New Delhi, Feb 21: Renowned constitutional jurist and senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Fali S Nariman passed away at the age of 95 in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Nariman started his legal journey in November 1950 as an advocate of the Bombay High Court and attained the prestigious designation of senior advocate in 1961.
With a legal career spanning over 70 years, Nariman initially practiced in the Bombay High Court before relocating to New Delhi in 1972 to focus on the Supreme Court of India. He also served as Additional Solicitor General of India from May 1972 onward, after his move from Bombay to Delhi. Notably, Nariman held the position of President of the Bar Association of India from 1991 to 2010.
Acknowledged for his legal acumen, Nariman was honored with the Padma Bhushan in January 1991, followed by the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise, describing Nariman as one of the most exceptional legal minds and intellectuals dedicated to ensuring justice for all. Modi expressed his condolences to Nariman's family and admirers, praying for peace for his departed soul.
Throughout his illustrious career, Nariman argued numerous landmark cases, including the NJAC verdict and the SC AoR Association case, which played pivotal roles in shaping the collegium system. He also contributed significantly to cases like the TMA Pai case, elucidating the scope of minority rights under Article 30. Noteworthy is his principled resignation in June 1975 as the Additional Solicitor General of India in protest against the imposition of emergency by the Indira Gandhi government.
Nariman's influence extended beyond national borders as he held various prominent positions internationally. He served as the President of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration from 1994 and as Vice-Chairman of the Internal Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce from 1989. Additionally, he chaired the Executive Committee of the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva from 1995 to 1997, among other distinguished roles.
In his book "You Must Know Your Constitution," published in 2022, Nariman reflected on the challenges of interpreting and implementing a written constitution, emphasizing the importance of experiential wisdom over theoretical constructs. He cautioned against the illusion of crafting an ideal constitution solely through innovative ideas, stressing the indispensable role of historical experience in shaping constitutional governance.
