Born in 1939, Iqbal Chagla was the son of M. C. Chagla, who served as the first permanent Indian Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from 1948 to 1958. After completing his Master’s in History and Law from Cambridge University, Chagla returned to Bombay to practice law in the Bombay High Court.
NEW DELHI: Senior advocate Iqbal M. Chagla, one of India’s most respected lawyers, passed away on Sunday in Mumbai at the age of 85. Known for his sharp legal mind and unwavering integrity, Chagla also served as the President of the Bombay Bar Association during the 1990s, where he boldly stood against corruption in the judiciary. Under his leadership, resolutions were passed against six sitting judges, some of which led to their resignations.
BBA President Nitin Thakker confirmed the news, stating, “Yes, Mr. Chagla is no more. He was unwell.” The last rites are scheduled to take place on Monday at the Worli Crematorium.
Born in 1939, Iqbal Chagla was the son of Bombay High Court Chief Justice M. C. Chagla, who served as the first permanent Indian Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from 1948 to 1958. After completing his Master’s in History and Law from Cambridge University, Chagla returned to Bombay to practice law in the Bombay High Court.
He was appointed as a senior advocate at the young age of 39. Despite being offered judgeships in the High Court and Supreme Court, which could have eventually led to him becoming the Chief Justice of India, Chagla declined these opportunities.
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Chagla’s tenure as President of the Bombay Bar Association, from 1990 to 1999, was marked by his fearless commitment to justice and ethics.
“Iqbal was one of the greatest giants of the legal profession. I personally knew him for over 50 years. He was a fine advocate, a great opponent, and a wonderful human being. He was a role model,” said senior advocate Rafique Dada, a former president of the Association.
Dada also highlighted Chagla’s courage in addressing judicial misconduct. “The Association has been completely independent and is known to fight for the right causes. Iqbal Chagla personally became a petitioner in matters before the Supreme Court where the judges of various high courts were being transferred indiscriminately. In every major matter, I believe that he took correct and courageous decisions, never afraid of any powers that be or governments. That has been the true tradition and standard of the Bar. Iqbal set that standard,” he said.
Senior advocate Yusuf Mucchala, who knew Chagla since the early 1960s, described him as an exemplary lawyer and mentor.
“Apart from being a brilliant lawyer, his presentation was also a lesson for every junior. As a president of the Bombay Bar Association, he took very courageous decisions. When the Justice Srikrishna Commission was set up after the 1992-93 Bombay riots, he had taken the lead as the president of the Association, having felt that it should help the commission find the truth. The Association had filed affidavits on behalf of some of the victims. This stemmed from his personal belief to maintain the values of secularism; he was secular at heart, committed to the values of the Constitution,”
Mucchala said.
Chagla’s contributions extended beyond his leadership roles. He was known to continue working actively until recently, including appearing in the Dawoodi Bohra sect dispute just months before his death.
“There are countless lawyers who are inspired by him; we had seen him from our younger days as lawyers. He was known to be a fair opponent and one can say that he worked till the end,” said Nitin Thakker, the current president of the Bombay Bar Association.
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The Bombay Bar Association issued a statement mourning Chagla’s passing.
“I M Chagla’s contributions to the legal field are immeasurable and his legacy will forever be remembered. His dedication, integrity, and excellence have inspired countless legal professionals. The Bombay Bar Association mourns the loss of a true champion of human rights and protector of the rule of law,” said its secretary, Farhan Dubash.
In a 2020 column for The Indian Express, Chagla reflected on his time as president of the Bombay Bar Association.
“In 1990, it fell upon myself to move resolutions against five sitting judges of the Bombay High Court, impugning their integrity and calling for their resignation. I was warned by friends that this constituted clear criminal contempt and under the extant law, justification was not a defence. My only raison d’etre was that one owed it to posterity not to sit idle even as the fountain of justice was polluted. The resolutions were passed, albeit with much-heated debate: One judge resigned, two were transferred and two were denied any further judicial work,” he wrote.
He further shared an instance from five years later when he moved another resolution against a sitting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, citing corruption.
“The judge had to subsequently resign,” he wrote.
