Indira Jaising Honoured with Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Lifetime Achievement Award
Voices Judicial Accountability and Constitutional Integrity
Udaipur, The prestigious 5th Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred upon Supreme Court senior advocate and prominent social activist Indira Jaising at a grand ceremony held at Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Sabhagar in Udaipur on Saturday evening, April 19.
The award ceremony was jointly organised by the Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra Community, Bohra Youth Sansthan, Institute of Islamic Studies, and the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism. Commander Mansoor Ali Bohra, Chairman of the Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra Community, stated that this honour is annually awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of social service, human rights, and communal harmony.
In previous years, the award has been presented to eminent personalities including K.P. Ramanunni (Malayali author), Justice Hosbet Suresh (retired judge), Abdus Sattar Dalvi (Urdu scholar), and Dr. Flavia Agnes (legal activist).
Who is Indira Jaising?
Irfan Engineer, Director of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, highlighted Indira Jaising’s remarkable journey as a legal pioneer and social activist. Born in Mumbai in 1940, she completed her LLM in 1962 and began her legal career. In 1986, she became the first woman designated as a Senior Advocate by the Bombay High Court. She was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2005 by the Government of India.
Jaising has contributed to landmark legal reforms, notably playing a vital role in drafting the Domestic Violence Act of 2006. She has also represented India at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and has been listed among the Top 50 Women by Fortune magazine.
Highlights of the Evening
Addressing the gathering, Jaising emphasized the importance of judicial accountability and criticised the increasing influence of the executive in judicial appointments. “When judges are appointed based on the preferences of the ruling government, the independence of the judiciary comes under question,” she stated. She strongly advocated that judicial appointments should be made by judges themselves and termed the recent discovery of cash bundles in a judge’s home as deeply unfortunate.
Reiterating her belief in freedom of speech, she asserted that transparency is essential for a functional democracy. She said, “It is the sacred duty of advocates to defend the Constitution and challenge every unconstitutional act.” She also expressed concern over derogatory comments made by individuals holding constitutional posts such as the Vice President, calling such statements “regrettable.”
Jaising praised Justice Sanjiv Khanna for his forthright stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill, expressing hope that the Supreme Court would continue to uphold justice on this front. Referring to the ongoing case of social boycott within the Dawoodi Bohra reformist community, she said the case, pending since 1986, could have a ripple effect benefiting other communities facing similar challenges.
Tribute to Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer
The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the Quran, followed by a heartfelt tribute to the late Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer by Irfan Engineer, who described him as not only a reformist leader of the Bohra community but also a globally respected Islamic scholar. Dr. Engineer authored 78 books and contributed regularly to esteemed publications such as The Times of India, particularly on secularism and interfaith harmony.
Professor Dr. Zainab Banu also paid homage to Dr. Engineer and presented a detailed biography of Indira Jaising to the audience. The event was smoothly anchored by Nasir Javed, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Commander Mansoor Ali Bohra.
Distinguished Attendees
The event witnessed the presence of several notable dignitaries and rights activists, including Supreme Court advocate Anand Grover, Central Board patrons like Abid Adeeb, Treasurer Yunus Baluwala, Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat President Iqbal Hussain Rassawala, Secretary Firoz Hussain Teenwala, Bohra Youth Sansthan Secretary Yusuf R.G., and community leaders such as Professor Hemendra Chandalia, Himmat Seth of Samta Sandesh, representatives of PUCL, AIPWA, Udaipur Film Festival, Taleem-o-Tarbiat Foundation, Janwadi Andolan, and Janatantrik Vichar Manch.
Special Mention
Among the attendees, Mohsina — a young voice of progressive Bohra reformists and an emerging scholar — was also present, representing the new generation inspired by the legacy of Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer. Her presence symbolised the continuing relevance and future promise of reformist ideals within the community.
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