When activists challenge Powers
Before Milords who’re perching High
No one thinks it fit to ask them
“Why do you keep doing this? Why?”
The Powers are high on confidence
Experienced Milords won’t interfere
After all, they have duly been sworn
To decide without any favour or fear
So activists invariably get nothing
Except a lot of media coverage
Motivating them to appeal higher
Hoping to get better luck and leverage
In Appeal the wiser Milords decide
They will consider everyone’s say
But till then the Powers can exercise
As there is no question of any stay!
Aggrieved activists then go higher
Alleging that something is amiss
And are surprised when Milords say
We’re Supreme and we’ll hear this!
The Powers just wait, watch and smile
As this rids them of all lurking fears
They’ll now get a verdict in months
In a case that would’ve taken years!
Everyone’s confidence is Supreme
While Milords decide who lost, who won
No one disputes the proposition that
“Justice must be seen to be done!”
This is the best thing about rule of law
Whether the heroes win or the crooks
We, the people putting Constitution First
Get new vistas of law to fill law books!
(Raju Z Moray is an advocate who practices law in the Bombay High Court when not puncturing bloated egos. He is the creator of ‘Gobble D. Gook’, his alter-ego, who figured in the ‘Court Jester’ columns of ‘The Lawyers’.)
