11 July 2015

Much obliged!

During my first law internship, I spent a significant amount of time observing proceedings in the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court. Often, the Hon'ble Judges would lighten the mood with their jokes and comments (without any compromise to the delivery of justice). Following are some excerpts from my notebook :

Referring to the hundreds of post its on a particular document -
"What is this colourful petition about?"

In various debt recovery suits -
"Where is the money? How much money have you brought today?" 
"Don't be greedy. Take some money and be done with it. I will not be here in 5 years, but this petition will be. Better you settle it now." 
"This is their mentality. They will spend 10,000 to recover 1,000!" 
"Whatever money was left, the company is using to pay their senior advocate."

In a suit concerning defective leather, Your Honour made a comparison to Maggi -
"What do you mean the leather 'tears'? How can leather just tear like that? Did it have lead in it?" 

In a case where there were multiple respondents and a particular respondent (4) agreed with the claims of the petitioner -
"How have you bribed Respondent 4?"

A company was being wound up and it had multiple creditors. Recovery proceedings were pending in court

Referring to the directors of the company -
"Where are the directors of this company? Are they cooling it off in a holiday destination? Is there a provision to bring them back?" 
"The birds have gone to poop."

Referring to the official representative of that company (who was present in court) -
"So we will let loose the creditors on him. But what will they get. They can take his clothes."

Counsel praying for more time because he was recently appointed -
"Will the respondent change counsel again next time?"

On the use of abbreviations -
"What is R4? It's Respondent 4. Speak in full."  

Counsel - "Your Lordship, they haven't filed SoB" 
Judge - "SoB?" 
Counsel - "Yes, Your Honour. The Statement of Objections" 
Judge - "The Americans use SoB as an abbreviation for something else. They don't use it the way you do!"

And some unclassified ones -
"If you come after 1 week, do you think I will forget what you said last time?" 
"No Mister, I want a disposal today!" 
"Your clients will not agree, so we will make it a decree!"


Mysore Government Offices, Cubbon Park
Source : http://peopleofindia1868-1875photos.blogspot.in/2011/11/images-of-british-india.html


Thanks to all my co-interns for making this internship super awesome. This post is dedicated to you.

Song - Happy by Pharrell Williams