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{{Short description|Indian judge}}
{{AI-generated|date=October 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jawad Rahim
| image = Justice Dr Jawad Rahim.jpg
| caption =
| alma_mater = [[St Joseph's College, Bangalore|St. Joseph’s College]], [[University Law College, Bangalore]]
| office = Acting Chairperson, [[National Green Tribunal]]
| term_start = 2018
| term_end = 2019
| nominator = [[Supreme Court of India]]
| office1 = Judge, [[High Court of Karnataka]]
| term_start1 = 6 January 2006
| term_end1 = 2 September 2014
| nominator1 = [[President of India]]
| office2 = Secretary to the [[Chief Justice]], [[Karnataka High Court]]
| term_start2 = January 2005
| term_end2 = January 2006
| office3 = Chief Judge, Court of Small Causes, Bangalore
| term_start3 = 18 November 2004
| term_end3 = 16 January 2005
| nominator3 = [[Governor of Karnataka]]
| office4 = Secretary to the [[Government of Karnataka]], Department of Law
| term_start4 = 11 December 2003
| term_end4 = 17 November 2004
| office5 = Principal [[District courts of India|District]] and Sessions Judge, [[Tumkur]]
| term_start5 = 20 March 2000
| term_end5 = 10 December 2003
| office6 = I Additional District & Sessions Judge, [[Bangalore Rural]] District
| term_start6 = 6 June 1996
| term_end6 = 1 February 1999
| office7 = Additional District & Sessions Judge, [[Shimoga]]
| term_start7 = 5 June 1993
| term_end7 = 25 May 1996
| office8 = II Additional District Judge & Sessions Judge, [[Mysore]]
| term_start8 = February 1993
| term_end8 = May 1993
| birth_date = 2 September 1952
| death_date = 10 January 2024 (Aged 71)
| death_place = [[Bengaluru, Karnataka]], [[India]]
}}

[[File:Justice Jawad Rahim.jpg|thumb|Justice Jawad Rahim addressing students in an educational institution.]]
[[File:Justice Jawad Rahim with U Nisar Ahmed.jpg|alt=Justice Rahim and Mr U Nisar Ahmed walking|thumb|Jawad Rahim along with U Nisar Ahmed, a former [[Indian Police Service|IPS officer]] who served as Inspector General of Police, Karnataka.]]

'''Jawad Rahim''' (2 September 1952{{snd}}10 January 2024) was an Indian [[jurist]] and a judge of the [[Karnataka High Court|High Court of Karnataka]].

==Education and early career==
Born on 2 September 1952 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, he was the son of S.A. Rahim Siddiqui and Razia Banu. Rahim's academic journey included a [[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc.]] from [[St. Joseph's College, Bangalore|St. Joseph’s College]], Bengaluru, and an [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]] from [[University Law College, Bangalore University|University Law College]], Bengaluru. He obtained a [[Doctor of Philosophy|doctorate]] in law ([[Legum Doctor|LL.D]]) from [[Tumkur University]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Justice Jawad Rahim - Biodata |url=https://lawcommission.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/Bio%20Data%20of%20Dr%20Justice%20Jawad%20Rahim%20(English).pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622105115/https://lawcommission.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/Bio%20Data%20of%20Dr%20Justice%20Jawad%20Rahim%20(English).pdf |archive-date=2022-06-22 |website=Law Commission - Govt of Karnataka}}</ref>

Enrolling as an advocate at the Karnataka Bar Council in September 1975, Rahim specialized in civil and criminal law, practicing in both District Courts and the High Court. He served as [[Amicus curiae|Amicus Curiae]] in the High Court and offered legal counsel to various corporate bodies, educational institutions, and government bodies such as Karnataka State [[Central Waqf Council|Board of Wakf]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=DR. JUSTICE JAWAD RAHIM |url=https://greentribunal.gov.in/dr-justice-jawad-rahim |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713010359/https://greentribunal.gov.in/dr-justice-jawad-rahim |archive-date=2022-07-13 |website=National Green Tribunal, India}}</ref>

== Career ==
Rahim's judicial journey began in 1993 when he assumed the position of a direct [[District courts of India|District Judge]] from the [[Bar Council of Karnataka|Bar]]. He served as District Judge at [[Mysore district|Mysuru]], [[Shimoga district|Shimoga]], and [[Bangalore Rural district|Bengaluru Rural]] Districts. His career included roles as Principal District & [[Sessions Court|Sessions]] Judge in [[Madikeri]], [[Kodagu district|Kodagu]] District, and [[Tumakuru district|Tumakuru]] District, as well as Chief Judge, Court of Small Causes, Bengaluru.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Judges - Tumakuru District Court |url=https://tumakuru.dcourts.gov.in/former-judges/page/2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115071700/https://tumakuru.dcourts.gov.in/former-judges/page/2/ |archive-date=2024-01-15 |website=Tumakuru Court - Govt of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Judges - Kodagu District Court |url=https://kodagu.dcourts.gov.in/former-judges/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115072137/https://kodagu.dcourts.gov.in/former-judges/ |archive-date=2024-01-15 |website=Kodagu Court - Govt of India}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Judges of the Supreme Court of India and the High Courts - Nov 2014 |url=https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s35d6646aad9bcc0be55b2c82f69750387/uploads/2021/08/2021082341.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115075855/https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s35d6646aad9bcc0be55b2c82f69750387/uploads/2021/08/2021082341.pdf |archive-date=2024-01-15 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Department of Justice, Govt of India |page=322}}</ref>

Elevated as a judge of the High Court of Karnataka on 6 January 2006, Rahim held this position until his [[superannuation]] on 1 September 2014.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Rahim also took on administrative roles. Notably, he served as the [[Principal secretary (India)|Principal Secretary]] to the [[Government of Karnataka]], Department of Law, Justice & Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs in 2003-2004. Additionally, he held the position of Principal Secretary to the Hon'ble [[Chief Justice of Karnataka|Chief Justice]] of Karnataka.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jawad Rahim |url=https://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/bio_data/sitting_judges/jrj.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730084034/https://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/bio_data/sitting_judges/jrj.htm |archive-date=2014-07-30 |website=Karnataka Judiciary}}</ref>

Rahim contributed to legal academia, serving as a resource person in the Karnataka Judicial Academy and Advocates’ Academy, Bengaluru.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012 |title=Karnataka Judicial Academy - Oct 2012 |url=https://kjablr.kar.nic.in/assets/e-newsletters/Newsletter-OCT2012.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115075032/https://kjablr.kar.nic.in/assets/e-newsletters/Newsletter-OCT2012.pdf |archive-date=2024-01-15 |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=KJA Newsletter |pages=8}}</ref> Additionally, he held the position of Governor at the Bengaluru Mediation Centre.<ref name=":0" />

Post his tenure at the Karnataka High Court, Rahim assumed the role of a Judicial Member of the [[National Green Tribunal|National Green Tribunal (NGT)]] in February 2016. He was later appointed the acting Chairperson of the NGT.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gill |first=Gitanjali Nain |date=2020 |title=Mapping the Power Struggles of the National Green Tribunal of India: The Rise and Fall? |journal=Asian Journal of Law and Society |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=85–126 |doi=10.1017/als.2018.28 |issn=2052-9015|doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Judicial member ===
Rahim assumed a pivotal role in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) when he was appointed a Judicial Member on February 8, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press Trust of India |date=2018-05-29 |title=National Green Tribunal Member Opposes Appointment Of Acting Chairperson, Moves Supreme Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/national-green-tribunal-member-opposes-appointment-of-acting-chairperson-moves-supreme-court-1859542 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811222425/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/national-green-tribunal-member-opposes-appointment-of-acting-chairperson-moves-supreme-court-1859542 |archive-date=2019-08-11 |website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>

After about two years, Rahim was appointed the Acting Chairperson of NGT. On a plea by the NGT Bar Association, a [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] bench comprising [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]] [[Dipak Misra|Dipak Mishra]], [[A. M. Khanwilkar|AM Khanwilkar]], and [[Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud|DY Chandrachud]] appointed Rahim as the Acting Chairperson of the NGT.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-28 |title=Justice Rahim appointed acting chairperson of NGT |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-rahim-appointed-acting-chairperson-of-ngt-5113810/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329031516/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-rahim-appointed-acting-chairperson-of-ngt-5113810/ |archive-date=2018-03-29 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

On 27 March 2018, Rahim was appointed the Acting Chairperson of NGT.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Divan |first1=Shyam |title=Environmental law & policy in India: cases and materials |last2=Rosencranz |first2=Armin |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2022 |isbn=978-0-19-286545-8 |edition=3rd |location=Oxford |pages=191 |language=en |chapter=Judicial Remedies and Procedures}}</ref> The Supreme Court ordered:<blockquote>

Justice Jawad Rahim shall discharge the duties of Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal for all purposes, including participating in the selection process for filling up vacancies of members, until a regular appointment of a new Chairperson is made and as per the terms of the Signed Reportable Order.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS |url=https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2017/41178/41178_2017_Order_27-Mar-2018.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215050454/https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2017/41178/41178_2017_Order_27-Mar-2018.pdf |archive-date=2023-12-15 |website=Supreme Court of India}}</ref></blockquote>This appointment granted Justice Rahim the responsibility of overseeing the NGT's operations and participating in vital decision-making processes.

Subsequently, controversy arose when a sitting judicial member, [[Raghuvendra Singh Rathore]], challenged Rahim's appointment as the Acting Chairperson. Rathore argued in the Supreme Court that he was the senior-most member of the [[National Green Tribunal (NGT)|tribunal]], contending that Rahim stood third in the seniority list, and challenged the decision based on established norms. He specifically emphasized the potential disruption of institutional conventions if senior members were superseded by junior judges. Rathore additionally requested the revision or adjustment of the Supreme Court's earlier judgment through which Rahim had been designated as the Acting Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-29 |title=Sitting NGT member moves SC against acting Chairperson's appointment |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sitting-ngt-member-moves-sc-agnst-acting-chairpersons-appointment/articleshow/64372149.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112184001/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sitting-ngt-member-moves-sc-agnst-acting-chairpersons-appointment/articleshow/64372149.cms |archive-date=2024-01-12 |access-date= |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref> The matter reached the Supreme Court, where [[L. Nageswara Rao|L Nageswara Rao]] and [[Mohan Shantanagoudar|Mohan M Shantanagoudar]] directed it to be listed for further consideration after the summer vacation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-29 |title=NGT member moves SC for being superseded, not getting post of acting chairperson |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ngt-member-moves-sc-for-being-superseded-not-getting-post-of-acting-chairperson/articleshow/64372459.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109010916/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ngt-member-moves-sc-for-being-superseded-not-getting-post-of-acting-chairperson/articleshow/64372459.cms |archive-date=2020-11-09 |access-date= |work=[[Times of India]]}}</ref> However, the Court took a dim view of it deeming it a matter of interim arrangement, and not a matter of final determination of seniority between the judges.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PRUTHI |first=RUPALI |date=2018-03-28 |title=Justice Jawad Rahim appointed as acting Chairperson of NGT |url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/justice-jawad-rahim-appointed-as-acting-chairperson-of-ngt-1522213622-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619091153/https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/justice-jawad-rahim-appointed-as-acting-chairperson-of-ngt-1522213622-1 |archive-date=2021-06-19 |website=Jagranjosh}}</ref> Throughout the controversy, Rahim continued to discharge his duties, contributing to the NGT's work until a new Chairperson was appointed.

=== Notable judgements ===
Rahim, as the Judicial Member and later as the Acting Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), was involved in numerous notable judgments.

==== Rolls-Royce ====
Rahim-led National Green Tribunal (NGT) declined a [[Rolls-Royce|Rolls Royce]] car owner's plea to renew the registration of his 1996 petrol-driven model, upholding the ban on petrol vehicles over 15 years old on [[Delhi]] roads. The NGT's decision, deemed final after the Supreme Court rejected an appeal, reflects the tribunal's steadfast commitment to curbing [[Vehicle pollution|vehicular pollution]] in the [[New Delhi|capital]]. Despite the [[Ministry of Heavy Industries|Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises]] seeking modifications to previous orders, the NGT's bench, chaired by Rahim, maintained the prohibition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-09 |title=NGT has rejected a man's plea to be able to run his Rolls Royce on Delhi roads. Here's why |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/ngt-rejects-plea-for-95-rolls-royce-registration-renewal/articleshow/59071999.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611174011/http://www.businessinsider.in/NGT-has-rejected-a-mans-plea-to-be-able-to-run-his-Rolls-Royce-on-Delhi-roads-Heres-why/articleshow/59071999.cms |archive-date=2017-06-11 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>

==== Indian railways ====
In a 2018 ruling, Rahim imposed a ₹2 lakh fine on the Railways for its failure to furnish a report on the [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-39828334 Tughlakabad gas leak] incident that occurred in May of the same year. Expressing dissatisfaction with the [[Indian Railways|Railways]]' delay in providing information about the gas leak near the Tughlakabad container depot, the NGT, led by Rahim, emphasized the significance of prompt disclosure.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Shinjini |date=2018-05-23 |title=Tughlakabad gas leak: NGT fines Railways ₹2 lakh |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/tughlakabad-gas-leak-ngt-fines-railways-2-lakh/article23972933.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612214446/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/tughlakabad-gas-leak-ngt-fines-railways-2-lakh/article23972933.ece |archive-date=2018-06-12 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

==== Delhi Airport ====
In a pivotal ruling in 2017, the National Green Tribunal, chaired by Rahim, issued strict directives to combat [[noise pollution]] at the [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] in New Delhi. The Tribunal mandated the [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]] to enforce a judgment-based use of [[Thrust reversal|reverse thrust]] by aircraft during take-offs and landings, emphasizing its application for reducing speed and noise. Additionally, the NGT ordered the construction of sound barriers and the creation of a green belt surrounding the airport's perimeter. The judgment also stipulated that all vehicles at the airport must operate on [[Compressed natural gas|CNG]] and adhere to prescribed emission standards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ensure judgement based use of reverse thrust by planes: NGT |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/ensure-judgement-based-use-of-reverse-thrust-by-planes-ngt-1093382-2017-11-24 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=India Today |date=24 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and recognitions==
Tumkur University bestowed upon him the Doctorate Degree, 'Doctor of Laws' (LL.D), [[Honorary degree|honoris causa]], recognizing his scholarly achievements and impact on legal interpretation, particularly in applying the doctrine of "[[Contra proferentem|Contra Preferentem]]".<ref name=":0" />

Rahim received the "Great Son of Karnataka" award during the All India Conference of Intellectuals. This honor, conferred by the [[Governor of Karnataka]], [[H. R. Bhardwaj]], on 23 December 2011, reflects the profound respect and admiration for his contributions.<ref name=":0" />

==Death==
Rahim died on January 10, 2024, in [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==See also==
* [[Karnataka High Court|High Court of Karnataka]]
* [[National Green Tribunal (NGT)|National Green Tribunal]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahim, Jawad}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:University Law College, Bangalore University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Judges of the Karnataka High Court]]
[[Category:St. Joseph's College, Bangalore alumni]]
{{Improve categories|date=January 2024}}

Jawad Rahim - Revision history

RowenaProctor6 at 06:57, 29 April 2026