New Delhi: Eminent jurist and former Union minister Ram Jethmalani passed away on Sunday at the age of 95, his family members said.
Jethmalani breathed his last at 7.45 am at his official residence in New Delhi, his son Mahesh Jethmalani told PTI. Mahesh and other close acquaintances said he had not been keeping well for a few months.
He passed away a few days before his 96th birthday on September 14. Mahesh said his father’s last rites will be performed in the evening at the Lodhi road crematorium here.
Besides Mahesh Jethmalani, the former Union minister is survived by his daughter based in the US. His other daughter, Rani Jethmalani, died in 2011.
Jethmalani was the Union law minister and also the Urban development minister during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government. He also served as the Supreme Court Bar Association president in 2010. He was born in Shikarpur in Sindh province (now in Pakistan) on September 14, 1923 and obtained a law degree at the age of 17.
‘Lost a dear friend’
President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the demise of Ram Jethmalani, a “person of great erudition and intellect”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recollected the contributions of Mr. Jethmalani to both the Court and Parliament while condoling his demise.
In the passing away of Shri Ram Jethmalani Ji, India has lost an exceptional lawyer and iconic public figure who made rich contributions both in the Court and Parliament. He was witty, courageous and never shied away from boldly expressing himself on any subject. pic.twitter.com/8fItp9RyTk
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 8, 2019
“I consider myself fortunate to have got numerous opportunities to interact with Shri Ram Jethmalani Ji. In these sad moments, my condolences to his family, friends and many admirers. He may not be here but his pioneering work will live on! Om Shanti,” Modi wote.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday expressed grief over the death of the veteran lawyer, and said he had lost a “dear friend”.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said the country has lost a great intellectual and a patriot.
“Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of Shri Ram Jethmalani … one of the brilliant minds of Bharat. In his passing away the nation has lost a distinguished jurist, a great intellectual & a patriot, who was active till his last breath,” the Vice President’s secretariat wrote on Twitter.
Ram Jethmalani’s name will be written in golden words in legal history, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, reacting to Jethmalani’s demise.
“Extremely saddened at the passing away of legendary lawyer Ram Jethmalani ji,” the Delhi CM wrote on Twitter.
Extremely saddened at the passing away of legendary lawyer Ram Jethmalani ji. An institution in himself, he shaped criminal law in post-independence India. His void would never be filled and his name will be written in golden words in legal history.
RIP Ram sir
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 8, 2019
(With inputs from PTI)