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{{Short description|Indian lawyer (1927–2019)}}
{{Indian patronymic|Lily|Thomas}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lily Thomas
| birth_name = Lily Isabel Thomas<ref>{{cite web|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/clist_bm/2012/bm_dl10062013.pdf|title=LIST OF BUSINESS FOR MONDAY THE 10th JUNE, 2013|publisher=SUPREME COURT OF INDIA|date=10 June 2013|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231416/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/clist_bm/2012/bm_dl10062013.pdf|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sci.nic.in/circular/aor_cc.pdf|title=ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD COMPUTER CODE|publisher=SUPREME COURT OF INDIA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701181104/http://www.sci.nic.in/circular/aor_cc.pdf|archive-date=1 July 2014}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|03|05|df=yes}}<ref name="lilythomas">{{cite news|title=Lily Thomas And Saju Jakob Advocates And Solicitors|url=https://lilythomas.net/personal/|archive-date=7 Dec 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207163201/https://lilythomas.net/personal/}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]], [[Travancore|Kingdom of Travancore]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br>(present day [[Kerala]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|12|10|1928|03|05|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Delhi]], India
| occupation = Lawyer
| known for = Co-petitioner in [[Representation of the People Act, 1951]] case
| alma_mater = [[University of Madras]]
| education = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Master of Laws]]|[[Bachelor of Laws]]|[[Bachelor of Science]]}}
| parents = {{Unbulleted_list|Adv. K. T. Thomas|Annamma}}
}}

'''Lily Isabel Thomas''' (5 March 1928 – 10 December 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/senior-most-woman-lawyer-of-supreme-court-adv-lily-thomas-passes-away-150639|title=Adv Lily Thomas, Senior Most Woman Lawyer Of SC, Passes Away|last=LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK|date=10 December 2019|website=livelaw.in|access-date=15 December 2019|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210160353/https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/senior-most-woman-lawyer-of-supreme-court-adv-lily-thomas-passes-away-150639|url-status=live}}</ref> was an Indian lawyer who initiated improvement and change to existing laws by filing petitions in the [[Supreme Court of India]] and regional courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/disqualification-issues/article6460717.ece|title=Disqualification issues|publisher=FRONTLINE|date=17 October 2014|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-date=19 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319131647/https://frontline.thehindu.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1791040/|title=Lily Thomas vs State Of Tamil Nadu|publisher=INDIANKANOON|date=23 August 1984|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107175626/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1791040/|url-status=live}}</ref> Her petitions resulted in changes to laws to prevent convicted politicians getting elected,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/conviction-will-attract-instant-disqualification-legal-experts/article6436598.ece|title=Conviction will attract instant disqualification: legal experts|work=THE HINDU|date=23 September 2014|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-date=12 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022714/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/conviction-will-attract-instant-disqualification-legal-experts/article6436598.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> the addition of a new marriage law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/07/28/stories/0228000p.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141005005035/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/07/28/stories/0228000p.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 October 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=SC notice to Centre in polygamy case|date=28 July 2001}}</ref> and protections for parliamentarians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Moved-by-Speakers-plight-advocate-seeks-protection-for-him/articleshow/3637763.cms|title=Moved by Speaker's plight, advocate seeks protection for him|work=The Times of India|date=25 October 2008|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-date=14 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314033506/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Moved-by-Speakers-plight-advocate-seeks-protection-for-him/articleshow/3637763.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> She was hailed most notably for petitioning to amend the [[Representation of the People Act, 1951]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/mps-mlas-will-be-disqualified-from-date-of-conviction-sc_861316.html|title=MPs, MLAs will be disqualified from date of conviction: SC|publisher=ZEENEWS|date=10 July 2013|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107161452/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/mps-mlas-will-be-disqualified-from-date-of-conviction-sc_861316.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LIVE LAW .IN">{{cite web|url=http://www.livelaw.in/the-court-does-not-have-the-power-to-subject-advocates-to-aor-exam-conversation-with-advocate-lily-thomas/|title=The Court does not have the power to subject Advocates to AOR exam – Conversation with Advocate Lily Thomas|publisher=LIVE LAW .IN|date=15 July 2013|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107171608/http://www.livelaw.in/the-court-does-not-have-the-power-to-subject-advocates-to-aor-exam-conversation-with-advocate-lily-thomas/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life==
Lily hailed from [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]] and grew up in [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. She had joined [[Madras High Court]] in 1955,<ref name="THE TIMES OF INDIA">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Meet-Lily-Thomas-the-lady-behind-clipping-of-wings-of-convicted-politicians/articleshow/43970969.cms|title=Meet Lily Thomas the lady behind clipping of wings of convicted politicians|work=The Times of India|date=1 October 2014|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=3 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003105612/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Meet-Lily-Thomas-the-lady-behind-clipping-of-wings-of-convicted-politicians/articleshow/43970969.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> under which she studied the [[Master of Laws#India|LL.M.]] course which was completed in 1959.<ref name="Lily Thomas vs the Union of India">{{cite web|url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/NewsContent.aspx?NID=56084|title=Lily Thomas vs the Union of India|publisher=millenniumpost|date=6 April 2014|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109223617/http://www.millenniumpost.in/NewsContent.aspx?NID=56084|archive-date=9 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lily belongs to the first generation of women lawyers in India and she was the first woman to complete the LL.M. course from the [[University of Madras]].<ref name="governancenow.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/lily-thomas-vs-union-india|title=Lily Thomas vs the Union of India|publisher=GOVERNANCE NOW|date=4 April 2014|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407040550/http://governancenow.com/news/regular-story/lily-thomas-vs-union-india|url-status=live}}</ref>

After obtaining a law degree from Madras University, she started her practice in the [[Madras High Court]]. She was the first lady in India to qualify for an LL.M. degree.<ref name="BB" /> In 1960, she moved to [[Delhi]] to do a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] but discovered that she was not really cut out for academia. "I realised that I was not competent to do research," she admitted, "so I started practising in the Supreme Court".<ref name="BB">{{Cite journal| last = Saluja| first = Pallavi| title = 'To have criminals as politicians is an insult to our parliamentary system'– Lily Thomas| journal = Bar & Bench| publisher = barandbench.com| date = 17 July 2013| url = http://www.barandbench.com/content/%E2%80%9C-have-criminals-politicians-insult-our-parliamentary-system%E2%80%9D%E2%80%93-lily-thomas#.Ue-28I3EKSp| archive-url = https://archive.today/20131004211533/http://www.barandbench.com/content/%E2%80%9C-have-criminals-politicians-insult-our-parliamentary-system%E2%80%9D%E2%80%93-lily-thomas%23.Ue-28I3EKSp| archive-date = 4 October 2013| url-status = dead| access-date = 24 July 2013}}</ref>

Lily was once senior most woman lawyer in the Supreme Court of India, when she had joined it in 1960.<ref name="financialexpressthomas">{{cite news |title=Who was Lily Thomas? Supreme Court lawyer whose fight ended reign of convicted politicians in elections|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/who-was-lily-thomas-supreme-court-lawyer-whose-fight-ended-reign-of-convicted-politicians-in-elections/1789468/|date=10 Dec 2019|archive-date=13 Sep 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913181352/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/who-was-lily-thomas-supreme-court-lawyer-whose-fight-ended-reign-of-convicted-politicians-in-elections/1789468/|work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]}}</ref>

==Career==
Lily Thomas had joined the [[Supreme Court of India]] in 1960.<ref name="Lily Thomas vs the Union of India"/> She dropped out of [[Doctor of Law|doctorate in law]] after coming to [[Delhi]] and started working where her brother John Thomas was already practising.<ref name="governancenow.com"/> Lily filed petitions since 1964 on different issues such as the validity of 'Advocate-on-Record Examination',<ref name="governancenow.com"/> sorting out issues of railway employees and case on conversion to [[Islam]] for the express purpose of entering into a second marriage in 2000.<ref name="THE TIMES OF INDIA"/><ref name="Lily Thomas vs the Union of India"/> Thomas worked on constitutional law, women's rights and issues of personal liberty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/the-judgment-will-create-awareness/article4944713.ece|title=The judgment will create awareness|publisher=FRONTLINE|date=9 August 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=18 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118155400/http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/the-judgment-will-create-awareness/article4944713.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Lily was an advocate in ''OLD LAWYERS CHAMBERS BLOCKS''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/circular/old_lawyers_chambers.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053904/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/circular/old_lawyers_chambers.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Lily was first known for petitioning in 1952 in the Supreme Court to amend the [[Representation of the People Act, 1951]] in order to get declared ''Section 8(4)'' of the act as unconstitutional, eventually which was rejected by the Court then.<ref name="financialexpressthomas" />

In 2013, at the age of 85, she won a landmark judgement under which [[Member of Parliament (India)|members]] of [[Parliament of India|India's Parliament]] and [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|members]] of [[State legislative assemblies of India|state legislative bodies]], convicted of a crime or in jail, became ineligible to run for elections or hold an elected seat. Prior to this judgment, members of Parliament who were convicted but had filed an appeal could go about their regular business, including being elected and holding seats.

Lily Thomas, along with Adv. Satya Narain Shukla had filed a [[Writ]] petition in the apex court in 2005, challenging a provision of the Representation of the People Act which protects convicted lawmakers against disqualification on the grounds of pendency of appeal against their conviction in the higher courts. On 10 July 2013, a bench of justices A. K. Patnaik and S. J. Mukhopadhaya held that, "The only question is about the vires of section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 and we hold that it is ultra vires and that the disqualification takes place from the date of conviction."<ref name="nIE">{{Cite journal | title = MPs, MLAs will be disqualified on date of conviction: SC | journal = The New Indian Express | publisher = RPG Group, India | date = 13 July 2013 | url = http://newindianexpress.com/nation/MPs-MLAs-will-be-disqualified-on-date-of-conviction-SC/2013/07/10/article1676988.ece | access-date = 24 July 2013 | archive-date = 13 July 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130713075132/http://newindianexpress.com/nation/MPs-MLAs-will-be-disqualified-on-date-of-conviction-SC/2013/07/10/article1676988.ece | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Validity of "Advocate on Record" system===

{{Further|Advocate-on-Record|Three Judges Cases}}

Lily was one of the first lawyers to file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the 'Advocate on Record' system on 14 January 1964.<ref name="Lily Thomas vs the Union of India"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.in/doc/1617089/|title=Lily Isabel Thomas vs Unknown|publisher=INDIANKANOON|date=14 January 1964|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109231140/http://indiankanoon.in/doc/1617089/|url-status=live}}</ref> Under this system, only those advocates who have passed the AOR exam are eligible to file petitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-to-examine-legality-of-aor-system/article3821554.ece|title=Supreme Court to examine legality of AOR system|work=THE HINDU|date=25 August 2012}}</ref> Lily believed that 'Section 30' under Part IV of the [[Advocates Act, 1961]] mentions that all advocates have the right to practise in all courts including the Supreme Court in India and no restriction should be imposed for passing an exam and 'Section 16' differentiates lawyers into Advocates and Senior Advocates.<ref name="LIVE LAW .IN"/> The issue of AOR was challenged and debated multiple times,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/article1476575.ece|title=SC notice on categorising advocates|work=The New Indian Express|date=24 February 2013|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=8 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108093727/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/article1476575.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130227/jsp/nation/story_16610862.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109230305/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130227/jsp/nation/story_16610862.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 November 2014|title=Petition lawyer case at SC door|publisher=THE TELEGRAPH|date=27 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Advocate-on-record-system-turning-into-a-scam-says-SC/articleshow/21987236.cms|title=Advocate-on-record system turning into a scam, says SC|work=The Times of India|date=23 August 2013|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=27 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427184223/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Advocate-on-record-system-turning-into-a-scam-says-SC/articleshow/21987236.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> on 16 October 2015 the Supreme Court struck down [[National Judicial Appointments Commission|NJAC]] meant to replace the AOR, as unconstitutional and upheld the collegium system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/supreme-court-to-rule-today-whether-njac-is-constitutionally-valid_1810742.html|title=Supreme Court strikes down NJAC Act; collegium system of appointing judges to continue|publisher=ZEE NEWS|date=16 October 2015|access-date=16 October 2015|archive-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017230034/http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/supreme-court-to-rule-today-whether-njac-is-constitutionally-valid_1810742.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Petition on Stopping Conversion for Bigamy===
Lily had filed the petition in the Supreme Court on status of the earlier marriage regarding a case when a non-Muslim gets converted to the 'Muslim' faith without any real change or belief without divorcing first wife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/80351/|title=Lily Thomas, Etc. Etc. vs Union Of India & Ors|publisher=INDIANKANOON|date=5 April 2000|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=21 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121194057/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/80351/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Court after hearing similar petitions declared the practice of remarrying as null and void unless the first marriage is dissolved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Objection-Sustained/286853|title=Objection Sustained|publisher=OUTLOOK|date=22 July 2013}}</ref> The [[Law Commission of India|Law Commission]] sent the recommendation to the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Law Ministry]] amending [[Hindu Marriage Act|Hindu Marriage Act, 1955]] to stop the illegal practice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/report227.pdf|title=Preventing Bigamy via Conversion to Islam – A Proposal for giving Statutory Effect to Supreme Court Rulings|publisher=LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=6 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906075322/http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/report227.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Law-needed-to-stop-men-from-converting-for-bigamy/articleshow/4861634.cms|title=Law needed to stop men from converting for bigamy|work=The Times of India|date=6 August 2009|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107044802/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Law-needed-to-stop-men-from-converting-for-bigamy/articleshow/4861634.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Striking down a provision of the Representation of the People Act===

{{Further| Disqualification of convicted representatives in India}}

Lily along with [[Lucknow]]-based [[Indian NGOs|NGO]] Lok Prahari<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/sc-judgement-on-mps-mlas-who-are-the-petitioners-lok-prahari-945891.html|title=SC judgement on MPs, MLAs: Who are the petitioners Lok Prahari?|publisher=FIRSTPOST INDIA|date=10 July 2013|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407104306/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/sc-judgement-on-mps-mlas-who-are-the-petitioners-lok-prahari-945891.html|url-status=live}}</ref> were the petitioners in the case when the Supreme Court had struck down Section 8(4) of the [[Representation of the People Act, 1951]] to disqualify a legislator immediately when convicted for two or more years' prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=40545|title=CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 490 OF 2005|publisher=SUPREME COURT OF INDIA|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=9 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109233423/http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=40545|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/supreme-court-mps-mlas-to-be-disqualified-as-soon-as-they-are-convicted/1140184/0|title=Supreme Court: MPs, MLAs to be disqualified as soon as they are convicted|work=The Indian Express|date=10 July 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=3 October 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141003150141/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/supreme-court-mps-mlas-to-be-disqualified-as-soon-as-they-are-convicted/1140184/0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mps-mlas-to-be-disqualified-on-date-of-criminal-conviction/article4901596.ece|title=MPs, MLAs to be disqualified on date of criminal conviction|work=THE HINDU|date=10 July 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=23 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223162205/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mps-mlas-to-be-disqualified-on-date-of-criminal-conviction/article4901596.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> When the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] government had prepared an ordinance to nullify the judgment,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Bill-for-no-immediate-disqualification-of-convicted-MPs-MLAs/2013/08/30/article1759870.ece|title=Bill for no immediate disqualification of convicted MPs, MLAs|work=The New Indian Express|date=30 August 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021093923/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Bill-for-no-immediate-disqualification-of-convicted-MPs-MLAs/2013/08/30/article1759870.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130924/jsp/frontpage/story_17387140.jsp#.VC69Hx-jk8o|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927101304/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130924/jsp/frontpage/story_17387140.jsp#.VC69Hx-jk8o|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2013|title=Cabinet clears Ordinance to bypass Supreme Court order against convicted lawmakers|publisher=THE TELEGRAPH| date=24 September 2013}}</ref> Lily made a review petition against the ordinance, the government had later withdrawn the ordinance route after severe criticism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131003/main1.htm|title=Govt withdraws ordinance, Bill on lawmakers|work=THE TRIBUNE|date=2 October 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203092147/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131003/main1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cabinet-unanimously-withdraws-ordinance-on-convicted-lawmakers-426870|title=Cabinet 'unanimously' withdraws ordinance on convicted lawmakers|publisher=NDTV|date=3 October 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=6 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006155442/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cabinet-unanimously-withdraws-ordinance-on-convicted-lawmakers-426870|url-status=live}}</ref> She had got help from other experts, including [[Fali Sam Nariman]] in the case.<ref name="THE TIMES OF INDIA"/> Lily's petition was accepted the third time after successive rejections.<ref name="Lily Thomas vs the Union of India"/> The law had far reaching effect when influential politicians such as then [[List of chief ministers of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu Chief Minister]] [[Jayalalithaa]],<ref name="THE TIMES OF INDIA"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/jayalalithaa-sentenced-to-four-years-in-jail-fined-rs-100-crore/article6452659.ece|title=Jayalalithaa sentenced to four years in jail, fined Rs. 100 crore|work=THE HINDU|date=27 September 2014|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=29 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929212407/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/jayalalithaa-sentenced-to-four-years-in-jail-fined-rs-100-crore/article6452659.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/tamil-nadu-new-chief-minister-o-panneerselvam-jayalalithaa-301357-2014-09-29|title=O Panneerselvam takes oath as Tamil Nadu's 28th Chief Minister|work=India Today|date=29 September 2014|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=1 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001232648/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tamil-nadu-new-chief-minister-o-panneerselvam-jayalalithaa/1/393300.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rasheed Masood]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Convicted-Congress-MP-Rasheed-Masood-disqualified-from-Rajya-Sabha/articleshow/24484085.cms|title=Convicted Congress MP Rasheed Masood disqualified from Rajya Sabha|work=The Times of India|date=21 October 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=21 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021182454/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Convicted-Congress-MP-Rasheed-Masood-disqualified-from-Rajya-Sabha/articleshow/24484085.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Lalu Prasad]] were disqualified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/fodder-scam-lalu-yadav-jagdish-sharma-disqualified-from-lok-sabha_884900.html|title=Fodder scam: Lalu Yadav, Jagdish Sharma disqualified from Lok Sabha|publisher=ZEE NEWS|date=22 October 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=7 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207032551/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/fodder-scam-lalu-yadav-jagdish-sharma-disqualified-from-lok-sabha_884900.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Another disqualification case of sitting M.P. [[Rahul Gandhi]] in Mar 2023 was seen due to the same act applied.<ref>{{cite news |title=What is the Lily Thomas SC verdict, which affects Rahul Gandhi's disqualification case|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/what-is-the-lily-thomas-rahul-gandhi-8515037/|date=24 Mar 2023|archive-date=23 Mar 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323132159/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/what-is-the-lily-thomas-rahul-gandhi-8515037/
|work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Explained: The Lily Thomas case that changed the disqualification law for convicted MPs or MLAs
|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/explained-the-lily-thomas-case-that-changed-the-disqualification-law-for-convicted-mps-or-mlas-1203102.html
|date=24 Mar 2023|archive-date=25 Mar 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325210736/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/explained-the-lily-thomas-case-that-changed-the-disqualification-law-for-convicted-mps-or-mlas-1203102.html
|work=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref>

The judgements were largely seen to cleanse politics from criminalization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/activist-verdicts/article5229019.ece|title=Activist verdicts|publisher=FRONTLINE|date=1 November 2013|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=5 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105014736/http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/activist-verdicts/article5229019.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other notable cases===
* Lily Thomas vs State Of Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/451532/|title=Lily Thomas vs State Of Tamil Nadu|publisher=INDIANKANOON|date=4 July 1985|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062844/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/451532/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Lily Thomas (Ms), Advocate vs Speaker, Lok Sabha And Ors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.in/doc/1867182/|title=Lily Thomas (Ms), Advocate vs Speaker, Lok Sabha And Ors|publisher=INDIANKANOON|date=24 August 1993}}</ref>
* Ms. Lily Thomas vs State Of Maharashtra And Ors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1718114/|title=Ms. Lily Thomas vs State Of Maharashtra And Ors|publisher=INDIANKANOON|date=28 April 2005|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=19 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319122406/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1718114/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Lily Thomas vs Union Of India (Uoi).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiankanoon.in/doc/475982/|title=Lily Thomas vs Union Of India|publisher=INDIANKANOON|date=26 September 2007}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Lily believed it is the responsibility of the lawyers to fight through petitions to improve the existing laws<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inextlive.com/lily-thomas-and-rpa-in-supreme-court-201307160016|title=लिली थॉमस: उम्र 85 फिर भी डाली हर नेता की जान सांसत में|publisher=INEXT LIVE|date=16 July 2013|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=19 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319122407/https://www.inextlive.com/lily-thomas-and-rpa-in-supreme-court-201307160016|url-status=live}}</ref> and having criminals as politicians is an insult to the parliamentary system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://barandbench.com/content/212/%E2%80%9C-have-criminals-politicians-insult-our-parliamentary-system%E2%80%9D%E2%80%93-lily-thomas|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141004181332/http://barandbench.com/content/212/%E2%80%9C-have-criminals-politicians-insult-our-parliamentary-system%E2%80%9D%E2%80%93-lily-thomas%23.VDA3CmeSypR|archive-date=4 October 2014|url-status=dead|title="To have criminals as politicians is an insult to our parliamentary system"-Lily Thomas|publisher=Bar & Bench|date=17 July 2013}}</ref> Lily had considered her father who was also an advocate, her hero. At an old age, she went to the court every day and worked for 8–10 hours. Lily preferred reading [[Mills & Boon]] and having knowledge of [[Bible]] and ''[[Vishnu Sahasranama]]''.<ref name="THE TIMES OF INDIA"/> She was a practising [[Saint Thomas Christians|Syrian Christian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/legal-eagle-who-launched-crusade-against-tainted-legislators-113071300624_1.html|title=Legal eagle who launched crusade against 'tainted' legislators|work=Business Standard|date=13 July 2013|access-date=3 October 2014|archive-date=22 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722232254/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/legal-eagle-who-launched-crusade-against-tainted-legislators-113071300624_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lily remained unmarried.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lily Thomas: The woman behind disqualification law on convicted politicians|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/lily-thomas-the-woman-behind-disqualification-law-on-convicted-politicians-1203757.html
|date=26 Mar 2023|archive-date=27 Mar 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327053827/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/lily-thomas-the-woman-behind-disqualification-law-on-convicted-politicians-1203757.html|work=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref>

On 10 December 2019, Lily Thomas had died at the age of 91 in [[Delhi]] at a private hospital.<ref name="financialexpressthomas" /><ref name="livellawthomas">{{cite news |title=Memorial Lecture Held In Remembrance of Advocate Lily Thomas|url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/memorial-lecture-held-in-remembrance-of-advocate-lily-thomas-216564|date=13 Dec 2022|archive-date=19 Mar 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319111629/https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/memorial-lecture-held-in-remembrance-of-advocate-lily-thomas-216564|work=Live Law}}</ref>

Adv. Saju Jakob is carrying forward the legacy of Adv. Lily Thomas through his law office namely ''Office of Lily Thomas and Saju Jakob'', which has already conducted various Lily Thomas Memorial Lectures and Essay Writing Competitions.<ref name="lilythomas" />

On 12 December 2022, the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association including the office of ''Lily Thomas & Saju Jakob'' had organised a memorial in memory of Lily.

The event was being attended by judges [[Mukesh Shah|M. R. Shah]] and [[C. T. Ravikumar]]. The then [[Attorney General for India]] [[R. Venkataramani]] was the notable speaker for the memorial meeting. Other important attendees were advocate [[Pravin H. Parekh]] who is the president of ''ISIL & Confederation of Indian Bar'', and advocate Pradeep Rai, vice-president of [[Supreme Court Bar Association (India)|SCBA]].<ref name="livellawthomas" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://indiankanoon.org/search/?formInput=lily%20thomas Cases] filed by Lily Thomas at ''Indian Kanoon''
* [http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=40545 Detailed Judgement] on ''Representation of the People Act'' Case

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Lily}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women lawyers]]
[[Category:People from Kottayam]]

Lily Thomas - Revision history

SabinaGuffey at 09:23, 8 February 2026