Benjamin Franklin had said “A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats”
It should be the endeavor of every officer of the Court to ensure purity of justice and that in the judicial system no person howsoever high should ever do anything to be above the law. It is expected that the Advocate General of the State being the First Law officer would lead by example in always being very truthful and ever so honest to the Court. On 4th December 2012 it was submitted before the Supreme Court that Advocate General of Goa Atmaram Nadkarni being unwell was unable to appear. Accepting the submission at face value, a Division bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justice G.S.Singhvi and Justice Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya adjourned that matter recording personal difficulty of the Advocate General to appear before the Court. However, shockingly the fact of the matter is that on 4th December, 2012, the Advocate General Mr. Atmaram Nadkarni was very much in the pink of health and even appeared before the Bombay High Court at Goa in various matters. If this is the blatant misleading manner in which the Advocate General of Goa seeks to adjourn matters, it is a very sad reflection of the sordid State of affairs. It also shows the kind of respect which Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni holds for the Supreme Court, despite being the first Law Officer of the State. Copies of the High Court orders showing his presence in Goa while the Supreme Court was falsely misled that he was unable to appear before the Apex Court, have all been now sent to the Chief Justice of India so that he is aware of the manner in which the Supreme Court was taken for a jolly ride and that too by Goa’s Advocate General, the highest paid in the country. Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir has been urged to ensure that such malpractices are nipped in the bud by sending a message to all that there cannot be hide and seek with the judiciary nor the judicial system. By the way, that case before the Supreme Court which Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni manipulated and managed to adjourn is a very high profile case. Let us leave it that, without mentioning more details. It may release a gory can of worms that may sting the Advocate General ever so badly. I am also reminded of the words of William Faulkner “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
