Despite there being a very clear and categorical diktat by the Supreme Court that judges should not socialize with advocates, there seems no rigorous compliance of this very salutary prescription. Just because Goa is a holiday destination, does it mean that it should be exempt from this much required norm?
Official Tea parties within the High Court premises could be okay. But highly spirited dinner parties, hosted at starred hotels, are another story: a potential avenue for Advocates to creep and cultivate convenient relations with Judges. It can also lead to funny, embarrassing and demeaning situations at times. There was one such gala dinner at a Panaji Hotel, last Friday. The centerpiece of the function was that, midway through the dinner, one Senior Advocate who reportedly went way above the breathalyzer’s permissible limits had to be escorted home limping by another Senior Advocate who seemed to be somewhat more steady. It must have been a bumpy ride. The next day being a working Saturday for the High Court, one wonders how the hangover was taken care of. Recently circulated amongst the legal fraternity in Goa was an anonymous letter addressed to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court with a copy endorsed to each of the 55 Bombay High Court judges. The letter pertains to the farewell dinner accorded on August 18th this year at Panaji to a retiring High Court judge. A perusal of this well articulated crispy letter reveals that it was not drafted by any Tom, Dick and Harry. It is however saddening that the author did not have the courage to reveal his name and chose to sign as ‘the Concerned Citizen’. The many ills our society faces today is because we are not ready to speak up the hard facts and stick our neck. The contact between Advocates and judges should be restricted to the Court room. This would go a long way in ensuring an independent, unbiased, free and fair Judiciary. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372