It's an untimely death. A good man, affable and charming, has passed away. I have known Goolam Vahanvati for the more than 20 years. I first met him in connection with a case in the Mumbai High Court that involved a relative of mine. This was somewhere in the mid-1990s. I requested him to take up the matter and he immediately obliged. He was a learned advocate and a generous friend who spread his goodness to a large number of juniors and youngsters in the Bar who frequented his chamber.
In 1999, he became the Advocate-General of Maharashtra and acquitted himself quite ably for five years. He was a leader of the Bombay Bar all through when he was Advocate-General. After serving for five years in Bombay, he was elevated to the post of Solicitor-General in the Supreme Court of India and he thus moved to Delhi.
Goolam was rather soft-spoken in Court for a forceful lawyer. His arguments, however, were always razor sharp. He was not given to theatrics in court. He was lucid, very well behaved with members of the Bar as well as with the judiciary.
After serving as solicitor-general for five years, in 2009 he was rewarded for his ability and legal prowess when he was appointed to the post of attorney general for India by the last government. I have appeared in a large number of cases against him. He was a true professional. Even after heated arguments in the court room, we would follow it up with a cup of coffee outside the Supreme Court canteen.
Since I knew him closely, I knew his passion for good things in life. He had a good collection of pens and watches and a penchant for horse riding, at least in his early years. In fact, he and I use to purchase pens from a shop right across the high court in Mumbai.
Unfortunately, he fell seriously ill about six months ago and was hospitalized in Mumbai. Though he was discharged from hospital, he never really recovered and passed away after a cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife, a son who is a young lawyer in Mumbai and a married daughter who lives overseas. Goolam bore ill-will towards none. He will always be remembered for his gentle nature and his impeccable manners.
Adieu my friend. May you rest in peace.
Mukul Rohatgi
http://ift.tt/1kuDWdc Court,Mukul Rohtagi pays tribute to Vahanvati,Goolam Vahanvati
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