Hasan Mohammed Jinnah



Hasan Mohamed Jinnah (born 1977) is an Indian lawyer, human rights activist, and author. He currently holds the position of Tamil Nadu State Public Prosecutor since 2021. He is a criminal lawyer in South India and has served as a regional advisor to UNESCO CENTRE.

Jinnah practiced law at Madras High Court after graduating from Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University. He often takes up public interest litigation. Jinnah has frequently placed gender issues on the radar of human rights violations. The Sarika Shah case was an important moment in his career. It involved an incident of eve-teasing at Ethiraj College and set a precedent for the Tamil Nadu Protection of Eve Teasing Act in 1999.

Early life and education
Hasan Mohamed Jinnah was born in Atthikadai, Thiruvarur district in 1977. He completed his schooling in Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam. In 1999, he received his law degree from Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University and also completed his post-graduation in law.

Jinnah is known for his public interest legal lawsuits that for the youth's cause. He filed a Public Interest Litigation in the same year he started his professional career as a lawyer, demanding the reinstallation of the Kannagi statue at the same location from which it was dethroned, at the Marina beach, Tamil Nadu. He successfully persuaded the Madras high court to issue an interim order to place the statue in safe custody at the Government Museum in Chennai.

Career
He began his career as a lawyer in the Madras High Court in 1999. From 2006 to 2009, he served as Government Advocate on the criminal side at the Madras High Court. In 2009, he was appointed as the Additional Public Prosecutor and standing counsel for CMDA and Waqf Board. In 2012, he served as the regional advisor at the UNESCO centre for Human Rights. In 2021, he was designated as State Public Prosecutor by Tamil Nadu Government. Subsequently, in 2023, he was designated as a senior advocate by the Madras High Court. He also holds a position as a member of the academic senate at Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University.

Personal life
Jinnah's father, Hasan Mohamed, was an advocate who served as the Public Prosecutor cum Government Pleader (1989–1991) in Thanjavur District. From 1996 to 2001, he worked as a lawyer in Nagai Quaide Millat District.