India’s top lawyer and senior advocate Iqbal Chagla passed away in Mumbai on Sunday (January 13) at the age of 85. He had been unwell for a few days due to age-related ailments.
News agency PTI reported citing sources that his last rites will be performed on Monday at the Worli crematorium.
Iqbal Chagla was the son of former Bombay High Court Chief Justice MC Chagla. His father was the first permanent Indian Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from 1948 to 1958.
He will be remembered for both his legal expertise and his time as president of the Bombay Bar Association. During his tenure as bar association president, he took a stand against corruption in the judiciary in the 1990s. Multiple resolutions were passed against six sitting judges, leading to resignations of some judges.
Chagla is an example of academic excellence. He did his Master’s in History and Law from Cambridge University.
After completing his studies, he returned to India to practice at the Bombay High Court.
While practicing at the high court, he became a senior advocate at the age of 39. Chagla served as president of the Bombay Bar Association from 1990 to 1999.
He was later offered judgeships in both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court of India, but he declined the offers.
If advocate Chagla had accepted the judgeship offer, he could have become the Chief Justice of India, The Indian Express reported.
The Bombay Bar Association released a statement mourning Chagla’s passing. The statement highlighted that his contributions to the legal field were immeasurable, and his legacy would always be remembered.
“Iqbal was one of the greatest figures in the legal profession. I have known him personally for over 50 years. He was an excellent advocate, a formidable opponent, and a wonderful human being. He was truly a role model,” senior advocate Rafique Dada said to The Indian Express.
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Mumbai lawyer Iqbal Chagla, who voiced against corruption in judiciary, passes away at 85
