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Rohinton Nariman

28 June 2017

JGLS Sonepat has placed 92 out of 235 students graduating in its 5 year LLB class of 2017, revealed a break-down of figures for the course requested by Legally India.

27 February 2017

The Bar Council of India (BCI) managed to avoid a serious challenge to the revival of its LLB age bar on 20 February in the Supreme Court, when its counsel admitted that it does not apply to a petitioner who challenged it.

21 July 2016

It was 3 pm in court 4 yesterday (20 July) and the arguments on either side on the plea to stay the disqualification of the Congress rebels in Uttarakhand seemed endless.

30 June 2016

A matrimonial dispute before the Supreme Court saw tempers rising between husband and wife, who argued through their counsel before justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Nariman but which resulted in a sudden spark of mirth with an apt observation from Justice Joseph.

16 February 2016

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the government to consider the matter of passive euthanasia and made it clear that pendency in the apex court should not come in the way of authorities to take a decision on the matter.

17 December 2015

In the Additional District and Sessions Judge, ‘X’ v. Supreme Court of India Through Secretary General And Anr., which came up before the bench comprising justices JS Khehar and Rohinton Nariman on 16 December, the petitioner’s counsel, Indira Jaising raised the relevance of the in-house committee report in establishing the misconduct of a judge.

29 September 2015

In a huge setback to corporate honcho Anshuman S Ruia and Ravi S Ruia and their company Essar Teleholding, the Supreme Court today upheld their trial by the Special CBI court trying 2G scam cases, rejecting their plea that they should instead be tried by a magisterial court.

01 April 2015

In Numbers: Via MintDespite all the legal firepower involved, it was far from certain that the case would go the way it did.

12 March 2015

SC taxedFrom Monday, 9 March 2015, a special Supreme Court bench comprising of two seasoned tax hands, Justice AK Sikri and Justice RF Nariman, began exclusively hearing and deciding tax cases from Monday to Friday.

14 May 2014

Gopal Subramanium Facing a long string of retirements during his term, Chief Justice of India (CJI) RM Lodha has recommended the elevation of two former solicitor generals to the apex court.

08 February 2013

Breaking: Several sources have confirmed that Supreme Court additional solicitor general Mohan Parasaran will replace outgoing solicitor general of India Rohinton Nariman who resigned on Monday.

It is understood that Parasaran received a telephone call from a senior government official today offering him the appointment today, which he orally accepted.

Tax Sutra's Arun Giri first broke the story earlier today, citing sources [story, behind paywall].

Parasaran is the son of former attorney general of India and senior advocate K Parasaran. He was designated a senior advocate in 2002, and was first appointed an additional solicitor general in the Supreme Court in 2004.

Nariman had resigned from the office on Monday allegedly over difference of opinion with the law minister Ashwini Kumar. Legally India Supreme Court postcard writer Courtwitness tweeted: “[Rohinton F Nariman], from what I gather, did not like being ordered around by someone whom he does not think is as good a lawyer as him.”

04 February 2013

Rohinton Nariman, the solicitor general who had succeeded Gopal Subramanium in July 2011, resigned today according to the Times of India and IBN Live.

According to both TOI and IBN, the reasons behind the resignation are “not known yet”, though IBN citing “sources” wrote that “there were differences of opinion between Nariman and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar”.

Nariman is the son of former additional solicitor general of India Fali S Nariman who in 1975 resigned from his post protesting the imposition of a constitutional emergency by then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Legally India Supreme Court postcard writer @Courtwitness1 tweeted:

“This has got to be a record of some sort... Two SG s quitting in succession, midway through their terms!”

“Rumour was that he wasn't particularly happy with the way govt litigation was being run. Not sure if that's proximate cause as well.”

@arungiri tweeted: “Lets start the prediction game on who ll be new SG.. my prediction - [Mohan] Parasaran… What say”

09 August 2011

Delhi-Supreme-Court The other day, in the corridor outside the government law officers’ chambers in the Supreme Court a well-dressed man sat outside the solicitor general’s office. Visibly uncomfortable on one of the rickety wooden benches, he was also livid with rage and his gaze seemed intent on burning a hole through the firmly shut door to the SG’s chambers.

23 July 2011

Supreme Court senior advocate Rohinton Nariman will be the new solicitor general after Gopal Subramnium unexpectedly resigned from the post two weeks ago.

11 January 2010

Either the Times of India thinks that only advocates are lawyers or that law firm lawyers are just not so very top.

While I certainly would not dare disagree with the calibre and legal genius of each of these individuals, could not at least one law firmite have made it to the list?

Here's TOI's full list of top 10 lawyers, along with our nutshell summary of the paper's often brilliant commentary on each:
  1. Fali Nariman
    The "wise man of the Bar" with a stature that "allows him to be blunt in court".
  2. Soli J Sorabjee
    Former glorious AG, fierce free speech and HR advocate, "mad 'bawa' (Parsi) jokes", successful daughter.
  3. Harish Salve
    The "legal robot" and all-round legal talent.
  4. K. Parasaran
    "Articulate" and "ethically driven" "man for all seasons".
  5. Ram Jethmalani
    Passionate about crimes with "rapier-sharp wit", proving crime does pay.
  6. Abhishek Manu Singhvi
    "Buddha of the Bar", youngest additional solicitor general ever and happy enabler of all tricolor-wavers.
  7. Mukul Rohatgi
    Voluble "king" of Delhi HC and Anil's gas dispute trusted counsel.
  8. K.K. Venugopal
    "Constitutional crorepati", Emergency counterweight and collector - but where's the grey hair?
  9. Rohinton F Nariman
    Cheerful corporate stalwart, fast riser to senior counsel, Fali's son.
  10. Ashok Desai
    Reclusive former AG, softly-spoken but packing a serious punch and control.
Ok, so Zia Mody did make it the the list as a footnote but really, is it not time those doing great work in law firms are properly recognised in the public domain?

Possible explanations:

  • court-room work is simply more glamorous than the desk-bound transactional variety,
  • the ones on the list really are a league apart that law firmites have not yet been able to match, or
  • the TOI did not read the Lawyers Collective judgment that "legal practice" includes desk-work.
What's your view?

For Times of India's full list click here - it's a very entertaining read that brings out many a wonderful personality!