Last Updated on March 17, 2024 by News Desk
Fali Sam Nariman, a prominent lawyer from the Bombay Bar Association, has passed away at the age of 95. He joined the Bombay Bar Association at the age of 21 in 1950 and practiced in the Bombay High Court and other courts of the city for nearly 22 years until he moved to Delhi in 1972 when appointed the additional solicitor general of India. His contribution to all branches of law was “virtually unparalleled” and he was a remarkable senior to appear with.
Advocate General Birendra Saraf of the Maharashtra Government said that his passing is an insurmountable loss not just for the judiciary but the entire nation. He has been at the center of India’s legal growth in the past decades and has lost a jurist and intellectual fully dedicated to the upholding of individual liberty and freedom of speech.
Senior counsel and former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi spoke about Nariman’s death being an “end of an era.” He was an indisputable leader of the Bar and a great jurist. His court-craft was second to none, and his learning that he got during the time he worked with him on a few matters will remain with him my whole life.
Former Chief Justice Ramesh D Dhanuka of the Bombay High Court, who witnessed Nariman’s “eminence as a jurist,” said that he personally liked his fair criticism on Supreme Court judgements. Nariman was a “fair lawyer” who would not support his clients irrespective of their right or wrong. He had made some comments about his clients in open court too, which is lacking in most of the advocates now who try to protect their clients irrespective of them being right or wrong.
The Bombay Bar Association expressed its condolences on the passing of Nariman, stating that it seems a whole generation has left us. Senior advocate Rafique Dada, a legend of the Bombay bar who appeared with and against Nariman in a few matters, said this was the “end of the greatest master of law who turned a case by his superb advocacy.”
