Chairperson
Justice Mukul Mudgal is the former Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court. He was appointed Chairperson of Digital Media Content Regulatory Council (DMCRC) in July 2023. He took over from DMCRC’s Founding Chair, Justice Vikramajit Sen.
Born on January 4, 1949, Justice Mudgal, an alumnus of Modern School, New Delhi, holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Hindu College, Delhi University and an LLB from Law Faculty, Delhi University. He enrolled as an Advocate in 1973. He was an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court (1978-98) and Member Secretary/Treasurer of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee (1986-95). He conducted cases in Civil Law, Constitutional Law, Labour Law and Public Interest Litigation.
Justice Mudgal was appointed a Judge of Delhi High Court on March 2, 1998 and elevated as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court on December 5, 2009. He retired on January 4, 2011.
Justice Mudgal authored a book, Law and Sports in India, in December 2010. As a counsel in 1989, he successfully represented eight banned cricketers. He appeared as Amicus Curiae in the Supreme Court, including in cases on prison reforms, environment and gender justice. He was Member, National Legal Services Authority and Member, Governing Council of Indian Law Institute. He served as Honorary Secretary of International Law Association (India Chapter). He is a Member of Court of Arbitration for Sport, Geneva. Justice Mudgal visited South Africa as part of a delegation led by the Chief Justice of India and lectured at South African universities. He represented India in the ILA seminars in Rio de Janeiro and Toronto.
Justice Mudgal chaired the drafting committee for the National Sports Development Bill and the Doping Probe Committee constituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. He chaired the committee that proposed amendments to the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972. He was Advisor to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation for the Slum Dwellers Act and the Rickshaw Pullers Act. Justice Mudgal headed the one-man committee appointed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to probe the Walmart lobbying allegations and chaired the committee of experts to examine issues of certification under Cinematograph Act, 1952. The Supreme Court also appointed him Chairperson of the IPL probe committee.
Justice Mudgal has also served as the Chairperson of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), the content regulatory arm for linear non-news TV Channels under the aegis of Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF).
Justice Mudgal has written widely on legal and sport issues, including separation of powers, Right to Information qua CBI, Powers of Press Council and DRS system in cricket. The International Cricket Council appointed him Independent Advisor to the Lord Woolf Committee. The External Affairs Ministry sent him as Advisor to the Enquiry Committee set up by the Maldivian Government to look into change of regime in the island-nation. Justice Mudgal has delivered about 100 Arbitration judgments as Judge of Delhi and Punjab & Haryana high courts. He has been appointed Arbitrator in more than 50 cases.
