Eminent jurist and Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman passed away. He was aged 95 years.
The veteran jurist was awarded the Padma Bhushan in January 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.
A distinguished constitutional lawyer, Fali S Nariman has argued several landmark cases, including the famous NJAC verdict. He also appeared in the important SC AoR Association case (which led to the collegium system), TMA Pai case (on scope of minority rights under Article 30) etc. In June 1975, he resigned as the Additional Solicitor General of India to protest against the decision of the Indira Gandhi government to declare emergency.
A fierce votary of civil liberties, Nariman was an important public voice whose critical opinions about judicial developments carried much weight. Regarding the recent judgment in the Article 370 case, Nariman voiced criticism.
His son Rohinton Nariman was a senior advocate and a judge of the Supreme Court.
His autobiography “Before Memory Fades” is a widely read book, especially among law students and young lawyers, acting as a source of inspiration for them. “The State of Nation”, “God Save the Hon’ble Supreme Court” are his other books.
Indian Express reports
Eminent constitutional jurist and veteran senior advocate of the Supreme Court Fali S Nariman passed away in New Delhi on Wednesday. He was 95.
He was enrolled as an advocate of the Bombay High Court in November 1950, and was designated senior advocate in the 1961. He has practised law for more than 70 years: initially in the High Court of Bombay and since 1972, in New Delhi in the Supreme Court of India. He was appointed Additional Solicitor General of India in May 1972, when he moved from Bombay to Delhi.
The veteran jurist was awarded the Padma Bhushan in January 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.
Nariman was the president of the Bar Association of India from 1991 to 2010, the vice–chairman of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) Paris, from 1989 till 2005, and the president of International Council for Commercial Arbitration, besides holding other eminent posts. He was also the chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva, from 1995 to 1997.