Eminent lawyer and former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani passed away early on Sunday morning. He was 95. He served as the Union law minister and President of Supreme Court Bar Association.
He was also the chairman of the Bar Council of India. He had announced his retirement in September 2017. Jethmalani had fought several high-profile cases and had represented controversial clients.
Jethmalani had been on round the clock medical help for last two weeks. He is survived by his son, noted lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani, and a US-based daughter. His other daughter Rani Jethmalani had pre-deceased him.
Born in Sikhapur of Sindh province on September 14, 1923, Ram Jethmalani fought many high-profile cases in the Supreme Court, high courts and trial courts. One of the cases he will be remembered for is the KM Nanavati vs State of Maharashtra case in which he was the prosecutor.
Since then, Jethmalani has fought several other high-profile cases which included the defence of Rajiv Gandhi’s killer in Madras High Cout in 2001.
He also defended Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh in the Securities scam of 1992. Jethmalani had also defended the death sentence given to Afzal Guru and represented Manu Sharma in the Jessica Lall murder case.
Jethmalani was later elected as the president of Supreme Court Bar Association in 2010.
In 2018, He was conferred with Lifetime achievement Award by Legal Desire.
#RIP Shri. #ramjethmalani
A Mentor, Inspiration & Finest Legal Luminary. Haven’t seen such a Humble person. He came all the way changing 2 flights to attend our 5th Anniversary of @legaldesire, where we conferred him with Lifetime Achievement Award. blessed to receive mentorship pic.twitter.com/ehrMUhc4Sr
— Anuj Kumar (@aklegaldesire) September 8, 2019
Among other achievements, Jethmalani was elected as a BJP MP in the sixth and seventh Lok Sabha. Apart from Union law minister, he also held the portfolio of urban development in Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government.
Many have described Jethmalani’s death as a loss for the legal fraternity as he was one most respected lawyers in the country.
