Letter to Readers

Photo: www.theatlantic.com

Dear Readers,
I am writing this open letter to announce to our readers that my year long tenure has finally come to an end.
It has been a privilege to coordinate content for this blog until now. Our blog magazine today has readership, recognition and authenticity. Read by policy makers to Judicial minds, we are happy to retain this class magazine status.

The story of this blog starts with a question by former World Bank Chief Counsel and National Judicial Academy Director Dr. Mohan Gopal. After his class at our college, Dr. Gopal asked 'why don't you people start a blog?'. There begins the journey. Initially named as Indian Legal Watch, it was changed to 'Government Law College Thiruvananthapuram Students Blog on Kerala Legal Affairs' on the directions of Dr. Mohan Gopal himself.

On my resignation from the post after the end of one year, I remember the following persons whose help at different times make us stand as of today. Thanks on behalf of our team

To our Editorial Board Chairman Dr. P.G Balachandran Pillai. He is the one on whose supervision this was set up. I remember words- 'Nebil, if our intention is good, then god will definitely get things in favor of us'. He is the real example of how a Board Chairman should be. He never interfered in the Editorial freedom and we all love him because of that.

Special thanks to Adv. Nisa Fasil for motivating us and pushing us ahead. Thanks a lot for providing us with facilities including your laptop, internet connection and office for this blog.

This blog can never forget the contributions of Dr. Justice V.R Krishna Iyer. Our lead matter was an article by him. His Lordship provided us with dozens of articles, statements and interviews. We are indebted towards you. His Private Secretary Mr. Ramanathan took a lot of pain to dictate, take down notes and get it typed for us. We can never forget you also.

First interview was with former Director General of Police Shri. MGA Ramen. This great man gave us two slots for the interview. One time at Cochin and next at Thiruvananthapuram. I even today have his hand corrected copy of the draft of the interview. Great gentleman.

Prof. Manoj Krishna from our college wrote for us and also did what ever possible to promote this blog. He always helped in the time of crisis, gave us guidelines and asked other students to write for us. He gave us excellent contacts like Adv. Jayesh Pillai, who also helped us in many ways.

Our distinguished reader and the senior Journalist who broke the 2G scam, J Gopikrishnan offered to write a piece on Criminal Lawyers. We were on cloud 9 hearing that. We got a blog post which was most widely read and criticized.

Ashraf Padanna (Foreign Correspondent of Gulf Today and Oman Observer), the first media person to recognize our existence. His news stories in the backdrop of our interviews gave us recognition and appreciation from the readers and interviewees.

John Mary Joseph (Resident Editor of Deccan Chronicle) for recognizing that we exist in this world.

Syam Devaraj (Correspondent, Kairali TV), for scrolling the news that we published. His works gave us authenticity.

Vivina (Correspondent, PRD) for taking pain to verify news relating to the government. Thanks for helping us even at the peak of your work schedule.

VR Rajiven IPS, for his help at multiple times. His interview was a great encouragement to many civil service aspirants. Your support from the prior launch days is deeply remembered.

Jacob Punnoose IPS, for his help and support, not sure that he actually remembers us. His accommodating attitude always helped us to do stories.

Sudheer Mukkam, Journalist at Madhyamam for equipping us with an interview of former National Judicial Academy Chief Dr. G Mohan Gopal. His interview gave us hope during those difficult times before the launch.

Shasthamangalam S Ajith Kumar for that interview which was carried by Gulf Today, Oman Observer, Deccan Chronicle and Kairali TV. First interview in a court corridor.

Dr. Mathew Kuzhalnadan, National Secretary of Indian Youth Congress, for his encouragement and cooperation. I remember well about your query about the blog during your college visit and desire to see the team behind this initiative. His visit had a positive impact on us.

Adv. Kiran Lal, for coming down to meet us and encouraging us. One of the most positive person I have ever meet. A 'Dil Mange More' attitude. His article on SSB was also widely read.

Prasanth Nair IAS for his email interview. Encouraged students from law background and also outside. Promptness in giving the interview is appreciated.

Adv. Moharaj Gopalakrishnan. Spl Prosecutor in Enrica Lexi case, for granting us time for an interview even at night amidst busy schedule and thanks for giving us an opportunity to talk to the Investigation officer in Enrica Lexi case. Thanks a lot Reju Prasad for fixing that interview with Mohan Raj sir.

Garima Tiwari. One of our most respected readers and critique. We had the privilage to interview this young legal wizard. Her knowledge of International Criminal Law always amazed us.

Adv. Simla Prabhakaran for giving us your frank and independent opinion on various issues. Her knowledge of law at this young age always amazed us. Also thanks for taking part in our discussion.

Adv. Jayesh Pillai, Mumbai High Court, for always guiding and motivating us. His expertise in law was at our doorstep a couple of times. Thanks for writing for us and offer to do the new one.

Jino M Kurian, Student at NALSAR for his writings that is always different. He was dare enough to stand against the view propagated by the main stream media and support P.J Kurian. His other writing was also excellent. He gave all the power to the Editor to rewrite his article, of course without changing the basic structure. Luckily we never had to do anything of such a proportion. We love you a lot.

Abdullah Karuthedakam is a great friend and regular reader of our blog. The email lists provided by him was a great help. We were able to win over a large number of audience with your help.

Vimal Koshy is our Special Correspondent and Technical Expert. His Sony Voice Recorders was used in majority of the interviews done by us. His assistance in many interviews and stories was a real help. Happy to edit his independent stories also.

Special thanks to Viswajith Anand and Navaneeth Krishnan for sending questions for the interview even at very short notice.

Thanks to our Cochin Special Correspondent Joseph MD. His readiness to do a work at any time is note worthy. I never remember as heard a 'No' from him.

This blog would have been nothing without our Photo Editor Navya Frederick Pereira. She chose to stay with us in our good and bad days. This blog is what it is today because of your sincere efforts. From statistics reporting to news reporting to Photography, you spend a lot of time and effort.

Remember many who climbed on to this boat in the initial days, but left us alone at rough seas. Our works made us understand that if we are ready to work, then even a free blogging site can function like a law magazine.

Readers are our assets. Thanks for staying with us even when in this digital graphics age we still followed EPW model. Can never forget readers like Ramesh Rateria who criticizes citing para number, that really shows the attention with which he reads. Readers like Anisha Adithya, Adv. Rajesh Ramamoorthy, Adv. Boris Paul, Anil Puliyila, Sarah Georgey needs a special mention. Many other distinguished readers do not wish to be named owing to Professional and other reasons, so no naming individually. Bar, Bench and Academia supported us to the maximum. Thanks a lot. Readers, support and criticize to help us grow.

Best wishes to my dear friend and new Editor- Lesley Rajan. Keep going. Confident that you would convert this blog into a website in the future. One request- Don't put all rubbish posts and claim public interest. One advice- Do not go behind the volume of Audience traffic and ratings.


Enjoy your read.


Warm regards,
Nebil Nizar,
Content Coordinator (2012-13)

The CRIMINAL Advocates

Shri. J Gopikrishnan
Photo: indologygoa.wordpress.com

By J Gopikrishnan

Mahatma Gandhi once compared Lawyers’ profession is like liar’s. I never took Gandhiji’s this particular observation seriously and even thought somebody must have misquoted him. But after my four year long 2G spectrum saga I am convinced Mahatma was very right here also.

Take this example. We all heard Ram Jethmalani talking blabbering on black money and even once he offered himself to become the Special Public Prosecutor of Supreme Court monitored 2G investigation and trial. Those days the Centre was trying to collapse Supreme Court’s move to appoint UU Lallit as Special Public Prosecutor. It was because he was not a pliable character. The Ministers who were advocates in the UPA government don’t want Lalit as Special Public Prosecutor as all aware 2G probe may go to unseen angles.

Within minutes of Jethmalani’s declaration, Subramanian Swamy objected and at last Lalit became the Special Prosecutor.  We have seen, Jethmalani within days landed 2G special court as accused Kanmozhi’s advocate. Jethmalani who fought case in Supreme Court on black money (Really I don’t know how this so called Bring Back Blackmoney campaign aims to achieve the goal) was the lone BJP MP, who never declared that he don’t have foreign bank accounts. When BJP MPs rallied to file – no foreign back account – affidavit, Jehtmalani was absent. He excused on his daughter’s illness and she died after few weeks. Within days after the death, he landed in Delhi’s shivering winter to argue for Kanimozhi in small trial court.

Vineet Narayan of Hawala case told me in detail, how Jethmalani, who represented him collapsed the case. Vineet publicly said, Jethmalani offered him one million dollars for compromise. Though Jethmalani threatened him of filing defamation case, he never did it.  

I brought out this example as classic case of how the profession of advocates have degraded. I have seen so many advocates in the Patiala House Court (Local court complex in Central Delhi) coming in old scooters and small cars. After 2G special court was established and so many corproates landed as accused, within days these advocates were seen dashing in Mercedes Benz and BMW kind of vehicles with iPads in hands. Small time lawyers started landing courts with so many juniors like a fashion parade. I have seen one accused shouting and almost hitting such an advocate, when his bail application was cancelled. The reason was, the fraud advocate claimed that he had manipulated the judge and this time bail was a sure. Fearing life, advocate complained to police. As an advocate, he well knew that his client has patronage of underworld- terorist Dawood Ibrahim. Police asked him to file written complaint, which he never did and the issue was settled after he gave back around Rs. Five crore to accused's father.

I wish to write a book soon on the 2G spectrum scam saga, where advocates become the ultimate beneficiaries. As the case is in the trial stage, let me put a pause on this regard.

Veteran journalist Arun Shourie has written on several occasions, that major political parties are now under the control of advocate turned politicians. These advocates are all belong to corporate companies’ racket and now stopped representing any Public Interest Litigations (PIL). Some never in their career appeared for PILs. Majority of the spokespersons are corporate advocates, barring some few. Everybody is a “retainer” of most of the companies, who owe billions or looted billions of public exchequer.  Most of the politicians cum advocates are representing the case of tax evaders. They abuse their position in politics to flourish their business of advocacy or lobbying and becoming the part of looters of the country.

Earlier so many advocates entered politics to serve community. Many leaders wore black gowns during independence struggle to save the young men from gallows. But now that breed had gone and money mongering corporate lawyers infiltrated into India’s polity. How many so called legal luminaries are entertaining PILs. Everybody started charging lakhs on hourly basis and some started crores on daily basis. Very few people like Prashant Bhushan entertaining PILs and representing cases literally free for common cause.

The generation that fought on PILs have gone. The saddest point is, when you ask young advocates, all wanted to become or dreaming to become corporate advocates, aiming to spend court vacations worldwide. Very, very few are working on petitions on social cause and agonies of common man.

This is long debatable topic on how clean this noble profession. There need a tough Regulator for this profession.  We have to strengthen the Bar Council for acting against these elements which spoil the spirit of the profession, which once guided the world. The first thing to rectify the system is the thorough redrafting of India’s redundant Advocates  Act to clean this noble profession, now infiltrated by money mongers and manipulators.

(J Gopikrishnan is a journalist working with “The Pioneer” newspaper. His articles can be read at his blog :http://jgopikrishnan.blogspot.in/ )