The lineage of all thoroughbred horses could be traced again to a few legendary Arabian stallions — Darley Arabian, the Byerley Turk, and the Godolphin Arabian. Equally, the legacy of a few of India’s biggest authorized minds could be traced to the chambers of Sir Jamshedji Kanga on the Unique Facet of the Bombay Excessive Court docket. His chambers got here to be famously generally known as “Chamber No. 1”. Chamber No. 1 has been the cradle of a number of the biggest authorized minds and jurists of the nation — Bhulabhai Desai, Motilal Setalvad, H M Seervai, Nani Palkhivala, proper right down to Kharshedji Bhabha. Three of Kharshedji’s most distinguished juniors have been Fali S Nairman, Soli J Sorabjee and my very own senior Iqbal M Chagla, who we fondly referred to as Mickey. Mickey’s personal pedigree was no much less. His father M C Chagla was the primary Indian Chief Justice of the Bombay Excessive Court docket and an important jurist.
Story continues beneath this advert
Mickey jogged my memory of Edmond Dantès, the protagonist from The Rely of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Like Dantès, he was a tall, imposing and swashbuckling determine with a French goatee. His barrister’s half jacket, worn beneath his counsel’s robe, gave the look of a flowing cape, reinforcing the picture of Dantès. The one factor lacking was the sword slung in a scabbard at his waist. But, Mickey wielded a much more formidable and potent weapon — his magnificent voice and his highly effective oratory with which he may vanquish nearly each opponent.
By purpose of his skilled integrity and excessive moral requirements, Mickey commanded the best respect in whichever courtroom he walked into. Though he was not a Commerce graduate, by dint of his exhausting work and skill to know and digest probably the most advanced of issues, he quickly turned one of many foremost business legal professionals within the nation. As well as, his uncluttered thoughts, sharp mind, coupled with the best oratory I’ve ever seen, positioned Mickey head and shoulders above his colleagues and even seniors on the bar.
Mickey had a particularly versatile follow which prolonged to business, company, mental property rights, constitutional regulation in addition to trials in civil instances. What I discovered most attention-grabbing about his model of cross-examining witnesses in civil trials was his means to lull the witness right into a false sense of safety earlier than tightening the noose. He did this by being mild and respectful somewhat than browbeating the witness.
Story continues beneath this advert
Once I joined Mickey as a junior, what struck me about him was his equanimity. On the identical time, he had the uncanny means of attending to the nub of the issue nearly instantaneously and with
exceptional accuracy.
Mickey was a real chief, impressed by Albert Camus’ perception that braveness is important. As president of the Bombay Bar Affiliation, he boldly moved a decision towards 5 Bombay Excessive Court docket judges, questioning their integrity and calling for his or her resignation, regardless of warnings of contempt. His actions led to at least one choose resigning, two being transferred, and two shedding judicial work. 5 years later, he spearheaded one other decision towards a corrupt chief justice, leading to his resignation. Mickey undertook these challenges not for private achieve however as a result of he believed that judicial independence relies on the energy and integrity of the legal professionals earlier than them.
The Unique Facet of the Bombay Excessive Court docket has a singular custom the place regulation graduates be a part of the chambers of established seniors. In contrast to different areas the place juniors are salaried, no remuneration is anticipated or paid. The purpose is to let juniors attend conferences, learn briefs, help, and accompany seniors to courtroom, studying advocacy in all its sides. Greater than coaching, this custom fosters a lifelong guru-shishya bond that transcends the skilled relationship. I used to be privileged to share such a relationship with Mickey. Although I skilled beneath him for about 9 years, our affiliation lasted till his passing this 12 months. He was my trusted confidant, guiding me by means of profession and private choices.
The work-life steadiness Mickey inspired has stayed with me by means of the years. In his chambers, I realized that work was work and play was play. I can’t overlook the great instances I had as a junior in what we referred to as the “tea membership.” This was a short while after courtroom after we gathered for tea and snacks. The primary rule was to maintain work and courtroom issues off the desk, permitting for light-hearted conversations and jokes that saved everybody in good spirits. As soon as the “tea occasion” ended, we returned to work with full focus.
Mickey taught me to not take myself severely. At any time when he would see me wanting tense or anxious, he would comment “Is the sky falling in your head?”. The knowledge of his phrases, “There’s a life past the regulation”, has been a basis for me to proceed pursuing my a number of pursuits. I encourage my juniors to do the identical.
Mickey was unpretentious — on one event when his spouse Roshan couldn’t fetch him from chambers, he requested me to provide him a experience. I used to personal a bike in these days. He gladly sat pillion together with his black coat, tie and pipe in hand which made my pal, Jimmy, comment — it was the primary “chauffeur-driven bike.”
The adage “behind each profitable man, stands a lady,” may very properly have been written retaining Roshan in thoughts. She performed a major function in his life and prolonged her heat, love and affection to all his juniors. Each have been my robust pillars of assist by means of the ups and downs of my life.
Whereas I mourn the lack of Mickey, I pay tribute and rejoice the lifetime of an individual who has performed a singular and particular function in my life. Mickey, I want you farewell in your onward journey to eternity. You may be missed by many, however by no means forgotten by those that have been lucky sufficient to have identified you.
The author is a senior advocate
