“Colossus” advocate Fali Nariman passes away at 95

Renowned legal luminary and senior advocate Fali S Nariman passed away at the age of 95 in New Delhi on Wednesday. The former Additional Solicitor General of India died at his residence around 1 am today.

In a post on X the PM said, “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.”

In a post on X, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi termed it “an end of an era.” Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, in a post on X, said, “A great son of India passes away. Not just one of the greatest lawyers of our country but one of the finest human beings who stood like a colossus above all. The corridors of the court will never be the same without him. May his soul rest in peace.”

Nariman, born to a Parsi family in Myanmar on January 10, 1929, commenced his law practice at the Bombay High Court in 1950. The constitutional lawyer and jurist received the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.

Another senior advocate, Mahesh Jethmalani, expressed, “In the very sad demise of #FaliNariman, legal doyen, accomplished Parliamentarian, and the very epitome of a true gentleman in all he did, the nation and the Indian Bar has lost an inspirational and towering personality. I shared some very special moments with him which I will always treasure. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Om Shanti.”

Nariman’s contribution includes the National Judicial Appointments Commission verdict, among several other landmark cases. He served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1999 to 2005.