Overview

Milap Chand Jain (21 July 1929 – 29 April 2015) was an Indian jurist and public official best known for his service as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and for chairing a high-profile government inquiry into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He also held the constitutional charge of acting Governor of Rajasthan for a short period in February 1990. Born in Jodhpur, he spent most of his career in the legal system of Rajasthan and was regarded as a senior figure in the state's judiciary.

Career and positions

Jain's professional life combined judicial leadership with brief constitutional duties. As Chief Justice he was responsible for administration of the High Court and for important judicial decisions that shaped legal practice in the state. He briefly served as acting Governor of Rajasthan from 3 February to 14 February 1990, a temporary appointment consistent with constitutional practice when a vacancy or absence arises in a state's gubernatorial office.

  • Judicial leadership: Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court; presiding judge and administrator of the court.
  • Acting constitutional role: Acting Governor of Rajasthan (3–14 February 1990).
  • Commission chair: Headed the inquiry established by the central government to investigate Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

The Jain Commission

Jain was appointed to chair the government inquiry commonly known as the Jain Commission, created to examine the circumstances and possible conspiracies surrounding the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. That event, which shocked India and had far-reaching political consequences, prompted a lengthy and closely watched investigation. The commission's findings and working process were widely reported and debated, illustrating the sensitive intersection of law, politics and national security.

Personal life and legacy

Born in Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan, Jain lived and worked mainly within the state's legal institutions. He had three children — a son and two daughters — and was remembered by colleagues and the legal community for his judicial service. He died in Jaipur on 29 April 2015 after a short illness, at the age reported as 86.

Notable facts and context

Jain's career intersected with several areas of public life: the judiciary (judge), provincial administration (governor), and national inquiry (Rajiv Gandhi commission). Contemporary reports and obituaries noted his roles in Rajasthan's capital, including his birth city of Jodhpur and his passing in Jaipur. For background on the legal and political institutions he engaged with, see related resources on the judiciary and constitutional offices of Rajasthan and India generally, and summaries of inquiries like the one he led (commission).