Advocate Shamsulhoda Shamsudoha Shaikh, noted lawyer, vice president of Jamiatul Ulema Malegaon and the man who had led the team of local advocates to get the accused in the 2006 Malegaon blast case released on bail died today evening in Malegaon. He was 67.
He was a cardiac patient and had underwent by-pass surgery and angioplasty in the past. He died today at around 06 in the evening, family sources said.
“He was not feeling well since last few months. But today he went to the mosque to offer Friday prayers”, the sources added.
Known popularly as Advocate SS Shaikh, he was the first from Malegaon to do masters in law. After completing LLM from Bombay University in 1972, he joined his father Advocate Shamsudoha Shaikh for practice in Malegaon. After two years of practice in Malegaon, he was appointed in 1974 at Jalgaon court as first class magistrate. He worked as magistrate for one year but returned to Malegaon and re-started own practice that continued till his death.
Regarded as one of the very senior most advocates not only in Malegaon but in the entire district, Advocate SS Shaikh was vice president of bar council in 1980 and also elected as president of Malegaon Bar Association in 1992-93. He played a very pivotal role in getting the sanction of the building of Malegaon Advocates’ Chamber.
“Since such chambers are not meant for Taluka places, Advocate SS Shaikh with fellow advocates worked very hard to get it sanctioned”, fellow lawyer Advocate Nehal Ansari said while talking to ummid.com.
An expert in Mohammedan law, Advocate Shaikh, besides teaching at Malegaon Law College for more than 30 years, was the main hand at Pune University’s faculty of Mohammedan Law.
Among the senior most lawyers in Malegaon, Advocate Shaikh also worked as legal advisors for Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) and Manmad Municipal Council.
Also known for his social work, Advocate Shaikh was till his death chairman of Malegaon Spinning Mills, Vice President of Jamiatul Ulema Malegaon, one of the Trustees of Malegaon Eid-gah, chairman of Tameeri Mahaaz besides being the member of few education institution.
As vice president of Jamiatul Ulema Malegaon he led the team of local advocates who worked day in and day out for the Muslim youths framed in the 2006 Malegaon blast case. He also led various delegations to Delhi and Mumbai to meet the concerned ministers including Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi to seek the release of the Muslim accused.
—Source:Ummid