Former Attorney General and Constitutional law expert Soli Sorabjee passed away on Friday morning after getting infected with Covid-19, family sources said as per an NDTV report.
Sorabjee, who was born in 1930, enrolled at the bar in 1953. He was designated Senior Advocate by the Bombay High Court in 1971.
He was in legal profession for nearly seven decades and also served as the Attorney General for India twice - first from 1989-90 and second from 1998 to 2004 during the tenure of the first NDA government.
Sorabjee was also involved in many cases for defending the freedom of speech and expression and has been instrumental in revoking censorship orders and bans on publications. His publications on this subject include: The Laws of Press Censorship in India (1976); The Emergency, Censorship and the Press in India, 1975-77 (1977).
In March 2002, he was honored with the Padma Vibhushan award for his defense of freedom of speech and the protection of human rights.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana consoling the death stated that Sorabjee's "humane and compassionate approach defined his legal work."
"Shri Soli J Sorabjee served the office of Attorney General of India twice with great distinction. His 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," read the statement issued by CJI Raman