| Honorific-Prefix: | Hon'ble Mr. Justice |
| R. M. Kantawala | |
| Birth Date: | 1916 10, df=yes |
| Office1: | Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay |
| Termstart1: | 27 October 1972 |
| Termend1: | 6 October 1978 |
| Appointed1: | V. V. Giri |
| Predecessor1: | K. Kalyandas Desai |
| Successor1: | B. N. Deshmukh |
| Office2: | Judge, Bombay High Court |
| Termstart2: | 9 February 1962 |
| Termend2: | 6 October 1978 |
| Appointed2: | Rajendra Prasad |
| Children: | 2 sons |
| Alma Mater: | University of Mumbai, Gujarat College |
Justice Ramanlal Maneklal Kantawala (6 October 1916 – 2 May 1992) was the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from 1972 to 1978.[1] [2] He acted as the Governor of Maharashtra state twice in 1976 and 1977.[3]
Kantawala studied at the Cambay High School and Gujarat College in Ahmedabad. Later, he went to Elphinstone College and the Government Law College, Bombay.[1] Kantawala graduated in mathematics with highest distinctions and was awarded the 'Daxina Fellowship' by the University of Bombay.[2] He was a third generation lawyer in his family.
Kantawala enrolled as an advocate on the Appellate side of the High Court of Bombay in 1941 and joined its Original side after clearing his Advocate's O.S. Examination two years later.[1] [2] B. J. Divan had also appeared alongside him there. S. T. Desai and Hormasji Maneckji Seervai were two of the examiners for this purpose. Kantawala worked in the chambers of Natwarlal H. Bhagwati who went on to become a Justice at the Supreme Court of India later.
Kantawala was appointed an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in February 1962 and made a Permanent Judge at the court in 1964.[3]