Born: 1958
Died: 2023
Jay Mala (22 August 1958 – 26 April 2023) was an Indian journalist, politician, advocate, and social activist. She was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India, filing over 600 cases and winning each one. Jay Mala’s notable achievements include a landmark case in 1985, where she sued the State of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in a significant change to tort law in India.
Born on 22 August 1958, Jay Mala had a passion for justice and activism from a young age. In 1979, she served as the President of the Indian Student Congress, leading thousands of university students in a protest against the Janata Party government at India Gate in New Delhi. During the protest, the then Minister of External Affairs and future Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was pelted with stones. Bleeding from the head, Vajpayee was protected by Jay Mala, who led him to safety into the neighboring Parliament building. Jay Mala’s bravery during this incident earned her recognition and respect.
In 1982, Jay Mala won a significant case against the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the Supreme Court. Serving as a legal aid advocate, she secured the release of Riaz Ahmed, proving his status as a minor when he was falsely imprisoned in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Justice at the time, P. N. Bhagwati, quashed the detention, stating that Ahmed was a schoolboy protesting for student rights and not the adult the police falsely accused him of being. This case set a precedent in India for determining the age of a minor detainee. The judges established that a two-year margin of error be applied in judicial proceedings to radiological and orthopedic test results used to determine age, favoring the accused. This landmark case has been continuously quoted for three decades to secure the release of minors across India and influenced the legislation of the Juvenile Justice Act in 2000.
In 1982, Jay Mala also co-founded the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, which contested all seats in the 1983 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. During this election, she stood as the only female candidate in the Udhampur constituency, competing against sixteen male candidates. Despite the challenges, Jay Mala’s determination and advocacy for her community marked her as a trailblazer in the political sphere.
Jay Mala’s contributions to society extended beyond her work as a lawyer and politician. From 2017, she worked as a contributing editor for the National Herald, a newspaper founded by the first Prime Minister of India. Through her writing, she continued to shed light on important social and political issues, advocating for justice and equality.
Throughout her career, Jay Mala faced numerous struggles and challenges. However, her unwavering commitment to advocating for marginalized communities and ensuring justice prevailed remained her driving force. Her achievements have left an indelible mark on India’s legal and social landscapes.