“THERE ARE SOME BLACK SHEEP IN OUR PROFESSION”
From a service class family, Mr. Ranjit Kumar came to Delhi to take the civil services examination. However, he could not clear the interview session and as such could not qualify for the IAS. He never gave it a second attempt and opted to concentrate on his study in law. He passed out law from the Delhi University and has since been practising in the Supreme Court. Apart from his regular practise, he is also engaged in various public interest litigations involving social concern. He has been appointed by the Supreme Court as the Amicus Curie in several important matters. Mr. Ranjit Kumar talks to our correspondent Renu Sharma.
You have been in the legal profession for nearly 23 years, now. What obstacles did you have to face to reach this level?
I come from a family where my father was in the government service and my grandfather was basically a zamindar looking after the revenue from our land properties in Bhagalpur (Bihar). I received my education in Patna at St. Xavier’s and at St. Michael’s schools. Thereafter I moved to Delhi in the year 1974 to join the Delhi University for my graduation. I joined Hindu College and took Economics as my subject. After completing my graduation I joined the Campus Law Centre and did my law. I passed out in the year 1982. I did not have a legal background and was totally new to the profession, but I was lucky enough to get associated with a very nice senior. He had immense patience and guided me and trained me in the profession. However, there I was not paid anything while I worked. My parents supported me and used to send money to me for the basic needs. Those were tough days but I remained strong and survived.
Were you inspired by any person who motivated you to take this profession or it was your own independent choice?
I was not inspired by any person to do law. It was my own independent decision. As I said earlier I did not have a legal background. The only person who was a lawyer in the family was my maternal great-grandfather. He expired when I was very young. So there was no inspiration from anyone to that effect. The real reason to take up law was that I wanted to settle in Delhi. I came here and completed my higher education and took the Civil Services examination. I was not lucky enough to clear the interview, but I have no regrets for that. I am happy that my decision to take up law as my profession was right.
What do you have to say about the recent DDA scam involving a Delhi High Court judge?
What I think about the whole issue is that involvement of a High Court judge in the said scam only shows that there are black sheep in our profession. This is highly disgraceful for the entire profession and we must try to get rid of all such black sheep as fast as possible. Amongst the three pillars of our democracy – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary – it is the judiciary alone which is carrying on its shoulders a very heavy burden because of what one sees in the executive and the legislature. It is now required that we clear all this mess and start afresh.
There has been news about the coming of the foreign law firms to India. Do you think that this would affect the practice of individual lawyers?
As long as there is reciprocity between India and such countries of the world from where the lawyers intend to come to India, I think there is no major issue even if the foreign firms enter the Indian legal system. If this reciprocity is not there, then it is a cause for concern. If we allow foreign lawyers to come and practise in India and Indian lawyers are not allowed to practise abroad, then I must say it is not a fair arrangement and resistance on this aspect is justified. This would be a clear case of discrimination. Why should this discrimination be allowed? I have been to England for some important matter. I was totally aware of the matter but could not address the court there. My client was required to engage a solicitor and a senior arguing counsel to plead his case. I could not do more than assist the counsels there, although I was well versed with the matter. So if there is reciprocity, we should allow the foreign firms to enter India. If doctors and engineers can go abroad and work, why can’t the lawyers do the same?
Are you satisfied with what all the legal profession has given you in all these years?
I am very satisfied with the hard work I have put in the profession and the returns that I have received. I always feel that if you are a righteous person then law is the profession for you. You have a cause to fight for. You fight for the rights of your client. It gives you immense satisfaction when you are fighting for a justified cause. I have done all types of cases in the Supreme Court. I have done public interest cases for which I have not received any fees, but there was a cause for which I thought someone needs to raise a strong voice. So there is a lot which this profession offers to you, provided you are loyal to it.
You have a busy schedule. How do you manage to take out time for your family?
The old saying that law is a jealous mistress, is right. Being very honest to myself, I have not been able to give sufficient time to my family. The whole day is too tied up and there remains very little time for them. But I always have dinner with my family. It is the dinner time when we all are together and discuss the events of the day. I avoid working on Friday evenings and on Saturdays. These two days I would like to be with my family and I try to compensate the time which I am not able to give to them during the week days.