Flash Fiction: The Judge and the Lawyer

 

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Advocate Lalbihari Roy was known as a bail master. He could get bail for any accused arrested and thrown into police or judicial custody. Baina, an active member of Sana pickpocket gang reached Mr. Roy and requested him, “Please get bail for Sana Bhai; we shall see what can be done later. The car festival is nearing; only a week left. As you know, there will be rush in buses and trains. This is our business time. Our business will go astray, if he is not released.”

“What has he done?” asked Mr. Roy

“Pickpocketing…”

“This is nothing. I have obtained bail for persons accused of rape, dacoity, murder. Have you brought money?”

Baina brought rupees five hundred out of his pocket and offered the advocate and said, “Sir, please accept this now. This is not enough, I know. We shall pay you later. I don’t have much money with me now. Sir, you will never lose your fees due to you. Henceforward, our relation will continue and grow up. This is not a kind of one day relationship. Sir, many persons in our profession suggest you are the right person to take up the case; hearing your name from them, I came to you.”

The advocate argued in the court, “Sana Parida is a poor man. A daily wager, he has to work every day to earn his wage; if he misses a day, his family members will starve. There is no evidence he has pickpocketed. This is pure conjecture. Sana Parida was standing behind the person. You know the rush in town buses, people travel as if loaded like potato bags. One cannot stand comfortably in the bus, keeping a distance from one another. Since Sana Parida was standing behind that person, his hand might have touched him, and he has mistaken him to the thief. Once he has told him to be the thief, others travelling in the bus took him to be thief, as pickpocketing is very common in crowded buses. The people beat him and handed over him to the police. Sana Parida is innocent; someone else has committed  the crime, but the police arrested him. He is not well dressed, like an educated well-bred person, and is in a poor attire, hence, looks like a poor fellow, and accused of being a thief. Sana Parida has come from his village to Cuttack for seeking job. The police arrested him since the people mistook him to be the pickpocket. Besides, pickpocketing is not non-bailable offence.”

“What are you saying?” the judge said, “Pickpocketing is not non-bailable offence! So what? They should be hanged. Yesterday, I came from my village; I was travelling by town bus from the bus stand to my res, I was pickpocketed five hundred rupees.”

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The judge’s remark caused murmur among the lawyers present in the court room. A few chuckled.  The lawyers’ reaction irked the judge. He said, “You are laughing at me. A small crime in the eyes of law can land a man in disastrous situation. Leave my case; I have a job; I draw a monthly salary. Take the case of a poor man; his son is in hospital; he needs money for a major operation. He went to village, sold his property to arrange money for his son’s treatment. He is coming to the hospital by the town bus. The pickpockets stole away his money. He could not pay for his son’s operation, his son died and besides, he lost his property also. Who should we blame for this kind of eventuality?”

The judge adjourned the court. He went to his chamber. He had heard, but reserved his judgement. He would give the order next day.

Mr. Roy called upon Baina and said, “Idiots, you even don’t spare the judges!”

Baina stroked his hair and, with a smirk on his lips, said, “Sir, how can we know? The judges don’t travel in the town bus in their prescribed attire; black coat and gown. How can we distinguish between a a judge and a commoner? Besides, we don’t look at the persons, but their pockets.”

The advocate laughed. “Yes, you idiots are disciples of the great Arjun of Mahabharat; you aim at the eyes of the bird; never look at the leaves, branches or fruits of the tree!”

Mr. Roy entered into the chamber of the judge. He brought out a five hundred rupee note from his pocket and offered to the judge and said, “Sir, take back your money. Those bastards did not know you were a judge. They have pickpocketed you.”

Annoyed, the judge said, “Go away. What is this? Get out with your money.”

The lawyer argued, “Sir, when any theft occurred in your house, you lodge FIR with the police. The police, when they recover the theft property and return the goods, you accept. I am giving you back your money. Why should you think I am bribing?”

He placed a five hundred rupee note on his table and came out.

The next day, in the forenoon, the judge passed order; Sana Parida was released on bail.

*****