A masterful advocate who left his imprint on landmark cases

In the annals of legal history, there are few figures as iconic as Fali S Nariman. With an exemplary career spanning over seven decades, Nariman distinguished himself not only by the sheer magnitude of his legal acumen but also by his unmatched ability to argue some of the most consequential cases of his time. 

- Utkarsh Anand and Abraham Thomas

Equipped with a deep understanding of the law and a resolute commitment to the ideals of fairness, he boldly pursued cases that others thought were either unwinnable or unachievable.

HT documents some of the landmark cases that Nariman was a part of as an advocate whose expanse of legal arguments transcended courtroom outcomes and resonated with the broader public conscience.

IC Golaknath vs State of Punjab

This case was decided in 1967 by an 11-judge bench, which held by a thin margin of 6-5 that none of the fundamental rights could be amended by Parliament under Article 368 of the Constitution, which allows Parliament to amend the Constitution. In that matter, Nariman appeared as a junior counsel for some of the petitioners.

The judgment held that Parliament cannot curtail the fundamental rights of citizens, and that all amendments are amenable to judicial review. This case laid the basis for the "basic structure doctrine" formulated in the Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973.

Judicial appointments