When they were "struggling juniors” Rohinton Vachha (pictured), Janak Dwarkadas and Firoze Andhyarujina spent many afternoons eating lunch at cheap South Indian restaurants in the Fort area. Dwarkadas considered the recently deceased Vachha a warm and considerate friend of whom he had "very fond memories of our time together as juniors at the bar, sharing our anxieties and frustrations at not getting work.” He stated it was unfortunate that Vachha was not promoted to be a judge in the High Court.
Andhyarujina told Parsiana that Vachha conducted proceedings "admirably... Pleasant and forthright to the core... he would be remembered for a long time.”
After a tenure as judge spanning 21 years, Vachha retired as a principal judge in the family court in 2011. He passed away at the age of 72 on January 11, 2024. His career as a judge began in 1989 with his first posting being at the City Civil and Sessions Court. He "stood tall amongst his peers, physically as well as professionally… Integrity and sincerity were the hallmark of all that he did in his life,” stated Jamshed Jeejeebhoy who worked closely with Vachha in his later years.
Post his retirement, Vachha worked as advisor with Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Private Limited. Jeejeebhoy noted that Vachha was an extraordinarily simple person. As a judge he was kind to a fault, his attempt at all times was to resolve disputes amicably and bring a happy closure to the vexed issues that came before him. "He lived his life as a true Zoroastrian following the three exalted tenets of his faith, good thoughts, good words and good deeds,” Jeejeebhoy stated.
Noted and respected for devotion to his profession and a strong sense of responsibility in the service of justice, reportedly the confidence with which he placed an otherwise weak case in a strong light distinguished him as a practicing lawyer, noted his son Rayomand. His practice as a lawyer saw him appearing in various courts in both civil and criminal matters. As a judge, his sense of fair play and judicial knowledge "equipped him to deliver balanced judgments within the letter and spirit of the law.” By nature he was a jovial and helpful person who always remained steadfast in his decisions, noted the son who said he looked up to his father as a role model and hero. "He was a man of honor, disciplined and principled… His love for his family was and will always be eternal, unconditional and irreplaceable.”
Born in April 1951, Rohinton "staunchly followed the Zoroastrian religion, with not a day going by when he did not pay his respects at the M. B. Sethna Agiary on his way to work,” stated Rayomand. A graduate of Wilson College, Rohinton completed his bachelor’s degree in law from Government Law College, followed by a diploma in business management.
The judge is survived by his wife Kashmira, son Rayomand and daughter Aban Karbhari.