Fali S. Nariman, a distinguished senior advocate and jurist, passed away Wednesday morning. The 95-year-old Nariman was afflicted with numerous diseases, including cardiac complications. Often hailed as “Bhishma Pitaamah” (the father figure of the Indian judiciary), Padma Vibhushan recipient Nariman was at the vanguard of pivotal rulings that assisted the Supreme Court in setting new standards.
By his remarkable rhetorical abilities and incisive advocacy, Nariman participated in a multitude of Constitution bench cases that significantly aided the Supreme Court in elucidating the stipulations of the Constitution and reshaping the legal framework.
As an attorney, Nariman participated in several pivotal cases, including the Golak Nath case (which established that even constitutional amendments are susceptible to judicial review), the TMA Pai case (which upheld the right of minority groups to establish institutions of their choosing), and the SP Gupta and NJAC case (in which he advocated for judicial independence in judge appointments).
Formerly a member of the Rajya Sabha, Nariman was a prolific author. “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” are among the works he authored.
Nariman was born in Rangoon, British India at the time, on January 10, 1929. In 1961, following his enrollment as an advocate with the Bombay High Court in November 1950, he was elevated to the rank of senior advocate.
After more than seven decades of practice in the Bombay high court, Nariman subsequently transferred to the Supreme Court. He was designated additional solicitor-general of India in May 1972, but tendered his resignation on June 26, 1975, one day subsequent to the implementation of the Emergency. His son, Justice Rohinton F. Nariman, has served as a Supreme Court judge in the past.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi referred to Nariman as a living legend in a post on X. Singhvi stated that Singhvi will live on in the hearts and imaginations of those in the legal and public spheres. “Beyond his many accomplishments, he steadfastly adhered to his principles and referred to a spade as a spade, a trait that his brilliant son also possessed,” he wrote in the post.
Solicitor-general Tushar Mehta stated that a towering figure of intelligence and sagacity has been lost not only to the legal fraternity but to the nation as a whole. “The nation has lost a personification of what righteousness entailed. During his lifetime, he was a doyenne, paragon, and legend, and his immeasurable contribution to the field of jurisprudence has only served to enrich it. “By merely confronting him, I have always gained new knowledge,” Mehta wrote in his message.
He further stated that such titans of intellect do not perish. “Their immortality is a result of their contribution.” “Another Fali Nariman is not possible and never will materialise.”
