Senior Supreme Court Lawyer Fali S. Nariman Passes Away at 95

Eminent jurist and Senior Supreme Court Lawyer Fali S. Nariman passed away at the age of 95. He was born on January 10, 1929, in Myanmar to a Parsi family and commenced his legal practice at the Bombay High Court around 1950.

Fali S. Nariman served as the Additional Solicitor General of India and was appointed a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court of India in 1971. Notable for his tenure between 1972 and 1975, he resigned during the emergency period and was elected as a Rajya Sabha nominated member from 1999 to 2005.

A revered figure in Indian legal history, Fali S. Nariman was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and later received the Padma Vibhushan in 2007 for his significant contributions to the legal field.

Fali S. Nariman’s legal career included handling several landmark cases such as the National Judicial Appointments Commission case, which made a mark in Supreme Court history. His son, Rohinton Nariman, also held the distinguished position of a Supreme Court judge.

Abhishek Singhvi, via Twitter, extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and underlined Fali S. Nariman as a legendary figure in law and public life who fearlessly stood by his principles. Prashant Bhushan regarded Nariman as the Bhishma Pitamah of the Lawyer community.

Prashant Bhushan shared a message he received just five days before Fali S. Nariman’s demise, expressing regret for not being able to meet the revered jurist. Noting Nariman’s sudden passing as a substantial loss for the legal community and the country, Bhushan outlined Nariman’s crucial role as a pillar for constitutional and civil liberties.

Today, the legal and public realms mourn the immense loss of Fali S. Nariman, a towering figure who left an indelible mark on India’s legal landscape.