According to his doctor Cyrus Wadia, Palkhivala was admitted to Jaslok’s ICU on Saturday after the octogenarian complained of breathlessness. He was diagnosed with acute left ventricular failure. ‘‘There seemed to be signs yesterday that the patient was improving after being put on artificial supports, but his condition severely worsened today,’’ said Dr Wadia.

Later in the evening, a handful of relatives congregated at the hospital and accompanied the family to the Albless Bungli Doongerwadi. The paydast (funeral) will be at 7.40 am tomorrow, said Palkhivala’s nephew H.P. Ranina. The Uthamna ceremony will be held on Friday at 3.40 pm, also at the Doongerwadi.

‘‘He has been staying with me for the past many years. In 1993, he underwent a bypass surgery and was active until October 2000. Later, he was confined to a wheel chair. He would have turned 83 in January 2003,’’ Ranina added. Among the few to arrive at the hospital was T. Kavarana, Director of the Tata Group, who had known Palkhivala for more than 30 years.

Former director general of police, Arvind Inamdar, who was present all the while with Palkhivala’s relatives, offered his condolences saying that India had lost one of its most able advocates. ‘‘His love for his country and countrymen was tremendous. He was a man with a razor sharp brain and a golden heart,’’ said Inamdar.

Many city residents remember him for his post-budget analysis after every Union Budget. Indo-American Society vice-president Arun C. Vakil said: ‘‘Every meeting with him was like an intellectual pilgrimage for me. He is truly an immortal personality.’’ Vakil recalled the several interactions he had with Palkhivala for various lecture programmes. Palkhivala worked as the president of the Indo-American Society in 1990.

Condolences poured in from many quarters. In his message, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said: ‘‘We have lost an eminent jurist and legal luminary who authoritatively commented on matters of Constitutional deadlock and economic issues.’’

The office of Sharad Pawar also issued a statement which said it was an irreparable loss as Palkhivala was a titan in the field of Constitutional law, diplomacy and public administration. ‘‘Palkhivala enriched public life with his erudition, eminence and grace and with his lucid speeches on the annual budget, which became a major event for the masses. My deepest condolences are with the family,’’ the statement said.