The extant judicial system in the State came about gradually over a period of time. Before graded courts came in, under the Diwanship of Colonel John Munro, local rulers, desavazhis and naduvazhis could settle disputes in the erstwhile kingdom of Cochin. More serious matters used to be attended to the Rajah.
In 1812, for the first time in its history, the first Subordinate Courts (Sub Courts) were established at Thrissur and Tripunithura. Until 1835, Huzur Court was the final appellate Court. Huzur Court had a bench strength of three judges. Later it was reconstituted as Rajah’s Court of Appeal and Subordinate Courts were reconstituted as Zilla Courts. The Rajah’s Court of Appeal was reconstituted as the Chief Court of Cochin in 1900 and the Chief Court of Cochin was reconstituted as the High Court, during the Diwanship of Shanmukham Chetty. Its first Chief Justice was V. D. Ouseph Vellanikaran, appointed on June 17, 1938.
Tojy John Vellanikaran, grandson of the first CJ who has compiled the family history, writes about the man who besides reaching the high position was also the founder chairman of the Bank of Cochin, which he founded in 1928 and one who provided a guiding role to the Catholic community of the State.
Born in Irinjalakuda on September 2, 1883, Ouseph studied at High School, present Maharaja’s College, before moving on to Madras Christian College for his graduation in 1904. The new railway line connecting Cochin and Shoranur, opened in July 1902, came in time for his first train journey to Madras.
Madras Christian College (MCC) was then situated at Armenian Street, before it moved to sprawling Tambaram in 1919. The magnificent High Court and Law College complex situated opposite MCC would have possibly inspired the young man to take on Law as his profession, writes Tojy. In 1904, he returned to Cochin and joined as Clerk of the Chief Court. After working for a few years, he quit and went to Madras to pursue Law. In 1910, he returned to practise as a lawyer at Cochin.
In Madras, he met Deacon Geevarghese of Malankara Orthodox Church (who later became Archbishop Mar Ivanios) and with him played a guiding role in bringing the Catholic community to the fore of society.
On return, he with wife Aleykutty Manipadom stayed in a rented house close to his place of work near Cannon Shed Road. It was during the 1920s that they purchased the Vellanikaran Tharavadu, the present house at Market Road, from a Jew and shifted to it.
After coming to Ernakulam, Ouseph became very active in the social and political life of Cochin. His house became a regular meeting place for distinguished men to discuss social and political issues. After becoming a lawyer, V.D. Ouseph started his practice at Ernakulam. He also acted as a Munsif and a Government Advocate for some time. He was then appointed as a Puisne Judge of the Chief Court of Cochin. Finally, he became the first Chief Justice of the Cochin High Court.
He retired at the age of 55, on September 2, 1938. Soon, he resumed his practice as a lawyer at the High Court.
Some of the other important positions he held were Law member of the Cochin Legislative Council in 1931 and the first elected Chairman of the Ernakulam Municipality (1924). He was honoured with a veerasringala (gold bracelet) by the Maharaja of Cochin in 1927 for his helpful role during the 1924 floods in the Periyar. In 1920 he organised the ‘Baby Week of Ernakulam’, something akin remains today.
One of his most important contributions was as a banker. His interest in banking started in the early 1920s when he was in a committee appointed by the government regarding banking in Cochin State. The purpose was to help the people rid bad debts with money lenders. He suggested the starting of the Bank of Cochin and became its founder chairman.
It was he who suggested an agreement between the bank and the government’s foreign exchange business thus making the Bank of Cochin, the first bank in any native State in India to deal in foreign exchange.
It was during his period as the chairman of the Bank that a land in Willingdon Island was leased to it. It was a first such lease and marking the event he presented ‘oppukanam’, a token, to Sir Robert Bristow fixing the deal. The branch was later inaugurated by Bristow, who was the architect of Cochin Port.
On the very next day, after this important event, Ouseph died in harness in the midst of arguing a case in the High Court. He did not get the opportunity to see the proof of the photo taken at the ‘oppukanam’ ceremony. The proof was in the hands of the manager P. J. Cyriac, who was standing in the veranda of the High Court.
( With inputs from family members and the Internet )
