The #LawDarshan (Part I): Jaipur

It is the beginning of September, and the weather is relatively kind to the lawyers appearing in courts in Rajasthan. Nevertheless, I am feeling the heat. The lawyers, though, tell me I have come at a good time; summers can be quite oppressive in these parts..Made of the city’s trademark pink sandstone, the building housing the bench of the Rajasthan High Court at Jaipur melds in with its surroundings. While the old building is now used as chambers of many advocates, the new building – located on the same campus – is a sign of the changing times..One of these changes is the tight security at the entrance; advocates are checked for their bar council ID without fail. Even litigants are required to furnish documents to prove that their cases are being heard on that day, which means the general public cannot attend court proceedings. Quite unlike the old building, the new one has wide corridors and air-conditioned court rooms. And of late, these corridors are filled with younger advocates..The judges of the High Court are more than happy to witness a young lawyer appear before them..One reason is perhaps that the older breed (barring the senior advocates) often present their case in an informal manner. The younger lawyers, armed with a much better English vocabulary and trained in court etiquette, come as a welcome relief for the judges. Perhaps it feels good to be called ‘Your Lordship’ every once in a while..As I enter the premises, I find lawyers of all ages running helter-skelter from one court room to another. I am told that the previous day’s matters have been clubbed with today’s, on account of the court holiday declared for Ganesh Chathurthi. One advocate laments the administrative oversight, suggesting that there should have been a Full Court meeting to clarify things..The judges themselves are flummoxed..One courtroom is the very picture of chaos, and the judge is unable to control proceedings. I am later informed that this happens on a daily basis in this particular courtroom. On the one hand, you have stories of a particular judge disposing of cases before you can say the word ‘adjournment’. On the other, I am told that another takes half an hour for a simple application..Delhi’s foremost lawyers often make the trip from Bhagwan Dass Road to Bhagwant Das Road, where the High Court Bench is situated. And, as luck would have it, two of these stalwarts are in the Jaipur campus today. As I enter court room 7, I find Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium in his element, arguing in a case relating to coal companies..Then, suddenly, the matter stops being heard after Subramanium’s submissions. The whispers in the corridor are that none other than P Chidambaram is due to appear for the other side. After an hour, the former Finance Minister is in the court room, which is now packed to the rafters. By the end of the day’s arguments, the judge hearing the case, Justice Ahluwalia, is visibly tired..The High Court campus also houses a museum chronicling the history of the legal profession in Rajasthan. The museum houses various documents, including certified copies of landmark judgments, and the original gazette notification giving birth to the High Court..There is also a segment that sheds light on the why black robes are worn by judges and lawyers..A plaque explains,.“Queen Mary and King William were the first monarchs to recognize the legal profession from the ecclesiastical one. When Queen Mary expired in 1694, her subjects wore black as a sign of national mourning…Judges and members of the legal fraternity continued to wear black for all these years…”.As regards, the reason why bands are worn, it is explained,.“According to the Bible, when Moses climbed Mt. Sinai, he received two tablets which contained the Ten Commandments of God. The two bands represent the two tablets…the judges carry the law in their heart and soul. The band also symbolises that judges perform a divine function.”.They are very proud of their rich heritage and culture in these parts, and it seems as though the High Court is no different..In terms of refreshment, the High Court does not offer its denizens much. There is one canteen on campus, which serves more as a mess than anything else. Run by Saras Dairy, it has an extremely limited menu. The lassi and the milkshakes are quite refreshing though. .A full-fledged canteen review follows..Outside the campus, I interviewed Senior Advocates Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Virendra Lodha..Both were juniors of former Supreme Court judge GS Singhvi..I also met with Prof ND Mathur, Director of the University Five-Year Law College, Jaipur University. During our chat, he revealed how he has managed to run one of Jaipur’s most popular law colleges, despite coming from a non-law background..The full text of these interviews shall be published in the days that follow. For now, I am off to the principal bench of the High Court at Jodhpur.