Renowned legal luminary and seasoned advocate Fali S Nariman breathed his last at the age of 95 in New Delhi on Wednesday. The former Additional Solicitor General of India passed away at his residence around 1 am today.
In a communication on X, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi characterized it as the “culmination of an era.” Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, in a post on X, lamented, “A remarkable son of India departs. Not merely one of the preeminent legal minds in our nation but a paragon of virtue who loomed large above all. The court’s corridors will never be identical without him. May his soul repose in peace.”
Nariman, born into a Parsi family in Myanmar on January 10, 1929, initiated his legal practice at the Bombay High Court in 1950. Another senior advocate, Mahesh Jethmalani, remarked, “In the grievous demise of #FaliNariman, legal doyen, accomplished Parliamentarian, and the very epitome of a true gentleman in all he did, the nation and the Indian Bar have lost an inspirational and towering personality. I shared some very special moments with him, which I will always treasure. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Om Shanti.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), mourned his passing, acknowledging Nariman’s lifelong dedication to ensuring justice for the common citizens.
In a statement on X, Modi expressed, “Shri Fali Nariman Ji was among the most outstanding legal minds and intellectuals. 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,” the prime minister added.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud also offered condolences for the demise of legal luminary and veteran advocate Fali S Nariman, who passed away at the age of 95.
“Mr Attorney General, we mourn the sad demise and passing away of Fali Nariman. He was a great giant of an intellectual,” Chandrachud conveyed to Attorney General R Venkataramani as he commenced the day’s proceedings in the apex court.
Among Nariman’s several landmark cases, the National Judicial Appointments Commission verdict stands out. He served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1999-2005.
Nariman attained the status of senior advocate in 1971. In May 1972, he assumed the role of additional solicitor general, prompting his move from Mumbai to Delhi. However, he resigned in June 1975, protesting against the imposition of emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He is the father of former Supreme Court judge Rohinton F Nariman.
Nariman received the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007. Considered a doyen of the Indian bar, he authored several books, including his autobiography, ‘Before Memory Fades.’
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, in her communication on X, remarked that Nariman was the last of a generation of lawyers from Bombay who shaped and molded the history of constitutional law in India. A voice that stood for secular values and the independence of the judiciary. Senior advocate A M Singhvi also conveyed on X his thoughts on the passing of Fali Nariman.
“A living legend who will forever be in the hearts and minds of those in law and public life. Above all his diverse achievements, he adhered to his principles unwaveringly and called a spade a spade, a quality shared by his brilliant son,” Singhvi conveyed on X.
“As a raconteur & after dinner speaker, #fali was matchless. It was he who said that using the phrase “horse trading” when humans defect is an insult to horses, very loyal animals. He would unearth nuggets of history & wed them incomparably with his wit when speaking,” said Singhvi.