Palkhivala was a true defender of human rights: CJI

Chief Justice of India H L Dattu today hailed eminent jurist Nanabhoy Palkhivala as a true defender of human rights and said cases argued by him have gone down as "watershed moments" in the interpretation of Constitution.
"Palkhivala had argued cases which have gone down in the history of India as watershed moments in the interpretation of Constitution. He has cemented his place in the history as a true defender of human rights and civil liberties," the Chief Justice said.
Dattu today unveiled the portrait of Palkhivala, popularly known as Nani Palkhivala. The portrait will be put up in the apex court library.

The CJI said that this moment is special for him.
"As I welcome the presence of Palkivala to the Supreme Court, I pray that his presence in apex court would guide us towards the goal and dream he had for the great nation," the chief Justice said.
"They say a great man is born once in generation but a personality of the stature of Palkhivala is bestowed upon the world only once," he said.
"It will be most proper and fitting that this portrait of Palkhivala will be placed in the library in the midst of young mind and old. People moving through the corridor of the apex court of the country will look upto him as a true defender of the Constitution," he said.

The chief justice in the presence of other legal luminaries like former attorney general Soli Sorabjee also announced that a lawyers dispensary will start functioning from March 31.