Six questions with Advocate General of Goa, Atmaram Nadkarni

Senior Advocate Atmaram Nadkarni has been the Advocate General of Goa since 2012. He hails from a family of lawyers, his father-in-law was the first Advocate General of Goa, his daughter is also studying law. In this short interview with Bar & Bench, he talks about the need to pay junior lawyers (he has 19 juniors), the Goa Bar and more..B&B: Can you tell us a bit about your early years?.Atmaram Nadkarni: I graduated in law in 1986 and then went to Bombay to do my masters. I worked in Bombay till 1991, in the chambers of a former High Court judge. It was a great learning experience..I was often pushed into arguments by my senior since he was so heavily briefed. And there were judges like Bharucha who supported and encouraged junior lawyers. I always believed that juniors need to be paid and I pay all my juniors. After all, a lawyer has to survive, it is a matter of sustenance..B&B: As the Advocate General, you must deal with regular interference by the State government?.AN: I have never had any problems with the State government, whether it be the BJP or the one before that. No MLA has ever called me up; no minister has ever called me up..My job is to tell the government when it is crossing the line. I work on several high stake matters and I have seen that if you have the backbone, the government will not interfere. You have to be courageous, you have to not get bogged down..B&B: Some have said that you are one of the highest paid Advocate Generals in the country?.AN: It is a case of sour grapes nothing else. My predecessor in fact used to get paid a lot more than I did. When I was appointed, [my salary] was reduced. I can show you my [Income Tax] returns, what I earn now is nothing compared to what I was making in my private practice. .In the mining case for instance, the State government hired Rohinton Nariman whose fees was 10 and a half lakhs per appearance. I don’t complain when other lawyers get paid so and so amount and why should I? They deserve to get paid this amount..B&B: Your thoughts on the Goa Bar?.AN: The Goa Bar is largely ethical but it needs to grow. The work is limited to 8-10 lawyers, they must share it with their juniors. Only then will the Bar grow..Of course, that doesn’t mean that all lawyers should be given work. If you are good, if you go to court every day, if you prove your abilities before the Bench, then you will be given work..B&B: Do you think Goa should have its own High Court?.AN: A new High Court just for Goa means a lot of work, a lot of investment. I am not sure if 1.5 million people require a separate High Court. Furthermore, it is not as if the current system is not working; people are being given justice..B&B: Last question, what are your thoughts on the legal profession?.AN: Justice is divine occupation, law is a noble profession. When you can bring justice, you are doing something divine..(This interview was conducted in Goa earlier this year)