Justice Tribeni Sahai Misra : A Biography
The late Justice Tribeni Sahai Misra was born on 15th November 1922 to a well-known family of Mahona, Lucknow. Being the eldest child and displaying a scientific aptitude very early in life, he completed his Intermediate Education in Science and Mathematics from the Government Jubilee College. He was married in the year 1940 to Dr. Shakuntala Misra in whose memory the State Government of Uttar Pradesh established a University for the specially abled. (The Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University). While studying at Allahabad University he threw himself into the Quit India Movement of 1942 for which he was imprisoned in a cell having the Late Justice Yashdodandan a former Judge of the High Court as a cell mate. A year later, he graduated from the Allahabad University. He completed his post graduate studies with dual degrees of M.A. (English) and L.L.B with distinction from the University of Lucknow in the year 1945.A keen sportsman, he captained both the badminton and football teams of the University.
He began his professional career as a legal practitioner in Civil Matters at Lucknow under the mentorship of Advocate Mohd. Abbasi. Thereafter he branched out into Company Secretaryship working at Kalyan Mills, Ahmedabad, and subsequently at Indu Mills in Mumbai.
At heart he always remained an academician and an educationist, which motivated him to start his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Law at Kanya Kubj College, Kanpur while concurrently resuming his legal practice under Pt. Babu Lal Misra. He was subsequently promoted to the post of the Dean Faculty of Law at the Kanya Kubj College.
Given his legal acumen and professional knowledge he was appointed as the District Government Counsel (D.G.C.) by the State Government in the year 1964 and subsequently was elevated as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court in the year 1971. He remained a Senior Judge at Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court and went on to become the Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court in 1983. Justice T. S. Misra also functioned as the Governor of Assam and Meghalaya. He, subsequently retired on 14 November 1984. In the year 1986 Justice Misra was appointed as the Ombudsman (Lok Ayukta) Bihar. He finally retired from active service in 1991.
After his retirement from active service, he settled down in Lucknow to spent time with his family; the next generation of which was moving ahead with distinction. He spent the rest of his life enjoying the company of his youngest son Shri Satish Chandra Misra; little knowing that the latter would be instrumental in establishing a University to immortalize his journey in life for all future generations. Justice T. S. Mishra passed away on the 24th of October 2005, but he is still present in the hearts and minds of his 4 sons and 2 daughters. His eldest son Justice V.C. Misra retired as a Judge of Allahabad High Court. Two of his other sons, Dr. Subodh Chandra Misra and Dr. Ambrish Misra, having inherited his aptitude in Mathematics and Science graduated from IIT Kanpur and went on to do their Ph.D. from the U.S. and are settled there. His youngest son Sri S.C. Misra carries on his legacy as an eminent Senior Advocate, and has been a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) since 2004 to 2022. Smt. Asha Tewary and Smt. Abha Agnihotri, have distinguished themselves; Smt. Asha Tewary was Member of the U.P. Human Rights Commission and Smt. Abha Agnihtori has been the Chairman U.P. State Commission for Women.
Justice Misra leaves behind a legacy of successful lawyers. He had three younger brothers. His brother Late Laxmi Narain Misra was a keen agriculturist and passionate about natural farming and also involved himself in social works. Another of his brother, the Late Justice Kailash Nath Misra retired as High Court Judge, Allahabad and his youngest brother Late Rajendra Nath Misra had been District Government Counsel (Revenue). Besides his sons, his nephews Sri Sudhir Pandey, Sri Upendra Nath Misra and Sri Shivji Shukla are successful Senior Advocates of Allahabad High Court. Sri Upendra Nath Misra worked as Chief Standing Council of Uttar Pradesh. His grandson Kapil Misra is a Practicing Lawyer of the High Court Allahabad and the Supreme Court ,since 2009 and is presently the Pro-Chancellor of T.S. Mishra University, Lukcnow.