Fali Sam Nariman died here on Wednesday at the age of 95. He was suffering from multiple ailments, including cardiac issues.
The legal fraternity mourned the passing of eminent jurist and veteran advocate Fali Sam Nariman, with Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud describing him as a “great giant of an intellectual,” and former CJI N V Ramana calling him a “conscience keeper for judicial institutions.”
Nariman, aged 95, passed away in the city on Wednesday after battling multiple ailments, including cardiac issues.
Upon assembling for the day’s proceedings, a bench led by the CJI expressed condolences for the loss of the legal luminary. Justice Chandrachud remarked, “Mr Attorney General, we mourn the sad demise and passing away of Fali Nariman. He was a great giant of an intellectual.”
Several senior lawyers, including veteran advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Indira Jaising, Prashant Bhushan, and Menaka Guruswamy, paid their respects to Nariman.
Former CJI N V Ramana conveyed his condolences, highlighting Nariman’s stature as an “ethical giant” whose extensive body of work would continue to guide future generations. He emphasized Nariman’s role as a conscience keeper for judicial institutions and his unwavering commitment to constitutional principles.
Echoing the sentiments, Sibal described Nariman as “one of the greatest lawyers of our country” and a towering figure in both legal and humanistic realms.
Singhvi mourned Nariman’s demise as “the end of an era,” emphasizing his principled stance and forthright demeanor, qualities inherited by his son Rohinton Fali Nariman, a retired Supreme Court judge.
Bhushan lauded Nariman as the ‘Bhishma Pitamaha’ of the legal community, recognizing his pivotal role in shaping India’s legal landscape and his steadfast advocacy for constitutional values.
Jaising remembered Nariman as a stalwart defender of secular values and judicial independence, expressing her deepest condolences to his family.
Guruswamy hailed Nariman as a fearless and witty advocate, a guardian of the bar, and a staunch defender of constitutional principles.
Born on January 10, 1929, Nariman began his legal career in the Bombay High Court in 1950, later practicing in the Supreme Court from 1972. He served as Additional Solicitor General of India and participated in landmark cases, leaving an indelible mark on Indian jurisprudence.
