Judicial giant Fali S Nariman leaves an unmatched legacy

"I have lived and flourished in a secular India. In the fullness of time, if God wills, I would also like to die in a secular India," Fali S Nariman, a distinguished legal luminary and veteran lawyer stated in his book Before Memory Fades: An Autobiography, indicating the monumental sense of probity and concerns for the constitutional ethos that the titan of the legal profession had till he breathed his last in the wee hours of Wednesday.

- Utkarsh Anand

A Padma Vibhushan recipient, Nariman, 95, died peacefully at around 12.40am on Wednesday at his New Delhi residence, leaving behind a legacy of matchless expertise, unwavering integrity, and profound impact. Nariman is survived by his son and former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, daughter-in-law Sanaya, and daughter Anaheeta. His wife Bapsi Nariman died in 2020.

Born in Rangoon January 10, 1929-then British India- Nariman was enrolled as an advocate of the Bombay high court in November 1950, setting out on a journey in the year the Constitution was enacted which would shape the landscape of legal practice for generations to come. With an innate passion for justice and an insatiable curiosity for the intricacies of the law, Nariman quickly rose through the ranks, earning a reputation as a brilliant legal mind. He was designated a senior advocate in 1961. In May 1972, Nariman was appointed as additional solicitor general of India; nevertheless, he left his position the day the Emergency was declared on June 26, 1975.

His illustrious career spanned an extraordinary seven decades; initially in the Bombay high court and later in the Supreme Court where Nariman fearlessly navigated a complex legal terrain, setting precedents and championing causes that advanced the cause of justice, equality and constitutionalism.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Nariman, often referred to as the "Bhishma Pitamah" (father figure) of the Indian judiciary, had been at the forefront of several landmark judgments that aided the Supreme Court in breaking new ground. Serving as a beacon of wisdom and guidance, he appeared in an array of Constitution bench cases that went a long way in helping the apex court interpret constitutional provisions and redefining the legal fabric.