Hidayatullah was the 11th Chief Justice of India from 25 February 1968 to 16 December 1970, and the sixth Vice President of India from 31 August 1979 to 30 August 1984. He was the Acting President of India from 20 July 1969 to 24 August 1969 and from 6 October 1982 to 31 October 1982.