CHENNAI: Habibullah Badsha, a noted jurist of the distinguished Madras Bar, died in his house here on Wednesday after prolonged age-related illness. He was 84. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. Known to be a great philanthropist and founder-director of Apollo Hospitals, Badsha went down in history books as an iconic figure who maintained the highest legal standards during his entire career that spanned over five decades.
He had been a Central government standing counsel and Tamil Nadu Advocate-General and public prosecutor. A junior of legendary lawyer Govind Swaminathan, he turned down a high court judgeship offer when he was aged 37. In 1986, he declined an offer for direct appointment as a Supreme Court judge.
Born on March 8, 1933, in a wealthy family, Badsha enrolled as an advocate in 1957.He became senior Central government standing counsel 10 years later. He was appointed State Public Prosecutor in 1974 and went on to become the Advocate-General in 1991.
He handled several high profile cases, including that of DMK president M Karunanidhi in which a case was registered against him for burning a copy of the Constitution. He appeared for J Jayalalithaa when she was involved in a bitter factional wrangle to get possession of the AIADMK headquarters here in late 1980s. He had moved the Madras HC against obstructions put up in connection with the wedding ofJaya’s then foster son V N Sudhagaran in 1995 and argued as party in person.