He also held the additional charge of the Governor of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh from 8 March 1986 to 16 April 1986.
[2][3] He got enrollment as an Advocate in 1955 and started practice on Civil, Criminal and constitutional matters.
On 19 February 1970 Desai was appointed an Additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court.
He was transferred to Himachal Pradesh High Court and joined there as Chief Justice in 1983.
He retired on 14 December 1992[2] from the post of the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.