of Pakistan awarded him the Nishan-i-Imtiaz in 2023 for his public services. This honor recognized his long career as a jurist and public official.