Chapter 6

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

- Elie Wiesel

March, 2023

Aloknagri Civil Bar Library

A meeting was in progress, chaired by the Learned Additional District Judge. He was an erudite man, well-versed in law and could recall in vivid detail the recent developments and orders passed by the Supreme Court of India. He was explaining how a public servant should not use his/her official position to exact personal revenge against those he spites. He added for good measure that the learned lawyers of his court might face troubles in my office because of the hostility that had arisen. At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder aloud whether withholding certified copies of a case was also of the same kind: using one’s official position to harass another. He was visibly embarrassed and said that he would ensure that the certified copies of all the case orders were delivered to me. But it was too late. I didn’t need any of those documents any more, I informed him. He hastily concluded the meeting, urging all the stake-holders to participate in the work with open heart and without any reservations.

25^th April, 2023

High Court, Calcutta

In the second hearing, The Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta directed the learned Judicial Magistrate, 2^nd Court at Aloknagri to prepone the date for the hearing of the joint Compromise petition sometimes in the first week of May, 2023. And mentioned in it’s order that “if no such settlement is effected, the instant revision shall continue.”

4^th May, 2023

2^nd Court, Aloknagri

It was a hot, humid day. The court-room was bursting at the seams as many legal luminaries of the Aloknagri Bar Association was present inside the court-room. They didn’t want to miss the chance to witness the hearing of the historic case that was going on inside the court-room. May be, they were chuckling silently thinking how they were able to harass a government official. Nishapati, the famed Vice-President of Aloknagri Bar Association was arguing in favour of Debjyoti. He was saying how the insolent officer was “harassing and humiliating” the poor Debjyoti and how he would not spare even the Prime Minister of India if he dared to harass his poor brethren of Aloknagri Court. Accordingly, the judge fixed another date for another hearing.

Meanwhile, after the hearing was over, few legal luminaries accosted the lawyer appointed by me and demanded an apology (at least verbal, if not written) from the officer, as a pre-condition for withdrawing the case.

Needless to they, all of them were disappointed.

15^th May, 2023

2^nd Court, Aloknagri

The case was finally withdrawn as the summer vacation was about to start and after re-opening of the court, as per the directive of the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta, the case was supposed to continue in the High Court itself. And Debjyoti was willing to further visit the High Court as unlike Aloknagri Court, it was not his familiar turf.

My six-months-long ordeal finally came to an end.

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