Legal World’s Bhishma Pitamah On February 21, 2024, #India and the legal world lost perhaps its brightest star. Eminent jurist, senior advocate and the ‘#BhishmaPitamah’ of the legal fraternity; #FaliSamNariman passed away in his sleep aged 95.
Born in a Parsi family in then #Rangoon, he arrived in #India as a refugee in 1942 after the #Japanese invasion of #Burma. Starting his legal career as an advocate in the #BombayHighCourt in 1950, #Nariman joined the prestigious chambers of Sir #JamshedjiBehramjiKanga.
He went on to serve as the #President of two major organisations-the International Council for #Commercial Arbitration and the #BarAssociation of #India. #Fali, as friends called him, was a humanist and a staunch believer of #democracy.
Known for his integrity, he resigned in 1975 as the #AdditionalSolicitorGeneral after the declaration of #Emergency.
An expert in constitutional, corporate, and arbitration laws, he was involved in landmark cases such as the #ShankariPrasadDeo, #Golaknath, and the #KesavnandaBharati case which established the #BasicStructureDoctrine of the #Constitution.
A firm supporter of the independence of judiciary, #Nariman was also a part of the Second Judges case and the #NJAC verdict. The #PadmaBhushan (1991), #PadmaVibhushan (2007) recipient and former member of #RajyaSabha was never one to mince his words.
Referring to his representation of #UnionCarbide in the #BhopalGasTragedy of 1984, he openly acknowledged it as one of his biggest regrets. A mentor to many, he inspired generations of lawyers with his humility and unshakeable ethics.
In his 2010 autobiography ‘#BeforeMemoryFades’, he wrote, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”