Veteran jurist and senior lawyer of Supreme Court died in New Delhi on Wednesday morning at the age of 95.
Nariman recently made headlines when he criticised the judgment in the Article 370 case. In 1975, he resigned as the Additional Solicitor General of India to protest against the Emergency declaration by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He served as the chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva between 1995 and 1997. He was also the president of the Bar Association of India between 1991 and 2010. His son, Rohinton Nariman, was a Supreme Court judge.
Born on January 10, 1929, he was conferred with the Padma Bhushan in January 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007. Books penned by Nariman include his autobiography, Before Memory Fades and others like The State of Nation and God Save the Hon'ble Supreme Court. His latest book You Must Know Your Constitution takes a look at all the 395 articles of the Constitution and the amendments made up to July 31, 2023.
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Tributes poured in from the political circles and the lawyer community after the news of Nariman's death was confirmed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "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."
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, as he began the day's proceedings in the Supreme Court, said, "Mr Attorney General, we mourn the sad demise and passing away of Fali Nariman. He was a great giant of an intellectual."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the death of Nariman is a huge loss to the legal system. "A Padma Vibhushan recipient, his unwavering commitment to his principles remained steadfast and admirable. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and compatriots. May his soul rest in peace."
Rahul Gandhi said the veteran lawyer's demise leaves a profound void in the legal community. "His contributions have not only shaped landmark cases, but have also inspired generations of jurists to uphold the sanctity of our Constitution and civil liberties," he added. "May his commitment to justice and fairness continues to guide us, even in his absence."
Lawyer and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal posted on X, "A great son of India passes away. Not just one of the greatest lawyers of our country but one of the finest human beings who stood like a colossus above all . The corridors of the court will never be the same without him. May his soul rest in peace."
Another prominent lawyer and politician Prashanth Bhushan posted, "Very sad news. Eminent Jurist Fali S Nariman Passes Away. He was also regarded as the Bhishma Pitamah of the Lawyer community. A great lawyer & close friend of our family. His passing away at this critical juncture is an enormous loss for our country."
