Pt. Kanhaiya Lal Misra was an Indian lawyer and independence activist. He was the Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh from 1952 to 1969.
The judicial wheel is rounded with equality, oiled with honour and functions smoothly with honesty – principally when both members of the Bench and Bar shoulder their responsibilities seriously.
- Pt. Kanhaiya Lal Misra.
Mr. Mishra was born in a Brahmin family of Mariyadpur in district Azamgarh of Uttar Pradesh. As he was born on Krishna Janmashtami his parents named him Kanhaiya Lal. He was the eldest of four sons and one daughter of Baidnath Misra, a civil and a criminal lawyer, at the Azamgarh Bar, and a long-serving M.L.C.
Mr. Mishra was the fourth Advocate General of the state of Uttar Pradesh since the creation of the position of Advocate General in 1937, the year that saw the formation of the first responsible representative government in the province by the Indian National Congress, under the Government of India Act, 1935. He held this position for 17 years - 1952 till 1969 - during which period different political parties across the political spectrum were elected and formed the government.
He also practised and argued several Cases of Public importance before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and was the legendary and top most and famous Advocate of his time.