Legal luminary Fali S Nariman passed away here on Wednesday at the age of 95. He was suffering from multiple ailments, including cardiac issues. Tributes poured in for him from across the country as Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla condoled the death of the veteran advocate, often referred to as the “Bhishma Pitamah” of the Indian judiciary.
Born on January 10, 1929, Nariman was enrolled as an advocate at the Bombay High Court in November 1950 and was designated a senior advocate in 1961. He practised law for more than 70 years, initially in the Bombay High Court and since 1972 in the Supreme Court.
Nariman is survived by his son and former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Nariman, daughter Anaheeta and daughter-in-law Sanaya. His wife Bapsi Nariman died in 2020.
Nariman was appointed as the additional solicitor general of India in May 1972. He resigned from the post a day after the imposition of Emergency on June 26, 1975.
In his long and illustrious legal career, Nariman argued in several landmark cases, including the Bhopal gas tragedy case, TMA Pai case, Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case, and the famous case of the National Judicial Appointments Commission, which was struck down by the Supreme Court.
Nariman authored books, including “Before the Memory Fades,” “The State of the Nation,” “India’s Legal System: Can it be Saved?” and “God Save the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”
He received the Padma Bhushan in January 1991 and in 2007, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. Nariman was also nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha in November 1999. His son, Rohinton Nariman, was a judge of the Supreme Court.
Vice President Dhankhar described Nariman as a towering figure in the Indian legal system. “Deeply saddened by his demise. My heartfelt condolences to his family members and the legal fraternity on this unbridgeable loss. His legacy and contribution will always serve as a guiding light to the nation at large,” Dhankhar said.
Meghwal recalled that Nariman was awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, and said his unwavering commitment towards civil liberties and principles was strong and commendable.
In a post on X, Speaker Birla said Nariman’s contributions to the Indian legal system are immeasurable. “May his legacy continue to inspire generations on the path of making justice accessible to all,” he wrote.
Offering his condolences, Modi said Nariman had devoted his life to making justice accessible to common citizens. In a post on X, Modi said, “He devoted his life to making justice accessible to common citizens. I am pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. May his soul rest in peace.”
Home Minister Amit Shah said Nariman had served as the guiding light for the country’s judicial system. “A trailblazing luminary, Nariman Ji’s profound knowledge of the law and keen intellect served as the guiding light for our judicial system. With his passing, a powerful voice of law fell silent today,” Shah wrote on X.
Congress leader Rahul said Nariman’s contributions have not only shaped landmark cases but also inspired generations of jurists to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and civil liberties. The veteran lawyer’s demise leaves a profound void in the legal community, he added.
