Introduction

Justice Rohinton Nariman a former judge of the Supreme Court of India is currently authoring a book focused on the basic structure doctrine.

Justice Rohinton Nariman, during his address at the launch of Senior Advocate Avinash Rana’s book Miscellany at Law, shared that he is currently working on a book about the basic structure doctrine.

While speaking at the event, Justice Nariman reflected on the work of eminent jurist HM Seervai, particularly his acclaimed treatise, Constitutional Law of India - A Critical Commentary. Justice Nariman revealed that he has been closely studying Seervai’s work as part of his research for the upcoming book.

"Seervai’s treatise is a masterpiece of meticulous scholarship. I’ve had the opportunity to revisit it while preparing my book on the basic structure doctrine. It’s evident that only someone with complete dedication could have produced such brilliant work," he remarked.
The book by Rana focuses on the lives and works of great Indian legal stalwarts of the past and Justice Nariman recounted his memories about several such luminaries.

About Jamshedji Kanga, he recounted an incident which occurred during a visit to Ahmedabad when Kanga refused to speak to the press. Justice Nariman said that he too has never spoken to the press because of Kanga's view that doing so would amount to self-advertisement.

"Jamshedji Kanga said, 'no, there is no question of me ever meeting the press, it will amount to me advertising myself'. This is something which I have taken to heart. You will find that I have never in my life given an interview and I exhort each of you to do the same," Justice Nariman said.

He also advised young lawyers to maintain mutual respect towards lawyers with whom they might butt heads in Court. That was a way of Kanga and bhulabhai Desai, he said.