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Jethmalani
Ram Boolchand Jethmalani (born 14 September 1923) is an
Indian lawyer and politician. He has served as India's Union
Ram Jethmalani
Law Minister and as chairman of the Bar Council of India. He
has represented a sweep of cases from the high-profile to the
controversial for which he has often faced severe criticism. He
is the highest-paid Indian lawyer.[2]
Personal Pakistan)
Political party Bharatiya Janata
Ram Jethmalani was born in Shikarpur, Sindh in the Sindh
Party (till 2013)
division of the then Bombay Presidency, now part of Pakistan
Rashtriya Janata
in the family of Boolchand Gurmukhdas Jethmalani and Parbati
Dal (2016–)
Boolchand.[8] He got a double promotion in school and
completed matriculation at the age of 13. He secured an LLB Spouse(s) Ratna Jethmalani
degree from Bombay University with a first class first at the Durga Jethmalani
young age of 17. At that time, the minimum age for becoming Residence 2, Akbar Road,
a lawyer was 21, but a special exception (resulting from an New Delhi, India[1]
application that he made to the court contesting the rule Alma mater S.C. Shahani Law
regarding minimum age) allowed him to become a lawyer at College, Karachi-
18. He received LL.M. from Bombay university , since Sindh University of
did not have a university of its own at that time.[1] Bombay
Ram Jethmalani was married at an age of little above 18, to Profession Lawyer, Jurist,
Durga, in a traditional Indian arranged marriage. In 1947, just Professor of Law,
before partition, he also married Ratna Shahani, a lawyer by Politician,
profession.His family today includes both wives and four Entrepreneur,
children – three by Durga (Rani, Shobha, Mahesh) and one by Philanthropist
Ratna (Janak)[9][10] Website www
.ramjethmalanimp
As a lawyer .in (http://www.ram
jethmalanimp.in)
Ram Jethmalani started his career as a lawyer and Professor in
Sindh before partition.[11] He started his own law firm in Karachi with his friend A.K. Brohi who was
senior to him by seven years.[9] In February 1948, when riots broke out in Karachi, he fled to India on
the advice of his friend Brohi and when he came to India in that day he has only a one paisa coin in his
pocket and with that note he stayed in the refugee camp for few days.
Jethmalani fought his very first case at the age of 17 in the court of Sindh under Justice Godfrey Davis,
contesting the rule regarding minimum age passed by the bar council of Sindh. In a talk at Algebra in
June 2017, Jethmalani recounted his very first case fought in India as a refugee. A new law (Bombay
refugees act) that had just been passed by the then chief minister Morarji Desai treated refugees
badly and in an inhumane manner. The act treated refugees in a manner similar to convicted
prisoners, allowing the state to relocate, sequester and question them anytime. Jethmalani file a case
against this at the Bombay high court, asking the law to be declared unconstitutional and won it.[12]
Ram Jethmalani next came to the spot light a decade later with his appearance in the K. M. Nanavati
vs. State of Maharashtra case in 1959 with Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud , later to become Chief
Justice of India. His later defence of a string of smugglers in the late 1960s established Jethmalani’s
image as a 'smuggler’s lawyer'. Even back then, he would point out that he was only doing his duty as
a lawyer.[13]
In 1954, he became a part-time Professor at the Government Law College, Mumbai for both graduate
and post graduate studies. He also taught Comparative law at International Law at Wayne State
University in Detroit, Michigan.[11] He has also been the Chairman of Bar Council of India for four
tenures both before and after the emergency. He was also a member of International Bar Association
1996.He has also been Professor Emeritus at Symbiosis Law School, Pune since 2003.
Politics
Jethmalani contested as an independent candidate from Ulhasnagar supported both by the Shiv Sena
and Bharatiya Jan Sangh but he lost the elections.[9] During the emergency period of 1975–1977, he
was the chairman of the Bar Association of India. He heavily criticised the then Prime Minister of India,
Indira Gandhi. An arrest warrant was issued against him from Kerala. It was stayed by the Bombay
High Court when over 300 lawyers led by Nani Palkhivala appeared for him. However the stay was
nullified by the habeas corpus judgment Additional District Magistrate of Jabalpur v. Shiv Kant
Shukla[14] and Ram Jethmalani exiled himself in Canada carrying on his campaign against the
emergency. He returned 10 months later after the emergency was lifted. While in Canada, his
candidature was filed from Bombay North-West constituency . He won the election and retained the
seat in 1980 general elections, but lost to Sunil Dutt of the Indian National Congress in 1985. In the
1977 general elections after the emergency, he ousted the serving Law Minister H. R. Gokhale from
Bombay in the Lok Sabha elections and hence started his political career as a parliamentarian.[9]
However he was not made law minister himself as Morarji Desai disapproved of his lifestyle.[13]
He became a member of Rajya Sabha in 1988. He became The Union Minister of Law, Justice and
Company Affairs in 1996 in the Government of India led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During the second
tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he was given the portfolio of Union Minister of Urban Affairs and
Employment in 1998. But on 13 October 1999 he was again sworn in as the Union Minister for Law,
Justice and Company Affairs. However he was asked to resign by the prime minister following
differences with the then Chief Justice of India Adarsh Sein Anand and Attorney General of India Soli
Sorabjee. It is believed that Jethmalani never enjoyed the confidence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee. He was inducted into the Cabinet on Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani's insistence.[15]
He had also announced his candidature for President of India stating "I owe it to the nation to offer my
services" and launched his own political fronts, the Bharat Mukti Morcha, launched as a 'mass
movement' in 1987 and in 1995 he launched his own political party called Pavitra Hindustan
Kazhagam, with a motto to achieve "Transparency in functioning of Indian Democracy".[13]
In the general elections of 2004, he contested against Atal Bihari Vajpayee from the Lucknow
constituency as an independent candidate. The Indian National Congress did not field their candidates
in this election; however, he lost. Later on, in 2010, he was given a Rajya Sabha ticket by Bharatiya
Janta Party from Rajasthan and he was selected. He is also a member of the Committee on Personnel,
Public Grievances, Law and Justice.[1] Jethmalani[16] is a person who is known to speak his mind. At a
reception[17] hosted by the Pakistan High Commission for the Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani
Khar who was on a visit to India on 28 July 2011, the former law minister and Rajya Sabha MP Ram
Jethmalani in the presence of the Chinese ambassador called China an enemy of both India and
Pakistan and warned the Indians and Pakistanis to beware[18] of the Chinese.
In December 2009, the Committee on Judicial Accountability stated that it considered that
recommendations for judicial appointments should only be made after a public debate, including
review by members of the bar of the affected high courts. This statement was made in relation to
controversy about the appointments of justices C. K. Prasad and P. D. Dinakaran . The statement was
signed by Jethmalani, Shanti Bhushan, Fali Sam Nariman, Anil B. Divan, Kamini Jaiswal and Prashant
Bhushan.[19]
On 9th September 2017 he announced his retirement from the legal profession.[34]
Books
Maverick: Unchanged, Unrepentant, Rupa Publications
Biography: Ram Jethmalani : The Authorized Biography by Nalini Gera
In April 2007 at the time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released one of his books titled Conscience of a
Maverick. [36]
Big Egos, Small Men, Har Anand Publications.
Conflict of Laws, 1956
Justice Soviet Style[37]
The Rebel: 'A biography of Ram Jethmalani' by Susan Adelman
See also
K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra
References
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3. "Ram Jethmalani's most candid interview on Modi, BJP and his sole ambition in life at 94}" (https://www.you
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4. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110722171456/http://attorneylawyer.me/karan-thapar-ram-jet
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alani-and-m.l.-bhakta/1/306981.html). India Today. 14 June 1993. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
6. "Jethmalani new SCBA president" (http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/08/stories/2010050863661600.htm). The
Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 May 2010.
7. Legally India. "Breaking: Ram Jethmalani elected as SCBA president to repair damage done" (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20100512175927/http://www.legallyindia.com/20100507792/The-Bar-and-Bench/breaking-ram-j
ethmalani-elected-as-scba-president-to-repair-damage-done). Archived from the original (http://www.legallyin
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8. "Top most Indian Lawyer: Sindhi Genius Of Indian Law : Ram Jethmalani" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012
1227085059/http://www.thesindhuworld.com/ram_jethmalani.html). The Sindhu World. Archived from the
original (http://www.thesindhuworld.com/ram_jethmalani.html) on 27 December 2012. Retrieved 10 February
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9. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi-times/Ram-Jethmalani-In-black-and-
white/articleshow/9580860.cms Ram Jethmalani: In black and white: Times New Network, 12 May 2002.
10. ‘I plead guilty to being a bad husband..’, "Tete-a-tete with Ram Jethmalani", The Telegraph, Calcutta. (http://
www.telegraphindia.com/1121125/jsp/7days/story_16236459.jsp)
11. "HugeDomains.com - RamJethmalani.com is for sale (Ram Jethmalani)" (http://www.ramjethmalani.com/abo
ut_us.php).
12. [www.youtube.com "Ram jethmalani's most candid interview - on Modi, BJP and his sole ambition in life at
94 (29 June 2017)"] Check |url= value (help). You tube - algebra channel. ALGEBRA conversations.
Retrieved 12 June 2018.
13. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Devil-s-advocate-Jethmalani/Article1-171537.aspx Devil?s advocate:
Jethmalani
14. (Additional District Magistrate of Jabalpur v. Shiv Kant Shukla) (http://openarchive.in/judis/5622.htm)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214020/http://openarchive.in/judis/5622.htm) 27 September
2007 at the Wayback Machine
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y/20000807/cover.html). Archived from the original (http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20000807/cover.html)
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16. Ram Jethmalani (http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analysis/time-has-come-to-recognise-that-china-is-a-men
ace%7C2) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20120701012615/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analysi
s/time-has-come-to-recognise-that-china-is-a-menace%7C2) 1 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
17. "China your enemy: Jethmalani walks all over Pak's red carpet - Indian Express" (http://www.indianexpress.
com/news/china-your-enemy-jethmalani-walks-all-over-paks-red-carpet/823439/0). indianexpress.com.
Retrieved 26 December 2016.
18. Shubhajit Roy for The Indian Express, New Delhi, dated Thursday, 28 July 2011, 01:48 hrs
19. J. VENKATESAN (20 December 2009). "Promotions should be transparent: judicial accountability panel" (htt
p://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article67521.ece). The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
20. "Jethmalani writes to Gadkari, says BJP is sick", Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 26 May 2012 (http://www.hin
dustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Jethmalani-s-writes-Gadkari-says-BJP-is-sick/Article1-861724.aspx)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20120628181433/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelh
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21. "Jethmalani Letter" (https://www.scribd.com/doc/110298496/Jethmalani-Letter). scribd.com. Retrieved
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26 December 2016.
22. "Ram Jethmalani expelled from BJP for anti-party remarks" (http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ram-jethmalan
i-expelled-from-bjp-for-anti-party-remarks-372301). NDTV. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
23. "Jethmalani seeks Rs. 50 lakh in damages from BJP" (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jethmalani-se
eks-rs-50-lakh-in-damages-from-bjp/article5300542.ece). The Hindu. 31 October 2013. Retrieved
1 November 2013.
24. "Manu Sharma convicted for Jessica murder" (http://www.indianexpress.com/story/18891.html).
25. Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRr5gBa-J8I) on YouTube
26. "Lalit Modi to move court against IPL governing council meeting" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticl
eshow/5845088.cms). The Times of India.
27. "The Hindu : Sena firm on opposing Jethmalani" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110606133030/http://www.hi
nduonnet.com/2003/01/05/stories/2003010502270800.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.hinduonne
t.com/2003/01/05/stories/2003010502270800.htm) on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
28. "Dr T D Dogra's expert evidence in trial of assassination of Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India, Indian
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29. "- News18" (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hegde-has-been-misled-ram-jethmalani/178740-60-115.html). News18.
30. A Vaidyanathan (21 November 2011). "Couldn't police wait till morning for crackdown? Supreme Court on
Ramdev camp" (http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/couldnt-police-wait-till-morning-for-crackdown-supreme-cou
rt-on-ramdev-camp-151794). NDTV.com.
31. Legal Correspondent. "Jethmalani to appear for Jayalalithaa" (http://www.thehindu.com/news/jethmalani-to-a
ppear-for-jayalalithaa/article6455202.ece). The Hindu.
32. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ram-jethmalani-arvind-kejriwal-arun-jaitley-defamation-case/1/1011008.html
33. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/jethmalani-quits-as-cms-counsel-seeks-rs-2-crore-
fee/articleshow/59765482.cms
34. Hindu, The. "Report of Shri Ram Jethmalani's retirement" (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-jethm
alani-retires-from-legal-profession-at-94/article19652549.ece). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
35. "HugeDomains.com - RamJethmalani.com is for sale (Ram Jethmalani)" (http://www.ramjethmalani.com/new
s.php?first=0). ramjethmalani.com. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
36. http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/08/stories/2010110856051100.htm Ram Jethmalani – 87 not out : The HIndu
37. Lok Sabha. "7th Lok Sabha – Members Bioprofile" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022658/http://164.
100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/545.htm). Loksabha, India. Archived from the original (http://164.100.47.1
32/LssNew/biodata_1_12/545.htm) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
External links
Members BioProfile (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022658/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_
12/545.htm)
Rajya Sabha Member (http://164.100.47.5:8080/members/website/Mainweb.asp?mpcode=29)
Political offices
Political offices
Minister of Urban Development
Preceded by Succeeded by
19 March 1998 – 14 June 1999
Political offices
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