High Court of Delhi

Humour in Court

The Story of an 'Asterisk'

Senior Counsel 'X' (while addressing the Bench): “If your lordships will now be kind enough to turn to page 6 of the paper book and come to the star on the left column.”

Senior Judge on the Bench (known for having a proclivity for correct usage of English language): "Mr. X the only stars I see are the stars visible in the sky post 7 pm. What you are referring to is an 'Asterisk'."

Submitted by - Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Shakdher

One particular counsel began his argument before a Division Bench of one of the High Courts by saying:

"My Lords, this is an appeal from the judgment and order passed by the Hon'ble Mr. Justice X", and then paused.

Before he could say another sentence, the Presiding Judge (who obviously had no love lost for the brother Judge X, and whose orders he would always find fault with) leaned over and asked "Ah yes, and what are your other grounds of challenge in appeal?"

Submitted by - Sh. Pramod Saigal, Advocate

During my initial days in practice, while I was waiting for my matter to be taken up by a Ld. Metropolitan Magistrate at a Trial Court in Delhi, a litigant who evidently was disappointed by the order being passed in her matter, repeatedly told the Ld. Metropolitan Magistrate that such an order cannot be passed and screamed 'I want Justice!', 'I want Justice!'.

However, the Ld. Metropolitan Magistrate kept his cool and told the lady that she can challenge his order but shouting will not make any difference, but unmoved, the litigant kept on shouting the same words 'I want Justice!', 'I want Justice!'.

The Ld. Metropolitan Magistrate finally lost his patience and politely told the litigant, Justices are in the Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble High Court. I am a Metropolitan Magistrate. The entire Court erupted into laughter.

Submitted by - Sh. Hemant Shah, Advocate

A GST Restoration Tale

Scene: Argument before a Division Bench of the High Court of Delhi.

Advocate: "Your Lordships, I have filed a reply to the show cause notice issued by the department."

Senior Judge on the Bench: "Show us the reply."

Advocate (with confidence): “I don't have the copy right now, but it's clearly mentioned in the GST cancellation order that a reply was filed on so and so date.”

Senior Judge on the Bench (chuckling): "Don’t try to take benefit of this! They write this in every order, whether you filed the reply or not!"

Advocate: Admitting with a smile that no reply has been filed by the client.

Both Judges on the Bench: Laughed.

The entire courtroom: Burst into laughter.

The best part? Despite the laughter, relief was granted, GST restored and the client was happy!

This is a reminder that in the world of litigation, a sense of humor can go a long way!

Submitted by - Sh. Atin Handuja, Advocate

Scene: A senior counsel arguing a trademark matter and taking too long to complete his arguments. The matter involved a restaurant abroad and the issue was its trans-border reputation in India.

Judge: “Counsel, are we on a scenic route to your argument, or is there a highway?”

Senior Advocate: “My Lord, I am merely stopping at all the necessary landmarks before we reach our destination.”

Judge: “Well, I am all in for scenic routes, but let’s speed up before we run out of fuel.”

Submitted by - Ms. Rajeshwari H., Advocate

Scene: Argument in a case regarding an immovable property.

Judge: “Are you saying that this property has been in dispute since the Mughal era?”

Advocate: “It feels like it, My Lord.”

Judge: “Well, then maybe we should summon Emperor Akbar for clarification?”

Advocate: "Summons have already been issued My Lord."

Submitted by - Ms. Rajeshwari H., Advocate

During the very first week of working under a respected senior at Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, in the morning rush, just 5 minutes before the sitting of the Court, I was asked by the senior to go to a particular court and to enquire from the Reader Sahab whether Judge Sahab is sitting today or not. I straightaway went to the courtroom and the following ensued:

Me: "Reader Sahab, Whether Judge Sahab is sitting today?"

Reader Sahab: Giving tough looks and not replying to the query.

Me: Again "Reader Sahab please tell me, I have to reply to my senior".

Reader Sahab: Not replying again but rotating his eyes in a different direction.

Judge Sahab: “Tell your senior that I am sitting today till 5 PM.”

Me: "Yes Sir" and I ran away from the courtroom with embarrassment.

My friends and I always laugh at myself, remembering this scene. It is of a time when senior's direction was followed by a junior, without fail.

Submitted by - Mr. Ravi Rathore, Advocate

Scene: In a suit, the defendant engaged a new counsel. On the date of hearing, the new counsel asked the Judge for an adjournment.

Counsel for Defendant: "My Lord may please grant me a short adjournment as I have been engaged recently."

Counsel for plaintiff: "My Lord, I don't understand why my learned friend is bringing in personal issues to the matter. I have been married for last 5 years."

Submitted by - Mr. Anshuman, Advocate

Scene: After a short hearing in the High Court of Delhi, the Judge directed the Court Master to fix the next date of hearing on 14th November. However, the Counsel for the party insisted that 14th November may not be possible for him.

The Judge (on a lighter note): “Mr. Counsel, are you celebrating Children’s day on 14th November?”

Counsel (smiling): “My Lord, in a way, 14th November is the most important day in my life. I got enrolled as a lawyer on 14th November, I got married on 14th November and coincidentally, my child was also born on 14th November. So, please accommodate me.”

The entire Court burst into laughter.

Finally, the Judge was pleased to accommodate the request.

Submitted by - Mr. Ashish Kumar Pandey, Advocate

Advocate: My lady could you please have the matter after December 15th, 2024.

Judge: Why after December 15, 2024?

Advocate: I am in a difficulty – I am getting married.

Judge: That is not a difficulty.

Submitted by - Sh. Rohit Bharadwaj, Advocate

Senior Advocate: “Your Lordship, I’m trying to be brief.”

Judge: “Counsel, you’ve been trying for a while now. You might want to try harder!”

Submitted by - Sh. Raghav Sood, Advocate

After the bench had risen for the day and dates were being assigned for matters that couldn’t be taken up, a senior advocate pressed for an earlier date, insisting that his appeal had merit and deserved priority.

With a smirk, the court master responded, ‘If only I understood merits.’

Submitted by - Ms. Aishwarya Singh, Advocate

A Hon’ble Judge asked the counsel for the respondent whether there would be a delay in filing the reply as the client had gone abroad. However, the young counsel, eager to demonstrate preparedness, confidently declared, “Milords, I already have the signed affidavit from her.”

The Hon’ble Judge, stifling a chuckle, advised the counsel, “Don’t make such statements in court that cannot be recorded in the order.”

Submitted by - Ms. Mehreen, Advocate

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