The Vacant Legacy: Mumbai's Sheriff Post Unfilled for 16 Years
Once a prestigious ceremonial symbol of Mumbai's civic history, the post of Sheriff of Mumbai has remained unoccupied since 2009, marking a significant gap in the city's administrative and social fabric. With Mumbai set to welcome a new Mayor on February 11, attention turns to this historic position that now lies dormant, its functions quietly managed by a law officer holding additional charge.
A Post in Limbo: Judicial Work Continues, Social Functions Halt
Although there has been no formal announcement discontinuing the role, the Sheriff's position has been vacant for the past 16 years. During this period, a law officer has been assigned the additional responsibilities of Deputy Sheriff to oversee legal tasks under the Law and Judiciary Department. The Office of the Sheriff of Mumbai, located on the ground floor of the Mumbai City Civil and Sessions Court, employs 48 staff members who diligently handle judicial work. This includes implementing and executing warrants, summons, and notices, as well as conducting auctions of properties involved in suits heard by the Bombay High Court and civil courts.
An official from the Sheriff's office explained, "When the Sheriff was appointed, the Power of Attorney for judicial functions was delegated to the Deputy Sheriff, while social duties like receiving VIPs or foreign dignitaries, and organizing condolence meetings for renowned citizens, fell to the Sheriff. Since 2009, with no appointment made, these social functions have been discontinued, but the judicial work persists through the office." This pattern mirrors similar posts in Chennai and Kolkata, which have also seen no appointments for many years.
Historical Significance and Prominent Appointees
A large wooden board in the office lists over 100 Sheriffs who served from 1897 to 2009, serving as the only tangible reminder of this once-ceremonial role. The non-political, titular position was appointed for a one-year tenure, from December 20 to December 19, based on recommendations from the Governor and Chief Minister. During British rule, it paralleled the appointment of High Sheriffs in England, tasked with attending royal visits and maintaining loyalty to the Crown. Pre-Independence, Sheriffs were appointed by the Governor and Council of Bombay, with a limited establishment to support magisterial work.
The first Sheriff of Bombay was George Cotton, followed by notable figures like Adam Peerbhai, a Dawoodi Bohra philanthropist, in 1898. Over the years, the post was held by Britishers, industrialists, traders, and prominent Parsi community members such as Cowasji Jehangir. Independent India's first Sheriff was Mithan Jamshed Lam, a pioneering Indian lawyer and activist. Subsequent appointees included lawyers, teachers, journalists, businesspersons, and philanthropists, with distinguished names like cricketer Vijay Merchant in 1970, actor Dilip Kumar in 1980, actor Sunil Dutt in 1982, nuclear scientist Homi Sethna in 1991, and cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in 1995.
Voluntary Work and Legacy of Service
As an honorary post, the Sheriff received no salary, and work was entirely voluntary. Officials noted that there was typically no remuneration or payment for expenses related to events organized by the Sheriff. Records from the Raj Bhavan and Governor's Office highlight events like a Sarvajanik Holi at Shivaji Park in 1989 and condolence meetings for figures such as oncologist Dr. Ernest Borges and Parsi businessman Homi Mody in 1969. However, these activities relied on the Sheriff's personal resources or contacts, emphasizing the prestige of this non-political role for eminent citizens.
For a brief period, a Hindustani Contessa car with a flag on its bonnet was provided to the Sheriff, but once it became unusable, no replacement was allotted, leading appointees to use personal vehicles for social events. Despite these challenges, some Sheriffs left a lasting impact. For instance, Fakhruddin Khorakiwala, a businessman and founder of Akbarallys, served as Sheriff in 1993 during communal violence and initiated citizen police committees, later known as mohalla committees, to promote peace. Leela Moolgaokar, a social worker and wife of industrialist Sumant Moolgaokar, worked with women prisoners during her 1976 tenure.
The Last Sheriff and Future Prospects
The most recent Sheriff, Indu Shahani, former Principal of H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, focused on initiatives like a helpline for women, forming the Sheriff's Brigade for student volunteer work in clean-up drives, and collaborating with municipal schools to send principals abroad for training through corporate grants. Shahani remarked, "Since there was no remuneration, success depended on the Sheriff's reputation to galvanize support from the masses and institutions for citizen campaigns. I was fortunate to leverage my educational background and student networks for programs like Green Mumbai and Clean Mumbai." Today, similar efforts are supported by programs like the National Service Scheme and mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility.
As Mumbai evolves, the vacancy of the Sheriff post raises questions about preserving ceremonial traditions while adapting to modern administrative needs. The office continues its legal duties, but the absence of a Sheriff leaves a void in the city's social and historical continuity.
