The Logjam

We think their idea is wrong,

But we won’t discuss it on any prong;

Rather we will make noise and run to the well,

Break all rules and make Parliament a living hell;

But no misbehaviour goes unpunished,

Madamji threw us out, thinking it was the end of the skirmish.

We are unshrinking like teenage daredevils,

Protest we shall and let sessions crumble;

Black bands, huge placards and a fiery slogan,

“Death to Democracy” is our loaded shotgun;

No matter how many rules we shall break,

Madamji dare not scold us for her own sake!

As they sow, so shall they reap,

This is what they did and must now receive;

Who cares about law making or the Mango Man?

It’s all about opposing and so we must continue this logjam;

We will not falter or agree on any account,

Madamji can call us for as many meetings as she wants.

Doing so, we will not let them work,

And around election claim that they are the ones that shirked;

This is how it has always been- an affair ending in nil,

From one Animal Farm to another still;

What can we do differently?

Madamji wonders about her next step, patiently.

Source : http://www.weeklyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Parliament.jpg

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

Necessary Evil

Read the following words in a book by Swami Chinmayanandaji :

Thus, we compromise with our ideal in seeking the temporary gratification of some passing whim of our mind. On such occasions the usual justification is that it is 'a necessary evil.' And it sounds quite an acceptable excuse in the ears of our society. But a spiritual student must avoid this thorny bush and should never think of taking shelter behind its poisonous foliage. For, invariably we find that 'a necessary evil' very soon becomes 'more and more necessary' and, as we repeat the evil again and again, it is found to become 'less and less evil' in our judgement! This is how a compromise once made tends to perpetuate itself as a habit of the mind. It is through such unconscious cracks that the meditative powers, cultivated and stored up in us, slowly leak out, and the seeker's bosom becomes empty of all its acquired beauty and glory.