Eminent Jurist Fali Nariman Passes Away

NEW DELHI (IANS) – Condolences poured in from the political and legal fraternity after the death of former Additional Solicitor General of India and senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Fali S Nariman in the national capital on February 21, at the age of 95.

The eminent jurist is survived by his son and former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Rohinton F Nariman, and his daughter Anaheeta F Nariman.

Nariman argued several landmark cases including:

The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) case was a significant constitutional matter. The NJAC was proposed to replace the collegium system for appointing judges. However, in a unanimous judgment in 2015, the Supreme Court struck down the NJAC Act, upholding the primacy of the collegium system in judicial appointments.

The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association case is often associated with the famous “Second Judges Case.” It dealt with the issue of judicial appointments and the primacy of the Chief Justice of India in the collegium. The judgment in this case reinforced the collegium system for the appointment of judges to higher courts.

The TMA Pai Foundation case revolved around the interpretation of minority rights under Article 30 of the Indian Constitution, specifically dealing with the right to establish and administer educational institutions. The judgment laid down guidelines regarding the autonomy of minority educational institutions.

Nariman was appointed Additional Solicitor General of India in May 1972.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in January 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.

The veteran lawyer was enrolled as an advocate of the Bombay High Court in November 1950. He practiced law for more than 70 years beginning at the High Court of Bombay and then moved to the Supreme Court.