“Judges Must Not Become Victims of Corruption”
Shyamala Pappu, Senior Advocate
She was the only lady lawyer when she started practice in the High Court at Mysore, 35 years ago. After putting a few years in at Mysore she came to Delhi to practice in the Supreme Court. Close to Lord Denning, he used to call her ‘little Q.C.’ (queen’s counsel). She was later designated as a Senior Counsel. Ms. Pappu is a known figure and is a symbol of strength of woman power. Ms. Pappu shares her views with our correspondent Renu Sharma.
Q: You are one of a few lady lawyers who have been able to establish a name for herself in the legal profession. How did you manage to fight through and create a mark.
I do not feel that there is any problem in one being a male or a female in the legal profession. Basically a client, whether you are a man, woman or beast, wants work done. If you are able to give him good performance, quality service, success and proper behaviour, then there is no problem. The males have dominated the profession but of late, for the last two and a half decades, lots of women are joining the profession. I have had the best of cooperation from the bench, which have primarily been men. I was one woman amongst 450 male advocates in Mysore, but I never faced any problems. Of course, the aspect of curiosity was there. All the male advocates used to wonder how I would perform and how long would I be able to sustain myself in the profession, and things like that. I remember the first day I argued a matter in the court, the entire bar wanted to see how I would perform.
Q: How different is the legal profession now when you compare it with what it was like 40 years ago.
The first change that immediately comes to mind is that a lot of woman lawyers have entered into the profession. The other thing that comes to mind is the standards of behaviour, attitude, integrity and quality of service. These, I believe, were at the highest when I had started to practise. But now, over the years, the attitude, the integrity and the moral values have been declining. Lawyers and law have become commercialised. Lawyers have a greater urge to earn money rather than to give quality service to the client. Community and national service are also missing in totality.
Q: A survey has shown that an average person is not aware how the judiciary functions. The impression that he has about the system is what is casted in his minds from the feature films.
Majority of what is shown in the Indian films is unrealistic. Anybody can just rush inside a court shouting “tharo tharo, mujhe bhi kuch kehna hai.” This is not the way the court functions. If you need to say something you must seek prior permission from the court. The court definitely permits you to speak, but there is a code of conduct which has to be maintained. If you fail to do so, then contempt proceedings can be initiated against you. Then it is very often shown that lawyers act like slaves to the big baddies in the films and are willing to do anything on their command. This is absolutely wrong and projects a very ugly picture of the profession. I strongly condemn this. Lawyers are a very strong community, and by showing all these wrong images the film industry is not doing a right thing. But when you start a debate on this topic, it is very often said that films are a reflection of the society. Agreed, but then you must show the real reflection. Why do you need to camouflage and or add masala to it ? I am strongly against it and I say that the censor board must take strong action against these types of scenes that portray a false image of the entire legal system.
Q: The Judiciary has avoided controversy for many years, but now news of corruption in the judicial system can also be heard. How far this is true and what led this evil to seep into our judicial structure.
I would not like to comment much on this, but I fully endorse to what you say. Corruption has definitely crept into the judicial system and this is not a happy situation for the society as a whole. Judges are a class; they are the sentinels of protecting the rights of the citizens. They are above the executive and the legislature. In fact, the judiciary is the supreme body as it discharges the godly function of deciding what is wrong and what is right. If we treat it as supreme then it also must act appropriately. Judges must not become victims of corruption and I would like to say to all my lawyer colleagues not to encourage any practises which would increase corruption. Law is a noble profession and it has to remain like this.
Q: All lawyers make good politicians. Is this true. What are the special qualities in lawyers which make them good politicians.
Lawyers are excellent orators. They are not afraid to speak. They are leaders by quality and this makes them good politicians. The ability to speak and convince are the best tools of lawyers. What are politicians? They are persons who speak more and do less. If the basic qualification is to speak more who, apart from a lawyer, can qualify as the best.