ONCE A LAWYER, YOU ARE ADDICTED

This is the third and the last post of the series 'Working of Our Constitution: Some Experiences'. It talks about my first brush with the Constitution and how I got addicted to the legal profession.

My father VKS Chaudhary is being honoured by Allahabad High Court Bar Association over dinner after his release from jail. He is third from right. In the pictures, one can also see Shanti Bhushan, AP Mishra J. and SD Agarwala J. However, at that time, they were still members of Bar. 

SOME EXPERIENCES

।। Two Classic Books on Our Constitution।। The Kalyan Singh Case।। Once a Lawyer, You Are Addicted।। 

EMPATHY & COMPASSION

This is the last post of the series 'Advice to Young Judges'. If there is no empathy, no compassion, then there is no justice.

This picture is courtesy from this website

Advice to Young Judges

Judges Have Difficult Job।। Why Six & Not Nine Months at JTRI।। Insulting Punishment। । Respect Begets Respect।। Indiscretion In The Court।।Act Without - Pressure, Fear, Expectation।। Decide Without Favour।। Adopt More Active Role।।Raja Bhoj and the Grazier।। Be Open & Correct Mistakes।। Empathy & Compassion।।

INDISCRETION IN THE COURT

 This is the third incident during my judgeship at Allahabad that dealt indiscretion in the court on my part.

Advice to Young Judges

Judges Have Difficult Job।। Why Six & Not Nine Months at JTRI।। Insulting Punishment। । Respect Begets Respect।। Indiscretion In The Court।।Act Without - Pressure, Fear, Expectation।। Decide Without Favour।। Adopt More Active Role।।Raja Bhoj and the Grazier।। Be Open & Correct Mistakes।। ।। ।। ।।

RESPECT BEGETS RESPECT

This is the second incident during my judgeship at Allahabad that dealt with lawyers.

Advice to Young Judges

Judges Have Difficult Job।। Why Six & Not Nine Months at JTRI।। Insulting Punishment। । Respect Begets Respect।। ।।Act Without - Pressure, Fear, Expectation।। Decide Without Favour।। Adopt More Active Role।।Raja Bhoj and the Grazier।। Be Open & Correct Mistakes।। ।। ।। ।।

Raja Bhoj and the Grazier

This is the seventh post of the series 'Advice to Young Judges'.

In the fourth post of the series, I had talked about adversarial as well as inquisitorial system and explained how judges may play more active role like in inquisitorial system through the story of the judgement of Solomon. Here is another tale from our past that suggests the same.

Advice to Young Judges

Judges Have Difficult Job।। Act Without - Pressure, Fear, Expectation।। Decide Without Favour।। Adopt More Active Role।। Be Open & Correct Mistakes।। Raja Bhoj and the Grazier।।

Be Open & Correct Mistakes

This is the sixth post of the series 'Advice to Young Judges'. It recommends that they should remain open till the end and correct their mistake if it is any.

Satish Chandra J. became Chief Justice of the Allahabad High court and then retired as Chief justice of the Calcutta High Court.  

Don't Be Overwhelmed By Precedents

This is the fifth post of the series 'Advice to Young Judges'. It advises them that the precedents are good guide, but judges may not permit precedents to choke their intelligence. 

RM Sahai J. with his son and family

Advice to Young Judges

Judges Have Difficult Job।। Act Without - Pressure, Fear, Expectation।। Decide Without Favour।। Adopt More Active Role।। Don't Be Overwhelmed By Precedents।। ।।

OLD IS GOLD

This post talks about a very old but still relevant advice to young lawyers. It is contained in 1875 Tagore Law Lectures and was always given by my grandfather and father. But before I tell you about it, a bit about us.

My Grandfather Keshav Chandra Singh Chaudhary and My father Virendra Kumar Singh Chaudhary in our house at 37, Tashkent Road, Allahabad in 1970

Good Judges – Open Till The End

A Judgement is not final till it is signed and sealed. It is important for a judge to be open till it is sealed. 

This post explains the same with an incident, at an early stage of my career, from the court of Satish Chandra J. (01-09.1924 – 24.01.2000). He was a judge of the Allahabad High Court, when I joined the Bar and retired as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on 31st August 1986. 

WE SHALL OVERCOME

This is the ninth and concluding post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It ends on the note 'हम होंगे कामयाब'.

Vizianagram Hall, Science Faculty, Allahabad University - Photo courtesy a friend   

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।। 

FALL FROM GRACE

This is the eighth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about what went wrong with the Allahabad University.

Senate Hall, University of Allahabad

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

CAN PARLIAMENT ABOLISH CONSTITUTION

This is the seventh post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the sixth notch of the key to unlock the door to the glorious future - encourage discussion and push the students to the unknown territory. 

The first building of the Law Faculty was constructed in 1910 and now houses the English Department. However, our third year classes were held in this building only.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।। 

DON'T WORRY, IT WILL COOL DOWN

Prof Shyam Lal Srivastava

This is the sixth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the fifth notch of the key for the the glorious future - understand the difficulties and problems of the students and help them; it is an asset for the institution. Here is an example of the same how our teachers helped us.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

THE UNFORGETTABLE TEACHER - PROF. RD PATHAK

Dr. RD Pathak (01.10.1936 - 10.02.2003) 

This is the fifth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the fourth notch in the key to open door for glorious future: consider students more important that your time - a common phenomenon among the teachers in those times. 

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

CHRIST BIRTH IN STABLE - COURTESY STATISTICIAN

This is the fourth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the third notch of the key to unlock the door to the glorious future - Talk about interesting books other than the text books on the subject. 

Science Faculty - Allahabad University

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Dr. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

GOD DOES NOT EXIST

This is the third post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the second notch of the key to unlock the door to the glorious future - Make your subject interesting. 

Dr. Banwari Lal Sharma in his traditional dress - Dhoti- Kurta in an international conference at the Allahabad University. He was one of the finest teachers in the University. He modernised the syllabus of the mathematics department of the University - making it toughest, and finest in the country.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

STUDENTS' ENTHUSIASM AT ALLAHABAD - UNPARALLELED

This is the second post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the first notch of the key to unlock the door to glorious future - Invite eminent academicians to the campus. 

Vizianagram Hall - As was then when I attended the lectures or studied

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

HAPPY DAYS GONE BY - Introduction

In order to revive the Allahabad University, the Vice Chancellor of the Allahabad University has taken unprecedented step to fill up the vacancies. Three hundred appointments have been made. Screening and interviews for the remaining posts are going on. She has also organised an 'Induction program of the faculty members at the University of Allahabad' to inspire the newly appointed teachers by talking about the great teachers of the past.

I was requested to speak  about our old teachers. I had thought of speaking at length but cut short the speech to accommodate the time available. I will be publishing my talk in parts. Here is the first part of the unabridged version.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

RULING MAY NOT CHOKE MY INTELLIGENCE

This is the sixth post of the series ‘Command Over Language is an Asset’. It recommands watching the best advocates to learn the art - with some experiences of my own.

Nani Palkhivala - picture courtesy Palkhivala Exhibition June 2023 Bombay

Command Over Language Is An Asset

One Sentence Changed The Fate।। Advocate General taught English To Me।। Misfortune of Being Opposed by KL Misra ।। Present Evolves Out Of The Past।। Ruling May Not My Choke Intelligence।। Well Read Person - Best Prepared For Law।।

HAS RHETORIC ANY PLACE IN COURT?

This is the fifth post in the series ‘Command Over Language is an Asset’.

This painting depicting a lecture in a knight academy, illustrates rhetoric. It was painted by Pieter Isaacsz or Reinhold Timm for Rosenborg Castle as part of a series of seven paintings depicting the seven independent arts.  Picture Courtesy Wikipedia

Command Over Language Is An Asset

One Sentence Changed The Fate।। Advocate General taught English To Me।। Misfortune of Being Opposed by KL Misra ।। Present Evolves Out Of The Past।।  Has Rhetoric Any Place In Court।। Ruling May Not Choke My Intelligence।। Well Read Person - Best Prepared For Law।।