“Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence.”
Dedication
This biography is lovingly offered with love and gratitude to my parents, whose values shaped my conscience and whose faith steadied my steps. To my father, whose example of integrity, courage, and devotion to the law taught me that duty is a daily practice and not a distant ideal. To my mother, whose compassion, patience, and quiet strength reminded me that service to people gives purpose to every achievement. Your guidance has been the compass by which I have navigated each decision, and your sacrifices are the unseen pillars beneath every milestone.
To my entire family, whose affection and counsel have been a constant wellspring of strength. Your trust has carried me through uncertainty, and your celebrations have magnified every joy. To my cherished friends, whose camaraderie has brought balance to intense seasons of work and study, thank you for standing beside me with honesty and warmth.
To the mentors who shaped my mind and the seniors who taught me to honor both the letter and the spirit of the law, I remain indebted to your example. Your guidance refined my judgment and disciplined my craft. To colleagues and associates who labor tirelessly with me, your dedication and professionalism elevate our shared mission and make possible what none of us could accomplish alone.
To the clients, institutions, and collaborators who placed your trust in my counsel, I am grateful for the privilege to represent your causes and to serve the public interest. Your confidence has been both an honor and a responsibility. Each engagement deepened my understanding of the law as a living commitment to fairness, clarity, and accountability.
To the teachers, court staff, and countless professionals whose work sustains the administration of justice, your diligence often goes unsung, yet it upholds the very framework within which truth can be pursued. Your contributions are essential, and your integrity is a quiet beacon for us all.
To well wishers, dignitaries, and leaders who have encouraged my efforts with recognition and opportunity, your belief has strengthened my resolve to uphold the highest standards in every endeavor. Your support has not only affirmed past work but has also widened the horizon of what is possible in service to society.
To the young lawyers and students who bring energy and idealism to the calling, your questions renew my own purpose. May you carry forward the values that sustain this noble profession and find fulfillment in the pursuit of justice with courage and humility.
Finally, to every person whose path has crossed mine in friendship, collaboration, counsel, or service, know that your presence has enriched my journey. This dedication is a testament to the community that shapes an individual and to the shared belief that character, compassion, and perseverance can transform effort into impact. With gratitude and respect, I carry each of you in these pages and in the work that lies ahead.
Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma
“Liberty means freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.”
Phase 1: Education and the World of Advocacy
From the beginning, the world of advocacy shaped the sensibilities of Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma. He was raised in a household where legal conversation was a daily language and where discipline, precision, and a deep regard for justice guided every decision. His father, Shri Fateh Chand Sharma, practiced across the full breadth of India’s judicial system, moving from trial courts to the Supreme Court of India with a reputation for rigor and fairness. In that atmosphere, the foundations of thought and temperament for a future in law were laid for Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, not through abstraction, but through steady observation of the craft as it lived and breathed in chambers and courtrooms.
During his years of formal study, the practical world of litigation was never distant for Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma. He would sit in his father’s office, watch hearings unfold, assist with files, and speak with litigants who arrived bearing the burdens of their disputes. Those encounters brought alive the human dimensions of law. They impressed upon him that jurisprudence is not merely a matter of sections and precedents, but a discipline that requires empathy, judgment, and the courage to take responsibility for the strategy advanced and the relief sought. In those formative moments, a philosophy began to crystallize for Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma. He understood that learning must be tested against reality, that doctrine requires deployment, and that the lawyer’s duty is never simply intellectual, but decisively practical.
The wisdom that guided this maturation came from a simple and enduring principle emphasized by his father. The admonition held that the law cannot be mastered through books alone and that a case fought with total attention will engrave itself indelibly in the advocate’s mind. The counsel embedded in that message would become a source of clarity for Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma throughout his later career. It offered a method for learning and a standard for performance. It directed him to approach every matter as both a challenge and a teacher, and to cultivate a memory built not only on reading, but on the experience of argument, the discipline of research, and the responsibility of representation.
Human rights are not a gift of the state; they are inherent in every individual.”
Phase 2: The Entrepreneurial Beginning
Upon completing his formal qualifications, a new phase opened for Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma in which ambition met responsibility and opportunity required discernment. The expectations of a legacy in law were present, yet an alternative path briefly beckoned that would sharpen his practical understanding of people, commerce, and decision making. This interlude did not dilute his future in advocacy. It refined it, deepening his grasp of negotiations and operations at scale before he reentered the legal arena with clarity and resolve.
The move to Ahmedabad brought Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma into the rhythm of a national jewellery enterprise where supply chains and client networks demanded attention to timing, precision, and trust.
Daily transactions involved an art that was both interpersonal and structural. He learned how to communicate value, read intentions, and secure commitments. He engaged with clients from varied regions, each with its own commercial culture and expectations. This immersion taught him the value of patience when addressing complex demands and the effectiveness of firm but fair persuasion when navigating conflicts.
The structural side of the business introduced rigorous attention to financial discipline. For Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, numbers became narratives of performance and risk. Margins, turnover, and liquidity were not abstractions. They were visible levers that influenced strategic choices. He developed a method of examining cash flows and commitments in a way that ensured stability while enabling growth. This analytical vigilance would later translate into a measured and methodical approach to legal case management, where timelines, filings, and contingencies benefit from a similar clarity of structure.
“Constitution is not a mere lawyers’ document, it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age.”
Phase 3: Foundations of Professional Philosophy
The return to the discipline of advocacy brought immediate focus for Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma as he began shaping a career defined by preparation, steadiness, and principled decision making. The early legal years were devoted to building capability in real forums with real consequences. He accepted the demands of the profession with composure and designed his days around mastering procedure, strengthening research, and refining arguments. Each assignment was approached with an ethic of responsibility that treated every brief as an opportunity to honor the trust placed in him.
The phase of courtroom experience commenced in subordinate courts, where the texture of practice rewarded attention to details, structure, and punctuality. The experience during this stage, from 2000 to 2002, formed a solid base in pleadings, evidence, and hearings that move matters through initial stages toward decisive outcomes. The rhythm of filings and appearances forged organizational habits that continued to serve him as his forum responsibilities expanded. With the close of this period, he moved into a larger arena with a consolidated sense of how to manage the life cycle of a case from inception to conclusion.
The next step took shape in the Allahabad High Court between 2002 and 2003. This introduced a higher order of complexity where questions of law interacted with contested facts in a manner that called for thorough research and focused drafting. Exposure to this environment deepened the ability of Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma to identify the precise legal issue that would determine the outcome. He learned to build persuasive narratives that aligned facts with doctrine without excess language or unnecessary claims. The emphasis remained on clarity because clarity strengthens credibility before a bench that must weigh competing presentations quickly and decisively. From 2003 onward he broadened the footprint of his practice across various High Courts and took on work connected to the Supreme Court of India.
Note of Thanks
Writing the biography of Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma has been a deeply fulfilling and inspiring endeavor. It is an honor to narrate the journey of a life defined by courage, discipline, and a steadfast devotion to justice and public service. I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma for entrusting me with the responsibility of telling his story, from his early immersion in the world of law to his leadership in the highest forums of our nation and his pioneering contributions to modern legal practice.
This work would be incomplete without heartfelt gratitude to his family, whose values formed the bedrock of his character. The example set by his father and the unwavering support of his loved ones nurtured integrity, diligence, and compassion in him. Their guidance instilled the conviction to serve with honesty and perseverance, shaping both his personal growth and professional achievements.
I extend sincere thanks to the mentors, seniors, and colleagues who supported and challenged Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma throughout his evolution as an advocate. Their counsel, encouragement, and faith, especially during demanding phases of responsibility, helped refine his judgment and strengthened his resolve to uphold the highest standards of the profession. Their influence remains woven into his approach to every matter he undertakes.
Gratitude is also due to the clients and institutions across ministries, public sector undertakings, corporations, and individual litigants who entrusted Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma with matters of consequence. These opportunities expanded the horizons of practice, deepened his engagement with complex questions of law and policy, and enabled contributions that served both justice and the public good. Each mandate affirmed a shared commitment to outcomes grounded in principle and clarity.
I am equally thankful to all who shared their reflections on his work and character. Their insights brought warmth and dimension to this biography, illuminating the trust he has earned and the impact he has made through mentorship, leadership, and service. Their testimonies reveal a legacy not only of professional distinction but of humanity in practice.
Finally, to the reader, may this biography stand as a tribute to perseverance, learning, and purposeful leadership. The life of Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma reminds us that success is measured not solely by victories in court, but by the integrity we maintain, the people we uplift, and the institutions we strengthen. May his journey inspire steadfast dedication to truth, humility in achievement, and a commitment to serve with courage and kindness. His example continues to light the way for those who believe that the law, when practiced with conscience and excellence, can be a powerful force for justice and hope.
Thank You
Dr. Shiv Mangal Sharma