T. Muthuswamy Iyer becomes first Indian judge of Madras High Court
T. Muthuswamy Iyer became the first Indian to be appointed a judge of the Madras High Court, a decision that caused controversy at the time.
Thiruvarur Muthuswamy Iyer had served as a magistrate and as a judge in mofussil courts from 1871. In 1877 the Madras Government appointed him to the bench of the High Court of Madras, making him the first Indian judge of that court. The appointment drew criticism in sections of the press. He served until his death in 1895 and acted as Chief Justice for three months in 1893.
