New Delhi: Veteran lawyer and former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee died of Covid-19 on Friday morning here. He was 91.
He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.
Sorabjee, a Padma Vibhushan awardee, was born in 1930 in Bombay. He started his legal career in the year 1953 at the Bombay High Court.
In 1971, he was designated as a senior Advocate by the Supreme Court. Sorabjee then went on to become the Attorney General of India, first from 1989-90 and then from 1998-2004.
A renowned human rights lawyer, Sorabjee was appointed by the UN as a Special Rapporteur for Nigeria, in 1997, to report on the human rights situation in that country.
He then became a member and later Chairman of the UN-Sub Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights from 1998 to 2004, as per the Brandeis University website.
He earned the distinction of working as a member of the United Nations Sub-commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities since 1998.
Besides, Sorabjee also served as member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague from 2000 to 2006.
He was also involved in many cases for defending the freedom of speech and expression and had also been instrumental in revoking censorship orders and bans on publications.
In March 2002, he was honored with the Padma Vibhushan award, the second highest civilian ward, for his defense of freedom of speech and the protection of human rights.
He was also a jazz aficionado.
President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death of veteran lawyer and former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, saying the country lost an icon of legal system.
“In the passing of Soli Sorabji, we lost an icon of India’s legal system. He was among the select few who deeply influenced evolution of constitutional law & justice system. Awarded with Padma Vibhushan, he was among most eminent jurists. My condolences to his family & associates,” the President tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is saddened by the demise of veteran lawyer and former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee and termed him as an outstanding lawyer and intellectual.
“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,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
Chief Justice NV Ramana on Friday condoled the death of veteran lawyer and former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, saying the latter will be remembered as a legend who added strength to the pillars of democracy.
“Shri Soli J Sorabjee served the office of Attorney General of India twice with great distinction. His humane and compassionate approach defined his legal work. His body of work, spread over nearly seven decades, in defending the fundamental rights and human rights is of international repute. He will be remembered as a legend who added strength to the pillars of democracy. I pay my deep respect to the departed soul. Condolences to the family, friends and fans,” CJI Ramana said in a statement.
