Advocate Zafaryab Jilani, key figure in Ram Janmabhoomi Case, passes away at 73

Zafaryab Jilani, a senior lawyer and Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board passed away on Wednesday at the age of 73 in a Lucknow hospital. His demise was caused by a long illness and difficulties from an accident he experienced in May 2021, which resulted in a brain haemorrhage. Jilani, a former Additional Advocate General for Uttar Pradesh, was well-known for his role in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, which he vigorously argued in several courts over several decades.

Jilani, as convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, was instrumental in campaigning for the Muslim community’s concerns. His legal expertise and contributions to the case were extensively acknowledged. The legal community and others who knew him well mourn their loss.

Jilani earned his law degree from Aligarh Muslim University and was recognised as a notable alumnus. He will be remembered for his broad legal knowledge as well as his sympathetic nature. His coworkers and classmates recall him as a soft-spoken and kind-hearted individual who handled his work with grace and sincerity.

Jilani’s family, which included his wife Azra Jilani, daughter Maria Rehan, and sons Najafzafar Jilani and Anaszafar Jilani, lived in Qaiserbagh, where he passed away while receiving treatment at Lucknow’s Nishat Hospital. On Wednesday evening, he was laid to rest in the Qaiserbagh cemetery.

Jilani’s influence went beyond the halls of justice. He was well-known in the legal community for his gentlemanly demeanour and the respect he earned. Colleagues recall him being able to separate professional differences from personal ties, creating camaraderie even with colleagues he fought in court. His commitment to achieving justice was clear in his role in the Babri Masjid case when he worked relentlessly to address what he perceived to be an incorrect judgement.

With Jilani’s death, the legal community and the larger society have suffered a huge loss. His commitment to the principles of justice and his achievements in the legal profession will be honoured and revered for many years to come.