India has had the present form government and administration for about 150 to 180 years. Lawyers play a very important part interpreting and explaining the contours of the law of the land. India has seen some truly enlightened, intellectual, honourable and smart men and women adorn the black robes and walk the halls of power. Here are the top 10 greatest of them:
The top 5 greatest Indian Lawyers of all time.
1. Fali Sam Nariman
Birth Date: 10 January 1929.
Fali Sam Nariman is a legal expert from India. He has worked at India’s Supreme Court as a senior advocate since 1971, and from 1991, he has been the president of India’s bar association. He is one of the most famous constitutional lawyers in India. Fali Sam Nariman has argued in various major cases.
Fali Sam Nariman was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, Gruber Prize for good justice, and Padma Bhushan. He is an expensive lawyer as his per hearing fee is 8 lakh to 15 lakh. His wife is Bapsi F. Nariman.
2. Ram Jethmalani
Birth date: 23rd September 1923
Ram Jethmalani is recognised as one of the ‘best lawyers of India‘. He received his LLB degree at the age of 17 from the Government Law College at Mumbai. A special resolution was declared so he could earn his degree because, at that time, the minimum age to acquire the law degree was 21 years. He later earned his LLM degree from SC Shahani Law College, Karachi.
Jethmalani rose to become the most successful civil and criminal advocate in the country by taking up several politically sensitive cases. From leading politicians like LK Advani in the hawala case to smuggler Haji Mastan, Harshad Mehta in the stock market scam, the assassins of prime minister Indira Gandhi and later her son Rajiv to Manu Sharma in the Jessica Lal murder case, the eminent lawyer defended people from various walks of life
3. Soli Sorabjee
Birth Date: 9 March 1930.
Date of death: 30 April 2021.
Soli Sorabjee was a well-known Indian lawyer. His full name was Soli Jehangir Sorabjee. He completed his Law from Government Law College, Mumbai. Sorabjee was appointed as a senior advocate in the Indian Supreme Court in 1971. He was an expensive lawyer as his per hearing fee was 10 lakh to 15 lakh. He was awarded the Justice K. S. Hegde Foundation Award, Padma Vibhushan, and Kinloch Forbes Gold Medal.
Books written by Soli Sorabjee:
- The Governor, Sage, or Saboteur.
- Law of Press Censorship in India.
- Law & Justice: An Anthology.
4. Nani Palkhiwala
Birthdate: January 16, 1920
Nanabhoy Palkhivala was an Indian liberal economist and jurist. Best remembered for his clear thinking and brilliant court craft, Palkhivala helped shape the constitutional jurisprudence in India. He achieved national recognition for his high-profile cases and his annual budget speeches.
5. Ashok Desai
Birth Date: 18 December 1932.
Date of death: 13 April 2020.
Ashok Desai was a well-known Indian lawyer. He worked at India’s Supreme Court. He mostly fought public life and accountability cases. He was awarded the Law Luminary Award, Capital Foundation National Awards, Golden Anniversary Rotary Prize, and Padma Bhushan. He was President of the Inns of Court Society and Vice President of the Bar Association of India.
