New Delhi: Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee died of Covid-19 in a private hospital here Friday. One the top most lawyers of India, Soli Sorabjee (91) tested positive of Covid-19 a few days ago. He was being treated in a private hospital in the national capital. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.
In his around seven decades of legal profession, Sorabjee served twice as the Attorney General for India. The first term was from 1989-90 and second from 1998 to 2004.
Born in 1930, Sorabjee started his practice in 1953 and was designated as ‘Senior Advocate’ in 1971 by the Supreme Court. He was conferred Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, in 2002 for his exemplary services.
As the news of Sorabjee’s demise became public, condolences poured in from all quarters.
President Ram Nath Kovind condoled Sorabjee’s death and said India has lost an icon of its legal system in his passing.
“In the passing of Soli Sorabjee, we lost an icon of India’s legal system. He was among the select few who deeply influenced evolution of constitutional law and justice system. Awarded with Padma Vibhushan, he was among most eminent jurists. My condolences to his family & associates,” Kovind said in a tweet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the eminent lawyer. “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 as India’s Attorney General. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers,” Modi tweeted.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu also condoled the death of the former attorney general. “Deeply anguished by the passing away of legal luminary and former attorney general Soli Sorabjee. He was a champion of human rights and brought international repute to India with his work,” the Vice-President Secretariat said in a tweet quoting Naidu.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed his condolences to Sorabjee’s family. He said Sorabjee’s demise is ‘the end of an era in the legal and judicial history of India’.
“Soli Sorabjee rose to great heights in his fight for freedom of citizens, which was curbed during the Emergency of 1975,” Prasad said in a post on microblogging site ‘Koo’.
NCP president Sharad Pawar expressed grief over the death of Sorabjee.” Saddened to hear about the demise of former Attorney General, Padma Vibhushan Shri Soli Sorabjee. His long career as a Senior Advocate is an example of commitment to the sovereignty and spirit of the Constitution of India. My heartfelt condolences to his family members,” Pawar tweeted.