Former Advocate General of Tamil Nadu Habibullah Badsha passed away early this morning at the age of 84.

Born in 1933, Badsha did his schooling from Church Park and Christ’s Church School in Chennai. Following his graduation and post graduation degrees in Islamic studies, he obtained his law degree from Madras University. In 1957, he enrolled as an advocate.

He worked as a junior to Senior Advocate Govind Swaminadhan, who was Crown Prosecutor and former Advocate General of Tamil Nadu from 1969 to 1976.

During the course of his prolific career, he served as standing counsel to the Central Government in 1967 and as state Public Prosecutor of the Madras High Court in 1974. In 1986, he declined elevation as a judge to the Supreme Court.

He is regarded as a role model who espoused secularism and minority rights. He is also associated with various philanthropic activities.

In October 2016, Habibullah Badsha was felicitated on completing 50 years of legal service by The Muslim Educational Association of Southern India (MEASI).

Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice R Sudhakar of the Madras High Court have worked as juniors to Badsha before their elevation.