BITS Law School, Mumbai And Surana & Surana International Attorneys Announce Fali Nariman Memorial Awards And Lectures

• Nominations invited for the 2024 awards and open until October 20, 2024
• Initiative honouring the legacy of one of the most respected Jurist of India, Fali Nariman and his role in shaping Indian Constitutional Law
• Award recognizes substantial contributions by Individuals in legal practice, academia - i.e. legal studies / research, judiciary, or related fields

BITS Law School, Mumbai, in partnership Surana & Surana International Attorneys (SSIA) has announced the Fali Nariman Memorial Award and Lecture. This annual award and the lecture to be delivered at the award ceremony recognise the substantial contributions in legal practice, academia - i.e. legal studies / research, judiciary, or related fields. The jury members are Justice Sanjay Gangapurwala (Retired Chief Justice, Madras High Court), Dr. Lalit Bhasin (Legal Expert and founder of Bhasin & Co.), Mr. Percival Billimoria (Senior Advocate), Mr. Naveen Raju (General Counsel and Executive Vice President at Mahindra & Mahindra), Dr. Aparna Chandra (Associate Professor at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru). The award ceremony will be held on 9 November 2024 at the BITS Law School campus. The award will consist of a citation and a cash (DD) component of Rupees One Lakh.

Fali Sam Nariman (1929–2024) was one of India's most respected jurists, with a seven-decade legal career shaping constitutional law through landmark cases like Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, which established the Basic Structure Doctrine. A strong advocate for judicial independence, human rights, and the rule of law, Nariman was conferred the Padma Bhushan (1991) and Padma Vibhushan (2007). The Fali Nariman Memorial Lecture and Award ceremony honours his legacy by recognizing individuals embodying his values of integrity, resilience, rule of law, and justice, serving as a tribute to his lifelong service and mentorship in the legal profession.

The application for nominations is open till October 20, 2024. Eligible candidates must have a background in legal practice, academia - i.e. legal studies / research, judiciary, or related fields, and must demonstrate notable contributions aligned with the values of the award.

The selection will be based on the following criteria:

1. Awardees should have made substantial contributions in in legal practice, academia - i.e. legal studies / research, judiciary, or related fields.

2. Their work must exemplify Mr. Fali Nariman's personality and principles, including unwavering integrity, independence, ethical standards, social responsibility, respect for Indian diversity, and the promotion of the rule of law and constitutional principles.

5. The recipient can be any Indian meeting the aforesaid criteria with no bar due to region, gender, religion, caste, creed, language or any other demographic characteristics.

6. Full details on the nomination and selection process are here –

https://www.bitslawschool.edu.in/fali-nariman

“It is a privilege to introduce the Fali Nariman Memorial Lecture and Awards. This initiative serves to educate aspiring law students and professionals about the remarkable legacy and principles of the late Fali Nariman while honouring individuals who embody his unwavering commitment to justice, integrity, and the rule of law.”- said Prof (Dr.) Ashish Bharadwaj, Founding Dean of BITS Law School in Mumbai.

Dr. Vinod Surana, Managing Partner, Surana & Surana International Attorneys said, “We are glad to partner with BITS Law School, Mumbai and institute the prestigious Fali Nariman Award to commemorate and celebrate the legendary lawyer. Mr. Fali Nariman was closely associated with our law firm and was the patron of our Moot Court project for over 15 years. The Jury for this award comprises eminent members of the legal fraternity – bar, bench and academia. The awardee is one who embodies the principles, personality and legacy of the senior advocate and Padma Shree awardee, the late Mr. Fali Nariman.”

BITS Law School, Mumbai is a new-age law school (under the aegis of BITS Pilani backed by the Aditya Birla Group and recognised by the UGC as an Institution of Eminence). BITSLAW has been established with a vision towards becoming an inspirational benchmark for new-age, multidisciplinary legal education and research in India with creativity and empathy. BITSLAW offers legal knowledge, practical training, and holistic education to produce legal professionals who will be passionate to create a more fair, just, and inclusive society. It aims to instil among its students, an appreciation of the Constitutional Principles and the Rule of Law. BITS Law School is approved by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and offers two five-year integrated full-time residential programmes – B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.).

The Chennai-headquartered Surana & Surana International Attorneys has been ranked among the top law firms in India since 1998 by leading national and international publications like Legal Business London, Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Business India, IFLR 1000, Chambers Global and Legal 100 Asia Pacific. It is the world's first law firm to achieve SA8000 and ISO 14000 as well as Asia's first to achieve ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certifications for professional legal services. Prestigious international case studies have been written about the firm's 'principles before profits' approach. The firm has a full-fledged office in New Delhi.