Lawyers should also serve public for free: Jethmalani ….Swati Deshpande I TNN
Mumbai: Legal luminary Ram Jethmalani exhorted law students to become practising lawyers only if they contributed to the ascent of glory that the profession once enjoyed. Knowledge of the law is never a waste, but join if you are prepared to also render a public service for free. Money is not the moving force in the profession.
Jethmalani was addressing a 600-strong gathering of law students, professors and police officers at the annual day celebration of G J Advani Law College in Bandra on Saturday. The legal giant made a riveting 90-minute speech in which he traced the origins of the legal profession to its two biblical versions. He reminded the budding lawyers who couldnt help feeling lucky to get pearls of wisdom directly from Jethmalani himself, how in the Apocryphal story, Daniel the firstever lawyer in history, fought against the establishment. The legendary figure had the courage to defy the mob to establish innocence without any fees, encapsulating the three main characteristics of a lawyer.
Jethmalani said some top-notch lawyers charge between Rs 5-10 lakh a day, but dont spare any time to offer free legal aid. I havent come across one, but I am one, he said, as he recalled how he came to defend the two accused in the Indira Gandhi murder case for free in the higher courts. At the same time, lawyers have a duty to represent anyone even if the person confides his guilt, he added.
Complaining that quality had dropped considerably in the profession, Jethmalani noted how lawyers play a key role in society and pointed out that it was the few that fought the 1975 fake emergency, who finally helped in its revocation. He sidestepped his own arrest, upheld by majority judges in the Supreme Court, with the help of the citys top cop who too didnt believe that the Emergency was right.
The 84-year-old still-sharp-as-nails lawyer praised a speech given by additional police commissioner Suresh Khopde, who very succinctly pointed out how the Mohalla committees he had set up after the 1984 Bhiwandi riots help both, the community and the police. Jethmalani gave away certificates to about 50 police officers for having participated in a legal literacy drive in some of Mumbais poorest slums, including Radhabai chawls in Jogeshwari. About 1,000 dwellers from various slums falling under the jurisdiction of 20 different police stations across the city, used to gather for the drive.
The legal aid project was organised by the Advani law college and the Bombay high court last year. College principal Vijay Ghormade and its legal aid committee chairperson Mahesh Vaswani said the project was a crucial hands-on learning experience for students. It also sensitised the police towards the problems of slum dwellers. Free legal aid is not charity but a tool to transform society by empowering the needy. Its also an effective education tool for law students. In western countries, the aid falls under the banner of clinical legal education, said Ghormade. IPS officer Archana Tyagi was present too and inspired students as did Manju Nichani, principal of K C College.
IN AUGUST COMPANY: R Jethmalani (second from right) addressed law students, professors and police officers at G J Advani Law College
IN AUGUST COMPANY: R Jethmalani (second from right) addressed law students, professors and police officers at G J Advani Law College