Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud Today (April 4th) reflected on the significant influence that the late veteran jurist and Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman had during turbulent periods in India’s history. CJI also highlighted Nariman’s role as a mentor to numerous lawyers and judges, noting his unreserved critique of judgments without hesitation.
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NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud delivered a poignant reflection Today, honoring the profound impact left by the late veteran jurist and Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman on the tumultuous periods in India’s history.
CJI Chandrachud underscored Nariman’s pivotal role as a mentor to countless lawyers and judges, accentuating his steadfast commitment to forthrightly critiquing judgments.
The CJI was speaking at a full-court reference held at the Supreme Court of India today in honour of Fali Nariman, who passed away on February 21, 2024.
“I had received a letter just before he (Fali Nariman) passed away on a recent Constitution Bench judgment. When many voices fell silent in difficult times, his strong baritone was the voice of the nation. His memory will always serve as a guiding light for many who serve the cause of justice in this court,”
–remarked CJI Chandrachud.
Nariman’s unwavering dedication to ethical principles, coupled with his unwavering courage, served as a soothing balm not only to the legal profession but also to the nation as a whole, the CJI articulated. Reflecting on Nariman’s illustrious career trajectory, CJI Chandrachud extolled his exceptional legal acumen and his unwavering commitment to justice.
“When the emergency was imposed, ASG Nariman (as he then was) resigned and he was guided by the question on whether the imposition of emergency was correct. Despite appearing for several clients across various political dispensations, he believed the primary duty was to serve the court of law,”
-CJI Chandrachud reminisced.
Moreover, the CJI highlighted Nariman’s pivotal role in several landmark cases, notably advocating for the rights of minority educational institutions, which ultimately culminated in the landmark TMA Pai judgment.
Additionally, the CJI underscored Nariman’s significant contribution to the Navtej Singh Johar case, wherein the judgment vindicated Nariman’s stance that consensual sex between adults could not be criminalized.
“Grand old men only die, but never fade away,”
-observed the CJI, poignantly concluding his tribute to the veteran lawyer.
Senior Advocate Nariman breathed his last on February 21 at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy that resonated across generations in the legal fraternity. His illustrious career spanned over seven decades, during which he commanded respect everywhere.
Following his graduation from the Government Law College, Mumbai in 1950, Nariman embarked on his legal journey at the Bombay High Court. Designated as a Senior Advocate in 1971, he subsequently shifted his practice to the Supreme Court of India in Delhi.
Nariman’s principled stance was epitomized by his resignation from the post of Additional Solicitor General in 1975, during the imposition of the national emergency. Furthermore, he resigned from representing the Gujarat government in the Project Narmada case following attacks on Christians in the state, a testament to his unwavering commitment to personal values and ethics in the legal profession.
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