Daulat Mal Bhandari

{{Short description|Indian judge (died 2004)}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Daulat Mal Bhandari

| image =

| birth_date = 16 December 1907

| birth_place =

| death_date = 10 January 2004

| death_place = Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

| occupation = Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court; Politician

| known_for = Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, Freedom fighter, Member of the first Lok Sabha

| alma_mater =

}}

Daulat Mal Bhandari (16 December 1907 – 10 January 2004) was Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court in India, a member of the first Lok Sabha and a freedom fighter.

Bhandari took active part in the freedom struggle. In 1942 he formed the "Azad Morcha" in Jaipur and staged satyagrah. He was imprisoned for nine months. He also organised 'Praja Mandal' in Jaipur State.{{cite news |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/special/how-harijans-celebrated-august-15-1947/20220907.htm |title = How Harijans Celebrated August 15, 1947| newspaper=Rediff }} During the partition of India, he contributed in the rehabilitation of refugees from Sindh and Western Punjab.

He served as the Development and Agriculture Minister of Jaipur State in 1947 on being elected to the state's Legislative Assembly. Bhandari was a member of the Lok Sabha{{Cite web|url=https://www.patrika.com/jaipur-news/jaipur-first-member-of-parliament-daulat-ram-bhandari-4425671/|title = अनूठा था जयपुर संसदीय क्षेत्र के लिए पहला Lok Sabha Election, जानिए कौन जीता था कांटे की टक्कर में | Jaipur First Member of Parliament Daulat Ram Bhandari|date = 14 April 2019}} from 1952 to 1955 representing the Indian National Congress and Jaipur parliamentary constituency of Rajasthan.{{Cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/317109/|title=Reference Made To The Passing Away Of Shri Ram Kinkar, Member 6 Th And 7 ... on 13 July, 2004}}{{Cite web|url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/723988/1/230.pdf|title=230.pdf}}

Bhandari was a senior advocate on the rolls of the Bar Council of India. He was appointed a judge of the Rajasthan High Court in 1955{{cite web |url=https://hcraj.nic.in/hcraj/formerj.php |title = Rajasthan High Court}} and he rose to become the Chief Justice there in 1968.{{cite web |url=https://hcraj.nic.in/hcraj/formercj.php |title = Rajasthan High Court}} He remained Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court from 18 December 1968 to 15 December 1969.

He also served as Chairman of the Revenue Law Commission constituted by the Government of Rajasthan and as a member of the Krishna Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal constituted by the Government of India. He was a founder member of the Indian Law Institute in New Delhi. He also served as the Chairman of the Governing Body of the Lal Bahadur Shastri College, Jaipur. He had six sons.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Bhandari was born on 16 December 1907.{{Cite web|url=http://justicenagendrakjain.com/Document/bio-info.pdf|title=bio-info.pdf}} He did MA LLB and practiced law from 1930 at Chief Court, Jaipur. Daulat Mal Bhandari died on 10 January 2004 at Jaipur, Rajasthan at the age of 97.

"My thoughts in that connection go particularly to… Mr Justice D.M. Bhandari…, who have rendered meritorious services to the cause of law and justice. Their noteworthy and valuable contribution in the development of law in the State of Rajasthan deserves special notice and admiration. They laid great traditions and sound foundations". Inaugural address of Justice A S Anand, CJI at the golden celebrations of the Raj HC{{cite web |url=http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/9907a1.htm |title = Eastern Book Company – Practical Lawyer}}

DM Bhandari, Justice: "Caste and religion have often exerted baneful influences on the body politic of the State to undermine its strength. These have more often than not been a source of breaking the solidarity of the State. In the political history of India, caste race and religion have played a part dividing the people from one another". AIR 1959 Raj 280{{Cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/579868/|title=Khilumal Topandas vs Arjundas Tulsidas on 17 February, 1959}}

Justice Akil Kureshi referred to Justice Bhandari in his farewell speech as Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court as an outstanding judge.{{Cite web |title=Full Text {{!}} 'Made No Decision Based on Its Consequence for Me': Justice Kureshi's Farewell Speech |url=https://thewire.in/law/full-text-justice-akil-kureshi-farewell-speech |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=The Wire}}