Eminent Jurist and Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman passes at 95, Supreme Court lawyers and PM Modi express their pain on his passing away

On Wednesday (February 21, 2024) morning, Eminent jurist and Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman passed away at the age of 95 years. He was often called ‘Bhishma Pitaamah’ (Father Figure) of the Indian judiciary. Nariman was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha for a term from 1999 to 2005. He was an internationally recognized jurist and one of India’s most distinguished constitutional lawyers who argued in various landmark cases. He authored various books including ‘The State of the Nation’, God Save the Hon’ble Supreme Court’, ‘Before the Memory Fades’, and ‘India’s Legal System: Can it be Saved?’ Fali S Nariman was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the Padma Vibhushan in 2007, and the Gruber Prize for Justice in 2002.

In a post on X (earlier known as Twitter), Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Nariman an outstanding legal mind and expressed his condolences. He posted “Shri Fali Nariman Ji was among the most outstanding legal minds and intellectuals. He devoted his life to making justice accessible to common citizens. I am pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. May his soul rest in peace.” Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi posted on X “End of an era…a living legend who wl (will) forever be in hearts &minds of those in law &public life. Above all his diverse achievements, he stuck to his principles unwaveringly &called a spade a spade, a quality shared by his brilliant son.” 

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud also mourned the death of Fali S Nariman. He said, “...we mourn the sad demise and passing away of Fali Nirman…His voice truly represented the conscience of a generation. Fearless in the expression of his views, he wrote and spoke with clarity and candor. He mentored a generation of lawyers and judges but above all, he was always a kind and affectionate father figure. A towering intellectual of our era has sadly passed on.” Many other prominent leaders and lawyers such as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.