Sheriff of Mumbai

The Sheriff of Bombay is an apolitical titular position of authority bestowed for one year on a prominent citizen of Bombay.

The sheriff is an officer of the High Court and the nominal Head of the High Court Department which carries out the orders of the High Court for summoning people, and also for attachment and sealing of properties and if ordered for their auction. The sheriff has an office and staff but does not have any executive powers. The sheriff office is in Bombay High Court, Fort on the Ground Floor. In the order of precedence, the sheriff ranks just below the Mayor. Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta) are the only cities in India to maintain this post.

The most important social function of the sheriff is to receive foreign dignitaries at the airport on behalf of the city and to call condolence meetings on the demise of prominent citizens of the city.

The first sheriff of Mumbai after independence was Mahadeo Laxman Dahanukar, a city businessman in 1948. His son, Shantaram Mahadeo Dahanukar was also a Sheriff of Mumbai in 1969.

The sheriff presides over various city-related functions and conferences and is in charge of receiving foreign guests of the government. The post gives the incumbent close access to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Municipal Commissioner of the city. It is often criticised by citizens as a waste of public money. As the post is apolitical, many prominent citizens use it as a platform to showcase their achievements and serve the citizens of the metropolis.

Former Sheriffs

Former Sheriffs include:

Name Term Known for
George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood 1846 [1] Anglo-Indian official, naturalist, and writer
Bomonji Hormusji Wadia 1858 [2] Shipbuilding broker
Bhau Daji 1869[3] Physician and educationalist
Bhau Daji 1871[3] Physician and educationalist
Dosabhai Framji Karaka 1872 [4] Publisher, writer and magistrate
T.G. Hewlett 1873 [2] Physician
Narayan Daji 1875 [2] Physician
Thomas Blaney 1876 [2] (1st term) Physician
Atmaram Pandurang 1879 [2] Physician
Sorabji Shapurji Bengali 1881 [5] Banker
Raghanath Narayan Khote 1883 Merchant
Rahimtulla M. Sayani 1885 Lawyer
Dinshaw Maneckji Petit 1887 Parsi entrepreneur
Thomas Blaney 1888 [2] (2nd term) Physician
James Douglas 1893[6] Banker and writer
Cowasji Hormusji 1894 [2] Physician
Ghelabhai Haridas 1896
Sir George Cotton 1897[7] Businessman
Adamjee Peerbhoy 1898 Businessman
Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, Bt 1900 [2]
James Douglas 1902[6] Banker and writer
Sir Hurkisondas Nurrotumdas 1903 [8] Businessman
Sir Sassoon J. David 1905 [2] Jewish businessman
Khan Bahadur Muncherji Cowasji Murzban 1905[2] Architect and engineer
T.W. Cuffe 1906 Businessman
E.P. Nicholson 1907[2]
Sir Henry B.E. Proctor 1908[2]
Nicholas Smith Glazebrook 1909[2]
Haji Suleman Abdul Wahed 1910[2]
Shapurji Burjorji Broacha 1911[2] President of the Native Share and Stock Broker's Association
Herbert B. Greaves 1913[2]
Meherali Fazulbhoy Chinoy 1914[2] Broker
Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy[2] 1915[2] Businessman
Sir Thomas Birkett 1917[2]
Sir Cowasji Jehangir 1919[2] Merchant
Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas 1920 [2]
Sidney Julius Gillum 1921[2] Merchant
Mahomedbhai Curimbhoy Ebrahim 1922 [2]
Sir Temulji Bhicaji Nariman 1923 [2] Obstetrician
Sir Ishwardas Lakhmidas. 1924 [2]
Sir Henry P.W. Macnaghten 1925[2]
Sir Fazulbhoy Curimbhoy 1926[2]
Salebhoy K. Barodawala 1926[2]
Sir Byramji Jeejeebhoy 1927[2] Businessman
Narayan Vishwanath Mandlik 1928[2]
Sir Reginald Spence 1929[2]
Bandeally Hajibhai Lalji 1930[2]
Perozeshah J. Marzban 1931[2]
Sir Kikabhai Premchand 1932[2]
Sir Hugh G. Cocke 1933[2]
Sir Suleman Cassum Mitha 1934[2]
Sir Shapoorji Billimoria 1935[2] Accountant
Chunilal B. Melita 1936[2]
Sir A. G. Gray 1937[2]
Mohamedbhoy Ibrahim Rowjee 1938 [9] Mayor of Bombay, 1946
Phiroze C. Bharucha 1939[9]
Mathuradas Vissanji Khimji 1940[9]
T. Sinclair Kennedy 1941[9] General Manager, Glenfield and Kennedy
Mirza Rashidali Baig 1942[9]
Jamshedji Duggan 1943[9] Ophthalmic surgeon
Shantidas Askuran 1944[9] Silk merchant
John Brownson Greaves 1945[9] Industrialist
A. A. Jasdenwalla 1946[9] Industrialist
Mithan Jamshed Lam 1947[9] Lawyer
Mahadeo Laxman Dahanukar 1948[9] Businessman
Joachim Alva 1949[9] Lawyer, journalist and politician
Sir Fazal Ibrahim Rahimtoola 1950 [9]
Pestonji Phiroz Shah Kapadia 1951[9]
Ramdeo Anandilal Podar 1952[9]
Khwaja Abdul Hamied 1953[9] Scientist, industrialist
Manekji Nadirshah Dalal 1954 [9]
Motichand G. Shahah 1955[9]
Sardar Bahadur Bakshi Dalip Singh 1956[9]
Gulestan Rustom Billimoria 1957 [9]
J. C. Jain 1958 [9] General Manager, Times of India
Abasaheb Garware 1959 [9] Industrialist, founder Chairman of the Garware Group
Y. A. Fazalbhoy 1960 [9]
J. D. Kothawala 1961[9]
Frank Moraes 1962[9] Editor, Times of India
Ramprasad Khandelwal 1963[9]
Appat Balkrishna Nair 1964 [9]
J. N. Heredia 1965[9]
Gangaram Ratansi Joshi 1966 [9]
Haji Hasham Ismail 1967[9] Diplomat and Consul General (DR)
Shorab Kaikhushru Khan 1968 [9]
Shantaram Mahadeo Dahanukar 1969[9]
Vijay Merchant 1970[9] Cricketer
Narotam Chand Puri 1971 [9]
Shadi Lal Jain 1972[9]
Mehboob Nasrullah 1972[9] Social Worker
J. G. Bodhe 1973[9] Engineer
Kantikumar R. Podar 1974 [9]
T. V. Ramanujam 1975[9]
Leela Moolgaokar 1976[10] Social worker
Anjanabai Magar 1977 [9]
Narendra Narotamdas Kapadia 1978 [9]
Ram Kumar Batra 1979[9] Businessman
Dilip Kumar 1980 [9] Film actor and social worker
Bal Krishna Goyal 1981 [9] Cardiologist
Sunil Dutt 1982 [9] Actor
Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej 1983 [9] Industrialist
Madhav Laxmanrao Apte 1984 [9] Cricketer and businessman
Mohanbahai I. Patel 1985 [9] Industrialist
Trimbak Krishnarao Tope 1986 [9] Former principal (GLC), former vice-chancellor (Mumbai University), Constitutional expert
Sadrudin Hasan Daya 1987 [9] Businessperson
Jahangir K. S. Nicholson 1988 [9] Cotton merchant
Nana Chudasama 1989, 1990 [9] Social activist
Saad Alim Bagban 1991 [9]
Homi Sethna 1991 [9] Ex-Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India
Bakul Rajani Patel 1992 [9] Businesswoman
Fakhruddin T. Khorakiwala 1993 Businessman
I. M. Kadri 1994 Architect
Sunil Gavaskar 1995 Cricketer
Subir Kumar Choudhury 1996 Businessman
Usha Kiran 1997[11] Actress
Kulwant Singh Kohli 1998 Restaurateur
Chandrakant Bakshi 1999 Writer
Augustine Francis Pinto 2000 Chairman, Ryan Group Of Institutions
Ashok V. Mehta 2001 Businessman
Kiran Shantaram 2002, 2003 Filmmaker
Jagannathrao Hegde 2004[12] Dentist
Sadruddin Daya 2005 Businessman
Vijaypat Singhania 2006 Businessman
no election 2007
Indu Shahani 2008 [13] Academic
no election
Abdul Munaf Kazi, Deputy Sheriff of Mumbai (appointed March 1, 1990),
served as acting sheriff of Mumbai		 2009–2013
Satish Chitgopekar 2016 Academic

See also

References
  1. Buckland, C.E. (1906). "Birdwood, Sir George Christopher Molesworth". Dictionary of Indian Biography. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Lim. p. 43.
  2. Directory Of Bombay City Province 1939. p. 86.
  3. Buckland, C.E. (1906). "Bhau Daji, or Ramkrishna Vital". Dictionary of Indian Biography. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Lim. p. 39.
  4. Buckland, C.E. (1906). "Karaka, Dosabhai Framji". Dictionary of Indian Biography. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Lim. p. 229.
  5. Buckland, C.E. (1906). "Bengali, Sorabji Shapurji". Dictionary of Indian Biography. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Lim. p. 35.
  6. Buckland, C.E. (1906). "Douglas, James". Dictionary of Indian Biography. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Lim. p. 122.
  7. Buckland, C.E. (1906). "Cotton, Sir George". Dictionary of Indian Biography. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Lim. p. 97.
  8. "The Edinburgh Gazette". thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  9. "Raj Bhavan Archives (A Class Files - Permanent Record" (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  10. "Leela Moolgaokar (1916-1992)". Tata Central Archives. Archived from the original on 8 January 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  11. "Actress Usha Kiran passes away at 71". The Indian Express. 10 March 2000.
  12. "New sheriff wants stress-free Mumbai". MiD DAY. 23 December 2003. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  13. "Over three years on, Mumbai has no sheriff". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.