I struggled. I used my sides to cleave though the milling crowd, inside the small low ceiling, packed courtroom, meeting with thuds and clicks and angry glares of protestations. The blue padded low seats on either side were fully occupied. Petitioners, their family and friends, lawyers their juniors and associates, policemen, clerks and officials competed to have a foot hold between the rows of seats and little space left in front. Policemen inspectors and officials who had some business to be there jostled on the left side of so called podium, which is in fact a counter on a platform few inches above floor.
Apart form the milling crowd I was sickened by the cacophony of odd mixture of noises – constant squeaking of chairs, shuffling of papers, endless chattering of visitors, policemen seeking info from court staff, court staff seeking information from police court staff, seeking information from police officials and to add insult to injury the most distasteful – shuffling of shoes and sandals-come summer, the problem would be compounded by the heat and swishing and clattering of fans. The sound and action taking place, at few feet ahead at the counter where judge sat along with his staff- a small and cluttered place-appeared to be distant and muffled. After every disposal the shrill voice of the caller, calling the next name twice and thrice shot through and over- rode all.

The judge seemed oblivious of the atrocity of the environment. I cant say whether he was thoughtful, thoughtless or had simply resigned. I had seen the list hung outside there were sixty bail applications and forty regular cases to be dealt with. After hearing each argument nay speech he would put a sheaf of paper in the file and keep it aside: “ 2pm” “ 2.30pm” “3pm”. I went back to the court at 12.30 pm and finding the court deserted I enquired with one of the staff –whether the hearings were postponed. He told me that all the applications had been disposed of. At around I was informed that my application had been dismissed. “ No ground made out”: recovery to be effected.”
As I came out of the courtroom an old question assailed my mind: justice done or justice denied.