Early life and education
Hasan Mohamed Jinnah was born in Atthikadai, Thiruvarur district in 1977. He completed his schooling in Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam. In 1999, he received his law degree from Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University and also completed his post-graduation in law. [10]
Jinnah is known for his public interest legal lawsuits that for the youth's cause. He filed a Public Interest Litigation in the same year he started his professional career as a lawyer, demanding the reinstallation of the Kannagi statue at the same location from which it was dethroned, at the Marina beach, Tamil Nadu. [11] He successfully persuaded the Madras High Court to issue an interim order to place the statue in safe custody at the Government Museum in Chennai. [12]
Career
Early Legal Practice
Hasan Mohammed Jinnah enrolled as an Advocate in June 1999. He began his practice under his father, who was serving as Public Prosecutor and Government Pleader. At the age of 21, he appeared in several criminal cases, including murder trials, on behalf of the police prosecution. In 2000, he began practicing independently at the Madras High Court.
In 2001, he filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Madras High Court seeking the reinstallation of the Kannagi statue at Marina Beach. The Court directed the state to place the statue in safe custody at the Government Museum. The case received attention in legal and public domains.
Career Streak
From 2006 to 2009, Jinnah served as Government Advocate (Criminal Side) in the Madras High Court. In 2009, he was appointed as Additional Public Prosecutor. He also served as Standing Counsel for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board. In the CMDA matters, he worked alongside senior law officers, including the then Additional Advocate General.
In 2004, he participated in the American Council of Young Political Leaders delegation to the United States. During the visit, he met with then U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and discussed India's candidature for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
He later served as a member of the Central Board of Film Certification and was part of the regional board that reviewed the film Vishwaroopam. The certification process was conducted by a panel comprising members from multiple communities, as per the standard procedures of the board.
Tenure as State Public Prosecutor
In 2021, Jinnah was appointed as the State Public Prosecutor of Tamil Nadu. In this role, he introduced a system to communicate court orders from the High Court and Supreme Court to relevant authorities, and monitored compliance with judicial directions. He cleared backlogged files and implemented a process for issuing legal opinions within a one-week timeframe. Infrastructure upgrades were made to the offices in Chennai and Madurai during his tenure.
He advocated for maintaining cooperative engagement between the police and prosecutors, and for recognizing occupational stress experienced by law enforcement personnel. He also opposed the use of legal mechanisms for personal retaliation through improper FIRs and supported procedural integrity in criminal prosecutions.
In 2024, he held additional charge as Director of Prosecution in charge. During this period, pending promotion panels were finalized, vacant posts were addressed, and administrative delays in the Directorate were reduced.
During his tenure as State Public Prosecutor, Hasan Mohammed Jinnah contributed to structural and procedural legal reforms. He proposed the separation of investigation and prosecution functions within the police force to enhance institutional clarity. He was involved in drafting the Tamil Nadu Model Prison Rules, 2024, aimed at standardizing prison administration practices. In 2024, he submitted a draft policy before the Madras High Court for the inclusion of transgender and gender-diverse persons in state welfare, education, and public employment, which the court acknowledged and directed the government to finalise within three months. In relation to the safety of female athletes, Jinnah submitted interim guidelines to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which appreciated the state's intention to introduce legislation for protecting women in sports. [13] The Court, perusing the guidelines, recorded appreciation of both the Chief Secretary and Jinnah, and posted the matter for further orders.
In the Kaniyamoor arson case, Jinnah informed the Madras High Court that the investigation was progressing systematically, with 56 arrests and digital evidence being analysed. [14] He also submitted status reports from the CB-CID and School Education Department. In 2023, he issued a recommendation suggesting that FIRs under Section 498A IPC include only the husband's name unless others were specifically implicated. He advised that public prosecutors treat police personnel with dignity and professionalism, citing concerns about disrespectful conduct. Circulars were issued to ensure humane treatment, emphasising that flaws in investigation should not result in mistreatment. In 2025, he reiterated that prosecutors should avoid summoning police unnecessarily and instead use electronic communication or video conferencing. [15] He also suggested appointing designated officers in district units to handle digital case documentation and interaction. [16] These measures were aimed at reducing administrative burden and ensuring procedural efficiency across the prosecution and investigation wings.
Personal life
Hasan Mohammed Jinnah was born and brought up in Atthikadai, a village in Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu. He is the son of Hasan Mohamed, who was the first graduate from the village and practiced law for several decades. His father served twice as the Public Prosecutor and Government Pleader for the erstwhile Thanjavur (East) District. Jinnah began his legal career under his father's guidance, assisting in various matters during his formative years.
He resides in Chennai with his family and has continued the family's legal tradition through public service and practice in criminal law.
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