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The
Nani A. Palkhivala Memorial Trust was set up in 2004 to perpetuate the
memory of an outstanding jurist and authority in the Constitution and on
taxation laws. The late Nani Palkhivala was a passionate democrat,
patriot, and above all, a great human being.
The main objective
of the Trust is the promotion, support and advancement of the causes
that Nani Palkhivala ceaselessly espoused, such as democratic
institutions, personal and civil liberties and rights enshrined in the
Constitution, a society governed by just, fair and equitable laws and
the institutions that oversee them, the primacy of liberal economic
thinking for national development and the preservation of India’s
priceless heritage.
The Board of
Trustees consists of: Mr. Y.H. Malegam (Chairman), Mr. F.K. Kavarana,
Mr. Bansi S. Mehta,
Mr. Deepak S. Parekh, Mr. H.P. Ranina, Mr. Soli J.
Sorabjee and Miss S.K. Bharucha (Trustee & Member-Secretary).
Stamp in
honour of Nani Palkhivala
The Government of
India honoured Nani Palkhivala with a commemorative stamp which was
released on 16th January 2004 in Mumbai by the then Prime
Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee.
Activities
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The Trust
arranges lectures in memory of Nani Palkhivala annually. The texts of
the lecture each year is printed for free and wide distribution. The
first lecture was delivered by Mr. Fali S. Nariman in 2004; the second
by Mr. Arun Shourie in 2005; the third by Dr. Bimal Jalan in 2006; and
the fourth by Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy in 2007.
The fifth lecture in the series will be delivered by Mr. Soli J.
Sorabjee on ‘Judicial Activism – Boon or Bane’ at 6 p.m. on 11th
January 2008, at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman point, Mumbai 400001.
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The Trust has
instituted gold medals in memory of Nani Palkhivala to be awarded
annually to the top LL.M. students in six universities in India.
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The Trust
conducts elocution competition on subjects of law for law students
with a view to encouraging law students to think and speak on legal
subjects, besides enabling them to show their platform skills.
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The Trust has
recently (2007) reprinted a book entitled ‘Judiciary Made to Measure’
(edited by Nani Palkhivala and published in 1973).
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The Trust was
responsible for the publication of ‘Nani A. Palkhivala – A Life’ by
M.V. Kamath (published by Hay House in January 2007).
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The Trust has
donated an amount of Rupees twenty lakhs to the Supreme Court Bar
Association in memory of the late Nani Palkhivala. The Association
named the Library in their new building after Nani Palkhivala. The
Library was inaugurated on 5th May 2005 by the then Chief
Justice of India, Mr. R.C. Lahoti.
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The Trust,
through Mahiti Adhikar Manch, carried out a series of mass awareness
campaigns to educate public on ‘The Right to Information Act, 2005’ in
Mumbai in 2007. A public meeting on a related subject was also
organized in 2006 which was addressed by Ms. Maja Daruwala, Mr.
Shailesh Gandhi, Mr. J. Rebeiro with Mr. Bansi S. Mehta (Trustee) in
the Chair.
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In 2005 the
Trust instituted the Nani A. Palkhivala Award for Civil Liberties.
The objective of the Award is to honour individuals and organizations
who have displayed extraordinary initiative in the preservation and
defence of Civil Liberties in India. The Award carries a cash prize
of Rupees one lakh and a citation in each category.
The First Award
was given to Ms. Nawaz Kotwal, noted activist, in the individual
category, while the Award in the category of organizations was given
to People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Delhi, in January 2006.
The Second Award was given to Ms. Teesta Setalvad, noted activist, in
the individual category in January 2007. No Award was given in the
category of organizations since no nomination was found to be worthy
of the Award.
The nominations
for the Third Nani A. Palkhivala Award for Civil Liberties will be
accepted till 10th November 2007. A panel of judges
appointed by the Trust will evaluate the nominations received in the
two categories and the Awards will be presented in Mumbai on 11th
January 2008. The criteria for the Award is given below.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
PRESS RELEASE
10th
October 2007
The Nani A. Palkhivala Memorial Trust has pleasure in inviting
nominations for the Third Nani A. Palkhivala Award for preservation of
Civil Liberties in India. The objective of the Award is to honour
individuals and organizations who have displayed extraordinary
initiative in the preservation and defence of Civil Liberties in India.
The Award carries a cash prize of Rupees One Lac and a Citation in each
category.
The last date for receipt of nominations is 10th November
2007. The Awards will be given in January 2008 in Mumbai.
Panel of Judges: Mr. Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah (Retd.), former
Chief Justice of India (Chairman);
Mrs. Justice Sujata Manohar (Retd.)
and Mr. Justice Sam Variava (Retd.), both former Judges of the
Supreme Court of India.
Details of the criteria for the Award may be had from: Miss S.K.
Bharucha, Member-Secretary, Nani A. Palkhivala Memorial Trust, C/o Forum
of Free Enterprise, Peninsula House, 2nd floor, 235 Dr. D.N.
Road, Mumbai 400001. (Email:
ffe@vsnl.net Website:
http://www.forumindia.org. Telefax: 022 - 22614253).
Miss S.K. Bharucha
Member-Secretary
____________________________________________________________________________________________
THE FOURTH
NANI A. PALKHIVALA AWARD FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES
Objective:
To honour an individual or individuals (including public
servants) and/or organizations who or which have displayed
extraordinary initiative in the preservation and defence of
the civil liberties of our citizens.
Criteria for
and process of selection:
(a) The nominee should have demonstrated sustained commitment
to the cause of the preservation and defence of civil
liberties as embodied in the Constitution of India; (b) the
nominee should indicate specific areas and instances of
activism enhancing awareness, of civil liberties, and build
and promote solidarity against injustice. The quality of
activism should have the effect of enhancing the tone of
respect for Civil Liberties culture; (c) mere conducting of
Seminars and Conferences, though relevant and important in
themselves, will not be accorded undue weight, as the path of
protection of civil liberties is through the world of solid
action.
Panel
of Judges:
Mr. Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah (Retd.), former Chief
Justice of India, (Chairman);
Mrs. Justice Sujata Manohar
(Retd.), former Judge, Supreme Court of India; and
Mr.
Justice Sam Variava (Retd.), former Judge, Supreme Court
of India.
Nominations:
In the case of individuals, nominations should be made by
persons other than the nominees, but organizations can apply
directly. Nominations must be accompanied by adequate details
and proof of work done by the nominees.
No Award will be given if, in
the opinion of the panel, no nominee is considered worthy of
the Award. The panel’s decision will be final and binding.
The panel’s decision is expected to be announced early in
January 2009. No correspondence will be entertained
whatsoever once the panel’s decision is announced.
The nominations should be sent, in
triplicate, to: Miss S.K. Bharucha, Member-Secretary,
Nani A. Palkhaivala Memorial Trust, C/o Forum of Free
Enterprise, Peninsula House, 2nd floor, 235 Dr. D.N.
Road, Mumbai 400001. Telephone: 022 – 22614253. Email:
ffe@vsnl.net
The last date
for receiving nominations is
31st October
2008.
The Award:
A cheque for Rupees One Lac and a Citation. The Award will be
presented in January 2009 in Mumbai. Travel and other
expenses will be reimbursed.
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