Here, I must be wrong. There are miles long queues of “People who want to become judges”. Some of them are willing to pay lakhs/crores of bribe if someone can promise to make them Judge of High Court or Supreme Court judge.
Then, how do I justify to say that our judges are the most pitiable judges in world?…. In fact, I have never gone outside India, and then how can I say that there are no more pitiable judges in the world?
A twitter friend @AnniMukkala recently visited a court and tweeted than nothing was happening there except dates! This prompted me to write this article.
Two days ago, I was sitting in Supreme Court. I was just observing the judges. Then also suddenly this thought had came in my mind that, “Our Judges are the most pitiable judges in world”.
Fortunately, Judges do not know this. Therefore they are happy.
1) I saw a young man who enjoyed solving all kinds of puzzles, crossword puzzles, magic cube puzzles. He was enjoying. Every time he solved a puzzle, he felt a sense of intellectual victory.
Then one day someone came and told him,”Here are 3 Crore puzzles. Everyday from 10AM to 5PM, you will keep solving these puzzles”. He is still solving these puzzles. Isn’t this pitiable?
2) When a Judge enters in Court, 10 minute before him, him a clerk comes in court with heaps of files on is shoulders. Who is carrying heavy heaps of file on his shoulders? Not the clerk. It is the Judge who is carrying heaps of Cases on his shoulders and on his mind.
3) Years ago in 1985, in a Magistrate Court, a lawyer asked me, do you know how much a judge is paid for each signature he puts on case papers, proceedings and orders? He has to put so many signatures that even if he is paid 10 paise per signature, his total salary is still less.
4) A friend of mine was selected as judge. He was used to be happy. From seat of judge, he used to give all kind of moral lectures to lawyers.
One day, a sitting High Court Judge telephoned him that in certain triple murder trial, he should acquit all accused.
He did not oblige HC judge. Thereafter, all his promotions got into troubles. He was transferred at places where there were lots of problem. Anonymous complaints against him raised.
There was no place, there is no place where he can explain that all these were due to not obliging a sitting of HC.
From that day till today, he is burning in flames of Injustice.
5) Then one day, I was sitting in Supreme Court and watching body language of judges and arguing counsel.
The advocate had previously told his client, “Look, this judge is Fixed by Government. Whatever may I argue, the judge will not listen. This judge was also fixed by Government when he dismissed similar earlier case.”
Having prepared client in advance in this way, the counsel stood up to argue.
Now also judges can read body language of lawyers.
Judge learned instantly what this counsel had tutored his client in advance.
Since judge had already dismissed similar case few days ago, this time he wanted to hear the matter with more open mind without being influenced by his earlier dismissal.
But the moment he saw body language of advocate, a strong dislike swelled up in his mind. And yet, he smiled and started hearing case.
The point is this.
The counsel argued and in a high pitched voice, as if he was arguing against a wall. His sole goal was to play to the gallery.
The judge patiently kept hearing, so that his client does not get impression that his advocate is not heard and whatever negative tutoring advocate may have done can be washed out…..
And once, while listening argument, the Judge yawned. I could imagine mental torture he might be going through. And then I pitied him.
I pitied him even more when he started dictating order. This Judge has some kind of dogma or resolution in his mind that, “
Every word I dictate, must be clear and correct.” This requires full 100% attention of mind.
In spite of his strong dislikes and yawning, he had to collect all his mental strength to make sure that every word he dictates is correct. This is a very extracting job. I just wondered how much mental energy he may have to spend each day.
I saw no difference between a judge and a grain market labourer who carries 100Kg jute bags on his back and keeps shifting from one place to another, whole day.
A labourer, can now and then, take a break, take a rest and can smoke a bidi. or a cigartte. But a judge can’t even do that!
Therefore I said that our Judges are most pitiable judges in world.
Haresh Raichura
26/4/2012
Haresh A. Raichura 