Syed Abdul Nazeer Explained

Syed Abdul Nazeer (born 5 January 1958)^{[1] [2]} is the 22nd Governor of Andhra Pradesh. He is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India and a former judge of the Karnataka High Court. He was appointed the Governor of Andhra Pradesh on 12 February 2023.^[3]

Early life

Abdul Nazeer was born into a Sunni Muslim family belonging to the Dakshina Kannada district of coastal Karnataka. He is the son of Fakir Saheb and he has five siblings.^[1] He grew up in Beluvai and Moodbidri and completed his B.Com. degree at Mahaveera College in Moodbidri. He later obtained a law degree from SDM Law College, Mangalore^{[2] [1]} (formerly known as "Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Law College").

Career

Judicial career (1983–January 2023)

After obtaining his law degree, Nazeer enrolled as an advocate on 1983 and practiced at the Karnataka High Court in Bangalore. In May 2003, he was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court.^[4] He was later appointed a permanent judge of the same High Court. In February 2017, while serving as a judge of the Karnataka High Court, Nazeer was elevated to the Supreme Court of India. He became only the third judge ever to be elevated in this way, without first becoming the chief justice of some high court.^[5]

While serving on the Supreme Court, Nazeer was the lone Muslim judge in a multi-faith bench which heard the controversial Triple Talaq case in 2017.^{[6] [7]} Though Nazeer and one other judge upheld the validity of the practise of Triple Talaq (Talaq-e-Biddat) based on the fact that it is permissible under Muslim Sharia Law, it was barred by the bench by 3–2 majority and asked the Central government to bring legislation in six months to govern marriage and divorce in the Muslim community.^{[8] [9]} The court said until the government formulates a law regarding triple talaq, there would be an injunction on husbands pronouncing triple talaq on their wives.^{[10] [11]}

He was also the part of five judge bench of the 2019 Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute. In which he upheld the report of ASI, which stated about the existence of a Hindu Structure in the disputed region. He gave the verdict in favour of Ram Mandir and thus ending the years long dispute with 5-0 verdict.^[12]

In the months leading up to his retirement, Nazeer led a constitution bench which heard cases pertaining to the 2016 Indian banknote demonetisation carried out by the Government of India.^[13] He retired on 4 January 2023.^[14]

Governor of Andhra Pradesh (February 2023–present)

On 12 February 2023, the President of India appointed Nazeer as the 24th governor of Andhra Pradesh, succeeding Biswabhusan Harichandan.^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mangalorean Justice Abdul Nazeer among the 5 new judges of Supreme Court . Mangaloretoday.com . 2017-03-16 . 16 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170316155324/http://www.mangaloretoday.com/main/Mangalorean-Justice-Abdul-Nazeer-among-the-5-new-judges-of-Supreme-Court.html . live .
2. Web site: Moodbidri based Justice S Abdul Nazeer becomes Supreme Court judge | Udayavani – ಉದಯವಾಣಿ . Udayavani . 2017-03-16 . 16 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170316115251/http://www.udayavani.com/english/news/mangaluru/196845/moodbidri-based-justice-s-abdul-nazeer-becomes-supreme-court-judge . live .
3. News: Vennelakanti . Pradeep Kumar . Former Supreme Court judge Abdul Nazeer appointed as AP Governor . 12 February 2023 . The Hans India . 12 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230212050101/https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/former-supreme-court-judge-abdul-nazeer-appointed-ap-governor-782487 . 12 February 2023. live.
4. Web site: Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.Abdul Nazeer . Karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in . 2017-03-16 . 16 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170316114238/http://karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in/bio_data/former_judges/sanj.htm . live .
5. News: HC judge elevated to Supreme court . . 2017-02-17 . 2017-03-16 . 23 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223112802/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2017/feb/17/hc-judge-elevated-to-supreme-court-1571518.html . live .
6. Web site: Triple talaq case: Muslim judge on multi-faith bench kept mum all through. The Times of India. 22 August 2017. 26 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170826202937/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/triple-talaq-case-muslim-judge-on-multi-faith-bench-kept-mum-all-through/articleshow/58741926.cms. live.
7. Web site: 5 Judges of 5 Faiths Give Verdict on Triple Talaq. 22 August 2017. 22 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170822062627/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/5-supreme-court-judges-of-5-faiths-to-give-verdict-on-triple-talaq-1740329. live.
8. Web site: Supreme Court declares triple talaq unconstitutional, strikes it down by 3:2 majority. The Times of India. 22 August 2017. 23 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823032851/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-bars-triple-talaq-for-6-months-until-parliament-legislates-on-issue/articleshow/60170130.cms. live.
9. Web site: Five Supreme Court judges who passed the verdict on triple talaq. 22 August 2017. 9 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240609144649/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/five-supreme-court-judges-who-will-pass-verdict-on-triple-talaq-issue/story-owThP7w19lxkMPh32aCwDP.html. live.
10. Web site: Injunction on husbands pronouncing triple talaq until law is made: SC advocate. 22 August 2017. 22 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170822101743/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/injunction-on-husbands-pronouncing-triple-talaq-until-law-is-made-sc-advocate-117082200380_1.html. live.
11. Web site: This Is What Supreme Court Said in Triple Talaq Judgment [Read Judgment]]. 22 August 2017. 22 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170822140444/http://www.livelaw.in/supreme-court-said-triple-talaq-judgment-read-judgment/. live.
12. Web site: SC verdict refers to ASI report on 'Hindu structure' at Ayodhya site – this is what it says.
13. Web site: Constitution Bench says 'embarrassing' to adjourn demonetisation case. The Hindu. 24 December 2022. 24 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221224073059/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/demonetisation-case-constitution-bench-says-embarrassing-to-adjourn/article66116649.ece. live.
14. Web site: Retired SC Judge S. Abdul Nazeer Made Andhra Pradesh Governor, Had Delivered Ayodhya Temple Judgment . 2023-02-12 . The Wire . 12 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230212191547/https://thewire.in/government/retired-sc-judge-s-abdul-nazeer-appointed-as-governor-of-andhra-pradesh . live .
15. Web site: 2023-02-13 . 'Whole ecosystem in full swing once again': Kiren Rijiju on criticism over ex-SC judge Abdul Nazeer's appointment as governor . 2023-02-13 . The Indian Express. 13 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213073016/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kiren-rijiju-on-criticism-ex-sc-judges-appointment-governor-8441393/ . live .