Career

Desai started his practice in Bombay High Court in 1956. He was designated as a Senior Advocate on August 8, 1977. As an Advocate he appeared in a large number of cases in various high courts around the country, but mostly the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court, particularly focused on those involving issues of accountability in public life & transparency in Governance.

A selection of his cases of significance, particularly at the Bombay High Court as well as Supreme Court, include:

1. Sakharam Binder, which struck down the pre censorship of dramatic performances.
2. Piloo Mody case - it was a challenge to the allotments of various plots in Backbay Reclamation made by the Govt. Govt was criticized and the court made allottees pay the market price.
3. Antulay, “quid pro quo” was established, forcing the Chief Minister to resign, having found guilty of violating his oath of office.
4. Ramanna Shetty, dealt with the obligation of the State to act fairly.
5. Narasimha Rao, was about Parliamentary privilege.
6. Vineet Narain, was about powers of a Court to monitor investigation against political leaders.
7. Narmada Dam, which considered the grievances of thousands of families affected by the rising construction of the dam.
8. Amrendra Singh, was about the legislative privilege.
9. Nandini Sunder, considered the grievance of the tribal population who were caught in the cross fire between extremist Naxalites and vigilante groups supported by the State.

Mr. Desai was the Legal Correspondent for Times of India from 1963-1969, Professor of Law at Government Law College, Bombay, 1964-1969 and Lecturer in Law in Bombay College of Journalism, 1967-1972.

He relocated from Bombay to New Delhi in 1989, when he was appointed Solicitor General of India by then Prime Minister V.P. Singh. After having resigned this position in December 1990, he continued in private practice. On July 9, 1996, he was appointed Attorney General for India by then Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda and continued to hold office under Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, until May 6, 1998.

He was the Chairman of the Committee on Administrative Law of International Bar Association, 1986-88 and Consultant to the Commonwealth Workshop on Administrative Law at Lusaka, Zambia in 1990. In 1997, he presented India’s Report to the United Nations Committee on Human Rights in Geneva . In 1997 he represented India at the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body, in a patent litigation filed by United States against India. In 1998, he led the Indian delegation to the United Nations Preparatory Committee on Money Laundering Bill, in Vienna.

Mr. Desai was the Vice President of the Bar Association of India and President of the Inns of Court (India) Society.