The Indian Canteen Review: Madras High Court

To visit Court Number 1 of the Madras High Court is to take a journey back in time. From the intricate carvings on the wall to the stained glass windows, every inch of the room is steeped in culture that dates back to the Victorian era..On the opposite side of the Chief Justice’s bench hangs a larger-than-life portrait of Sir Thomas Strange, the first Chief Justice of the erstwhile Supreme Court of Judicature at Madras..Amidst all the throwbacks to the past, one can perhaps chance a glimpse into the proverbial crystal ball – a past judge of the old Supreme Court looks upon a likely future judge of the present Supreme Court..As I stroll through the circuitous high court campus, I realise that I am standing on hallowed grounds. This was the very spot where members of the Progressive Advocates Association distributed beef biriyani to willing consumers to protest against Maharashtra’s beef ban. As much flak as Madras High Court advocates get for their frequent abstentions, this form of protest, meat-eaters would agree, was totally called for. Much respect..Recently, non-vegetarian items were served on the campus for the first time. Added to this, I am told that there are three different canteens to choose from. All this background information leads me to believe that my culinary experience is going to be, as they say, sooooper..I couldn’t have been more wrong..My first stop is a small shack situated beyond the parking lot. There isn’t much on the menu in the way of variety. On offer is a couple of rice dishes and a so-so Masala Vada that comes for eight rupees. The least unpalatable dish is the Birinji, a vegetarian, flavoured rice dish that tries desperately to be Biriyani, or at least its poorer cousin, Pulao. It comes with a Raitha which has more onion than curd, an interesting vegetable curry and pickle. Even the three accompaniments can’t save it from surpassing mediocrity. It’s difficult to fathom why the area is frequented by lawyers and litigants alike..One visit to the Advocates canteen and the answer becomes clearer. The menu here contains cheaper and smaller versions of the rice dishes served outside and a Poori-Subji that can best be described as insipid. Added to that, the capacity is grossly inadequate, given the multitude of lawyers appearing in civil courts on the same campus..I now know why there is such dissatisfaction among members of the bar. Anyone subject to this kind of food every single day would consider abstaining from court to protest against this singularly cruel form of torture. Someone ought to file a PIL to change things around here. And organize a beef protest, while I’m there..As I dejectedly return to Court No. 1, I find that Chief Justice Kaul has taken his seat ten minutes ahead of time. This, I’m told, is a habit. In Court Room 10, however, lies a different story. It is past 3:30 pm and the judge hasn’t appeared, leaving litigants in the lurch and lawyers discussing the merits of cooking meat on the bone. It would certainly be interesting to do a study on the post-lunch punctuality and productivity of high court judges..In a last-ditch attempt, I make my way to the Aavin milk bar, to beat Chennai’s infamous swelteringly hot and humid weather. The badam milk is apparently quite popular among the advocates. Nothing like a cold, soothing glass of – wait. Is that steam emanating from the cup? Yes it is. No, thank you..Food – 2.VFM – 3.Comfort – 2.(Free) Friendly advice – Please do not feed the lawyers