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Wilkinsons Law Library

Malabar was a district in the Madras presidency bounded on the north by South Canara and Coorg; on the South by Cochin and Travancore; on the East by Coorg, Mysore, Nilagiris and Coimbatore and on the West by the Arabian sea. The district consisted of taluks like Calicut, Chirakkal, Cochin, Eranad, Kottakkal, Kurubanad, Palaghat, Ponnani, Walluvanad and Wayanadu. The most important organs of the British administrative machinery in India, that is, the judiciary placed Calicut as a center of colonial administration. One of the momentous and decisive historical changes that occurred as a result of the Treaty of Sreerangapatanam was the annexation of Malabar as a province of the Bombay Presidency in the year 1792. At that time, the law and order situation in Malabar was deplorable. Prior to the annexation effected by the British in Malabar, the invasion and occupation of the province led by Haider Ali and subsequently by Tippu Sulthan, popularly called Mysore occupation of Malabar, had already changed the traditional pattern of life of the common people as well as that of the Princes and Chieftains. Later it was placed as part of the Madras Presidency in 1800 for administrative and judicial convenience. In 1827, a regulation was passed to affect the gradual introduction of the Jury trial in the Madras presidency. As a result of the act of 1843, new Zillah courts were established to discharge the civil and criminal functions. In Tellichery and Calicut, new Zillah courts were established. The legal services and establishments took place after the formation of the zillah courts. The inception of the Calicut Bar Association can be traced back to a significant meeting held on the 6th of March 1886 at the District Court in Calicut under the Presidency of District Judge Mr F.H. Wilkinson. The beginning of the Calicut Bar Association and its activities were held at the library called Wilkinson’s Law Library which was named after the district judge Mr. F.H. Wilkinson.

On the 6th of March 1886, a Meeting was held in one of the rooms of the District Court, which Mr. F. H. Wilkinson, the then District Judge presided. After outlining the purpose of the conference, the chairman proposed the formation of two committees: one to choose books and draft rules and regulations, and another for collecting donations. It was suggested by Mr. Gantz and seconded by Mr. Mellish that the District Judge lead the new Law Library as President and the Sub Judge serve as Vice President. They also proposed that the following gentlemen be members of the Committee to select books and frame rules- The District Judge, Mr. Gantz, Mr. Kelu Eradi, Mr. Mellish. Mr. Anantanarayana Pattar and Mr. Anantha Rama Aiyar, B. L.

The figures mentioned above were deemed to have been legitimately elected. The meeting also proposed that the following gentlemen be members of the Committee to collect donations: Mr. La Nauze, Mr. Ramaswamy lyer, Mr. Ananthanarayana Pattar, Mr. P. Krishna Menon, Mr. Chappen Menon, Mr. Narayana Menon and Mr. K. Gopalan Nair. A donation list was circulated and the sum of Rs. 865/ was promised. Mr. Mellish was elected as Secretary to the Committee and Mr. Sankaranarayana lyer as Sub Secretary. Mr. Vythee Menon was proposed as Treasurer.
It appears that Mr. Wilkinson had a significant and active role in convening the meeting, in the establishment of the Association, and in its future activities, which explains why the library is called “The Wilkinson Law Library.” The first General Body Meeting was held on the 31st of March 1886 when the Wilkinson Law Library was formally inaugurated. The Judges were also the members of the association in those days. Mr. Wilkinsons continued to be the president till October 1887 and was succeeded by Mr. Lewis Moore who occupied the office for a period of about 5 years ending with December 1892. Thereafter Mr. R. S. Benson who succeeded Mr. Moore as the District Judge functioned as the President. Messrs. Lewis Moore and R. S. Benson were later appointed as Judges of the Madras High Court. Wilkinson Law Library in 1888 consisted of 85 books, 65 of which belonged to the Dt. Court which was placed exclusively at the disposal of members. In 1888, the association consisted two classes of member resident and non-residents, with total membership of 37. The Association consisted of 23 resident and 14 non-resident members in that year. The number of members increased year after year. In 1951-52, a tennis court was also opened for the use of the Members.

Library association into Bar association

After 1892, there have been only resident members at the association. Till 1925, there was only the Library Association. On 3rd April 1925, at a meeting of the Members of the Law Library, it was resolved “that the Bar Association consists of the Members of the Wilkinson Law Library and the office-bearers of the library shall be ex-officio office-bearers of the Bar Association”. In those days, the Law Library was housed in a room in the Dt. Court building. Over time, the space was considered to be insufficient. Ultimately a separate block was provided for the use of the Library which is where the library continues to be even today.

Library collections

There are certainly very valuable and rare books and reports available at the library. On the 19th of August 18S7, Mr. T. C. Mellish presented 6 volumes of Madras High Court Reports which are there in the law Library even now. But of all these gifts, special mention must be made of the very generous contribution on the eve of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations by Sri. S. V. Venkatachala Iyer of his entire Library consisting of about 500 volumes and with 4 almirahs costing in the aggregate more than Rs. 3000/-. Mr. S. V. Venkaiachala Iyer was in active practice from 1926 to 1944 when he retired from the profession and thereafter has taken to his ancestral Banking business. Almost every year, new books are purchased out of the Library funds. This practice has continued till now. Many eminent lawyers and personalities gifted library books for the use of Bar Association. Presently, the library of Bar Association is well stocked with over 3000 volumes.

Library working

There is ample evidence that full and continuous use of the Library was made by the members even in those days. The Library was kept open on all days in the week except Sundays, when it was open between 3 and 5 P. M. During vacations, it used to be kept open every Wednesday. Books of general interest also used to be purchased while Magazines like the NINETEENTH CENTURY and the GRAPHIC were also being subscribed for. At the end of the first year, the library consisted of 58 volumes. 65 books belonging to the District Court were also allowed to be used by the members. This practice of making court books available to the members of Bar Association was later discontinued.

Despite the Colonial administration ended in 1947, Wilkinsons Law Library of Calicut Bar Association still exists as colonial monument in same name.

References

  • Clarion‑12, 125th Year Celebration Souvenir, Calicut Bar Association, 2012.
  • VOX CBA: Souvenir on Commemorating the Establishment of Bicentenary Memorial Court Complex and Celebrating 135 Years of Calicut Bar Association, 2021.
  • Kozhikode Bar Association (official website)