CJI, judges pay tribute to jurist Soli Sorabjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 30

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Supreme Court judges and prominent legal luminaries on Sunday paid tributes to noted jurist and former Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee, who passed away a month ago.

“He (Soli) was a man with an unflinching faith in the constitutional ideals, particularly those relating to the freedom of speech and human rights. He was a defender of civil liberties during the tough Emergency era. He played a crucial role in some of the most iconic cases which have defined the legal landscape of this great nation,” the CJI said, heaping praise on the departed legal giant.

The CJI, several judges and senior lawyers spoke at a memorial organised in remembrance of Sorabjee, who passed away on April 30 due to Covid-19 at the age of 91.

Recalling how Sorabjee assisted veteran senior lawyer Nani Palkhivala in the Golaknath and Kesavananda Bharati cases, CJI Ramana said, “The true tribute to Sorabjee would be to continue to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms that are essential for human existence in a civilised society.”

“Apart from his courtroom genius, Soli was an epitome of grace, modesty, humility, integrity and kindness, which always stood out to me…Though he has passed into the realm of the immortal, his memory will endure. We have lost a great soul but we shall continue to remember the great human qualities he possessed which can help us through these difficult times. His spirit and confidence in the constitutional ethos of this country and his never-ending quest for justice should be our guide,” the CJI said.

Justice DY Chandrachud described Sorabjee as his mentor on whose advice he accepted judgeship in 1998. “I accepted that advice…and I have never regretted it even for a day,” he said.

Besides the CJI and Justice Chandrachud, Justice UU Lalit and senior advocates Arvind Datar, Harish Salve and Gopal Subramanium recalled their association with the veteran jurist.