Soli Sorabjee
Encyclopedia
Soli Jehangir Sorabjee is an India
n jurist.
, and after an education at Government Law College, Bombay, was admitted to the bar in 1953. At college, he was awarded the Kinloch Forbes Gold Medal in Roman Law
and Jurisprudence
(1952).
In 1971, Sorabjee was designated Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India
. He served as Solicitor-General of India from 1977 to 1980. He was appointed Attorney-General of India
on 7 April 1998, a post he held until 2004.
In March 2002, Soli Sorabjee was awarded the Padma Vibhushan
for his defense of the freedom of expression and the protection of human rights. He worked on the Citizen's Justice Committee
which represented pro bono
the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
victims.
In March 2006 he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia
(AM), "for service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations".
Some of the other important cases he has appeared for are: Keshavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi, S.R. Bommai, I.R. Coelho, etc. He recently appeared in the case of B.P. Singhal, where the Apex Court held that Governors could not be dismissed without due cause.
Sorabjee was a close friend and colleague of Nanabhoy ("Nani") Palkhivala
. Sorabjee's daughter, Zia Mody
, is also a lawyer.
In India
, he is Chairman of Transparency International
and Convenor of the Minority Rights Group
.
On the international circuit, he has been Special Rapporteur to the United Nations Human Rights Commission since 1997, a member of the United Nations
Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities since 1998. Sorabjee served as member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
at The Hague
from 2000 to 2006.
Sorabjee is also President of the United Lawyers Association, Vice-President of the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association
, Vice-President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Executive Committee member of the International Association of Constitutional Lawyers and member of the Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament Law of the International Law Association
. He is also a Patron of the Media Legal Defence Initiative
, a UK-based charity that provides legal aid and assistance to journalists and news media organizations around the world, supports training in media law and promotes the exchange of information, litigation tools and strategies for lawyers working on media freedom cases.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n jurist.
Biography
Soli Sorabjee was born on March 9, 1930 in BombayMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, and after an education at Government Law College, Bombay, was admitted to the bar in 1953. At college, he was awarded the Kinloch Forbes Gold Medal in Roman Law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
and Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
(1952).
In 1971, Sorabjee was designated Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
. He served as Solicitor-General of India from 1977 to 1980. He was appointed Attorney-General of India
Indian Attorney General
The Attorney General for India is the Indian government's chief legal advisor, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of India.The Attorney General for India is appointed by the President of India under Article 76 of the Constitution of India and holds office during the pleasure of the President...
on 7 April 1998, a post he held until 2004.
In March 2002, Soli Sorabjee was awarded the Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
for his defense of the freedom of expression and the protection of human rights. He worked on the Citizen's Justice Committee
Citizen's Justice Committee
Citizen's Justice Committee is an umbrella organization of various human rights organizations and is known for pro bono representing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims in their legal battle to gain justice.-Formation:...
which represented pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
1984 anti-Sikh riots
The 1984 Anti-Sikh pogroms / riots or the 1984 Sikh Massacre was a sikh genocide there was four days of violence in northern India, particularly Delhi, during which armed mobs killed Sikhs, looted and set fire to Sikh homes, businesses and schools, and attacked gurdwaras, in response to the...
victims.
In March 2006 he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM), "for service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations".
Some of the other important cases he has appeared for are: Keshavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi, S.R. Bommai, I.R. Coelho, etc. He recently appeared in the case of B.P. Singhal, where the Apex Court held that Governors could not be dismissed without due cause.
Sorabjee was a close friend and colleague of Nanabhoy ("Nani") Palkhivala
Nanabhoy Palkhivala
Nanabhoy "Nani" Ardeshir Palkhivala was an Indian jurist and economist.- Early years :Nani Palkhivala was born in 1920 in Bombay to blue collar, middle-class Parsi parents...
. Sorabjee's daughter, Zia Mody
Zia Mody
Zia Mody is a prominent Indian legal consultant and an active member of the Bahá'í faith. She is considered an authority on corporate merger and acquisition law, securities law, private equity and project finance.-Biography:...
, is also a lawyer.
Offices
Soli Sorabjee holds several offices in organizations of national and international repute.In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, he is Chairman of Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
and Convenor of the Minority Rights Group
Minority Rights Group International
Minority Rights Group International is an organisation founded with the objective of promoting respect for the human rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples around the world...
.
On the international circuit, he has been Special Rapporteur to the United Nations Human Rights Commission since 1997, a member of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities since 1998. Sorabjee served as member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Permanent Court of Arbitration
The Permanent Court of Arbitration , is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands.-History:The court was established in 1899 as one of the acts of the first Hague Peace Conference, which makes it the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.The creation of...
at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
from 2000 to 2006.
Sorabjee is also President of the United Lawyers Association, Vice-President of the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
, Vice-President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Executive Committee member of the International Association of Constitutional Lawyers and member of the Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament Law of the International Law Association
International Law Association
The International Law Association is a non-profit organization based in Great Britain that — according to its 2004 constitution — promotes "the study, clarification and development of international law" and "the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law."The ILA...
. He is also a Patron of the Media Legal Defence Initiative
Media Legal Defence Initiative
The Media Legal Defence Initiative is a non-governmental organization established in 2008 to provide legal assistance to journalists and news media organizations, support training in media law and promote the exchange of information, litigation tools and strategies for lawyers working on media...
, a UK-based charity that provides legal aid and assistance to journalists and news media organizations around the world, supports training in media law and promotes the exchange of information, litigation tools and strategies for lawyers working on media freedom cases.
Publication record
In addition to his columns for the Indian Express (see further reading, below), Sorabjee also has a number of other publications to his credit:- Books:
- The Laws of Press Censorship in India (1976)
- The Emergency, Censorship and the Press in India, 1975-77 (1977), ISBN 0-904286-00-2
- Law and Justice (2004), ISBN 81-7534-367-2
- Essays and Monographs:
- Fundamental Rights as published in "Public Law of India" (1979), ISBN 0-7069-1390-6
- The Constitution and the Governor as published in "The Governor, Sage or Saboteur" (1985)
- Protection of Human Rights in Emergencies (1988)
- Equity in the United States and India published in "Constitutionalism and Rights" (1990)
- Articles:
- Obliging Government to Control Itself; Recent Development in Indian Administrative Law, Spring 1994 issue of "Public Law"
- Freedom of Expression and Censorship: Some Aspects of the Indian Experience, Winter 1994 issue of Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly
- Freedom of Expression, Commonwealth Law Journal Bulletin (1994).