Introduction
Muhammad Shahabuddin (Urdu: محمد شہاب الدین) was the Chief Justice of Pakistan and Governor of East Pakistan.
Early life
Muhammad Shahabuddin was born on 13 May 1895 at Ellore in Madras. He graduated in Arts from Madras Christian College and in Law from Madras Law College.
Career
He joined Indian Civil Services in November 1921 and was posted as Sub-Collector at Madras. He later on served as Joint Magistrate and District and Session Judge till February 1943 when he was appointed Additional Judge of the Madras High Court. In September 1945 he was confirmed as a Judge of Madras High Court.
Justice Shahabuddin was appointed as a Judge of Dhaka High Court after Partition. He served on Indo-Pak Boundary Disputes Tribunal in 1949–50. He became the Chief Justice of Dhaka High Court in February 1950. In 1953 he was appointed as a Judge of the Federal Court. From 22 December 1954 to 14 June 1955 he acted as the Governor of East Bengal (Pakistan). Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Chaudhury handed over the government of East Pakistan to Abu Hossain Sarkar and made him chief Minister on On 3 June 1955. Shahabuddin was not told of the decision beforehand and as a result he resigned from the governorship on 4 June 1955. He became the Chief Justice of Pakistan in 1955. Justice Shahabuddin also chaired the Constitution Commission.
Death
He died on 13 April 1971 in Lahore, Pakistan.