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Despite being colonised for over a century by British forces and the dreadful history that followed during this period of time, India has retained an identity that pertains to an independent administrative, financial, judicial system today. In the wake of this, India now has its own constitution and laws that govern this indigenous society.

If people had not rebelled or fought for their rights in the face of atrocities, then this might not have happened; offering a classic example of why law and order are necessary for human society. While the journey wasn't easy, with such a vivid past it provides a sense of commitment towards the country, as well as the entitlement that future generations get to talk to those who remained committed through thick and thin. Many people led this fight with courage and dedication. Others chose to open authorised spaces for Indians in times like colonisation, by working hard and remaining committed to their profession. One of these milestones was led by Chief Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania, the first chief justice of independent India.

Being born into a middle-class family in Surat, Harilal grew up devoted to justice. For his father, a Sanskrit professor and then the principal of Samaldas College, and his elder brother, a barrister, his family had an academic background. Thus, having grown up in an environment surrounded by books, Harilal too performed relatively well in studies and chose to pursue law after graduation. As a result of this, he even earned his masters in law from Government Law College. In the following year, he married Kusum Mehta, daughter of an executive member of the Bombay Governor's Office.

In the early part of the 20th century, when colonial rule existed and princely states dominated, the judicial system was no different. Nonetheless, as the struggle for freedom continued to triumph, new natives were able to hold administrative and judicial positions, allowing the Indians to gradually free themselves from oppression. Likewise, Harilal followed the same path and began practising as a barrister at the Bombay High Court after completing his studies. Meanwhile, he also worked for India Law Reports, where he authored several issues. As he gained more hands-on experience with drafts and litigation processes, Harilal became fully immersed in the profession by the 1930s.

In the chambers of the court, his life was mostly defined, since this is where he found himself. He was then appointed as associate judge of the same court, and he levelled up step by step, every time he cleared a case with his wit and intelligence. Though, a Contempt of Court case against Parashuram Detaram Shamdasani in 1942 secured Harilal prominence among legal circles. Contrary to others, he was always contentious in his mind and clear in his words that intimidated other parties. Thus in this case too, he initiated legal action to eliminate the nuisance by stating **“I do not keep anything back at all. My fault is that I disclose everything, unlike members of the Bar, who are in the habit of not doing so and misleading the court.”** His victory in this case subsequently led to one of the most important judicial decisions in Indian history.

> He was known for writing 36 judgments for the Supreme Court and earning 17 citations and was very committed to the principle that the Supreme Court must never question the Parliament's position or relevance. It is rather checks and balances that help keep both entities in balance.
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The British elite, who controlled the judicial system with their positions and petty strategies, continued to grab opportunities until the very end. Chief Justice Sir John Beaumont was preparing to retire from his office at the time when Harilal was the most senior associate judge at the High Court and best qualified to assume the office before independence. The decision was made to choose Sir John Stone to succeed him since Beaumont had a bias against Indians. In spite of this, he remained dedicated to his profession and made sure to adhere to principles. He did, however, serve briefly as acting chief justice before independence, but later was promoted to associate judge of the Federal Court of India, then headed by Sir Patrick Spens. In 1947, he left the office with the partition proceedings and Justice Harilal J. Kania took his place as that new Chief Justice of Independent India.

As of 26th January 1950, he had assumed office with the formulation of new laws and the announcement of India's own constitution. With the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, both India's own identity and a judicial system with authentic legitimacy were born. Today, the office bearers are all Indians but are considerably influenced by people like Harilal who ensured that justice is served, rightly.

Having a country to call home is possible, but defending your right and fighting for justice requires courage. From the surface, it would appear that this man broke the shackles of colonialism with his intellect but it was the dedication to his profession that served justice. 