JOIN USFormer Attorney General Soli Sorabjee passes away after contracting Covid-19
Noted jurist and former Attorney General, Soli J Sorabjee passed away here on Friday. He was 91.
Soli and his wife, Zena were found positive for Covid-19 some days back. His wife is in the process of recovering from it, but, Soli, unfortunately, succumbed during the treatment at a private hospital, sources said.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana and other eminent persons paid their rich tributes to the senior advocate.
In his over six-decade long association with law, Sorabjee was actively involved in almost all landmark cases like Kesvananda Bharti case (Basic structure of the Constitution) as a junior of jurist Nani Palkivala, Maneka Gandhi case (personal liberty to mean life with dignity), S R Bommai (against misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution) case.
During the emergency in 1975, he emerged as one of the vocal critics on curbs on free speech and press.
In his message, the PM said Sorabjee was an outstanding lawyer and intellectual who was at the forefront of helping the poor and the downtrodden.
"In the passing of Sorabjee, we lost an icon of India's legal system. He was among the select few who deeply influenced evolution of constitutional law and justice system," the President said in his condolence.
The CJI, in his message, said, "He will be remembered as a legend who added strength to the pillars of democracy." Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the sad demise of Sorabjee is indeed end of an era in the legal and judicial history of India.
Born on March 09, 1930, to a Parsi family in Mumbai, Soli, as affectionately called by his colleagues, was known as a champion of freedom of speech and expression. Having completed his education from the Government Law College, he began his law practice in Bombay High Court in 1953 and got designated as senior advocate by the senior court in 1971. He served as the Solicitor General during the Janta Party rule between 1977 to 1980.
He served as the Attorney General from 1989-90 and then from 1998-2004. He is survived by wife, two sons, --- Jehangir, a doctor and Hormuzd, a car expert, -- and daughter, Zia Mody, a prominent corporate lawyer.
He was honoured with Padma Vibhushan award, for his immense contribution towards the defence of the freedom of speech and expression and for the protection of human rights. He has held several offices in organisations of national and international repute.
Attorney General K K Venugopal, said that Soli was a finest lawyer. His demise is a huge loss to the legal field.
"He is a man of great ideas and a believer and a champion of freedom of speech and expression," Venugopal said.
A jazz lover, Soli also used to write regularly for newspapers and magazines.
Shri Soli Sorabjee was an outstanding lawyer and intellectual. Through law, he was at the forefront of helping the poor and downtrodden. He will be remembered for his noteworthy tenures India’s Attorney General. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers.