Sir Charles Arthur Turner, K.C.M.G., C.I.E.

TURNER, Sir Charles Arthur (b. Exeter, 6 Mar 1833; d. London, 20 Oct 1907), Jurist, Educ: Exeter Grammar School; Exeter College, Oxford, called to the bar, Lincoln's Inn. Elected a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford (1885) Turner practiced law on the Western Circuit (1858-66). In the 1866-70 period he served as a Puisne Judge of the High Court at Allahabad and from 1879-86 he held the post of Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras. At the latter post he was twice appointed Chancellor of the University of Madras. Retiring to England he served on the Public Services Commission (1885-86) and sat as Judicial member of the Council of India (1888-98). Honours awarded include: KCIE, Kt and MA. (Ref: British History of India, Riddick, 2006)

Mr. Justice Turner was the first barrister judge appointed to the new High Court direct from England. He was the son of the Revd. John Fisher Turner and was born at Exeter on the 6th March, 1833. He was educated at Exeter Grammar School and at Exeter College, oxford, of which he became a fellow in 1855. He was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1858. He was, therefore, of only eight years standing at the Bar when appointed to the High Court and was only thirty-three years of age. He remained a Judge of this High Court for over twelve years, until in January, 1879 he succeeded his old Chief Justice, Sir Walter Morgan, as Chief Justice of Madras. The new High Court of North-Western Provinces thus had the distinction of providing two successive Chief Justices of Madras from its original bench within the first thirteen years of its existence. It is evident from the files of the Pioneer that Mr. Justice Turner, being much the youngest of the Judges, took a leading part in the activities of Allahabad outside the Court and, before ceasing to be Chief Justice of Madras in 1885, he had in 1880 become Vice-Chancellor of Madras University. Sir Charles Turner was in 1879, the year he left the Allahabad High Court, a member of the Indian Law Commission and in 1886 he was a member, with Sir Charles Aitchison, of the Public Service Commission appointed to examine the conditions under which Indians should be admitted to the higher posts of the public service. In 1888 he became a member of the Council of India and retained that office until 1898. He lived in London at No. 62, Ennismore Gardens until he died on the 20th October, 1907 at the age of 74. He was awarded a C. I. E. in January, 1878 and a K. C. I. E. in 1879 on becoming Chief Justice of Madras. (History of the High Court at Allahabad during the Chief Justiceship of Sir Walter Morgan (1866-1871) By SIR ARCHIBALD HENRY BENEDICT LINTHWAITE BRAUND Ex-Judge, Allahabad High Court)