My first case as a junior lawyer was seeking compensation for custodial death. The post mortem report was crystal clear on the boot marks all over the body of the deceased. Case of the Police was liver failure since deceased was alcoholic. #JusticeForJayarajandBennicks
Deceased was lodged in prison for five years so obviously no access to alcohol. It was plain bull shit. My senior entrusted me to argue the matter as it was open & shut case. There were SC precedents on such cases. The Madras HC Judge heard me for 5 mins.
Did not even bother to hear the state side of the story. Matter dismissed. I stressed about the SC judgements & he had the audacity to smirk & say go on an appeal.
Did not have the guts to face the widow post the hearing that I left the Court. Had sleepless nights & nightmares for a few days. I just could not accept that a HC judge could not see the facts on front of his eyes.
After that several instances when I had cases against police not registering FIR's & after filing a petition for direction would come to the Court to say "it's registered" & the Court will treat the petition as closed. When I insisted that the Police should be held accountable,
they laughed at me saying "it's young blood & I will get used to it". How many persons had the resources and time to seek directions from the Court every time Police abuses the law?
One of my friend's brother was remanded by the Magistrate with him sitting in the Police Van. Another instance is the Police warming the accused outside teh Egmore Court that if he opens his mouth in front of the Magistrate he knows what wil happen. Nothing has changed until now.
Nothing will change in the days to come unless officials are held accountable. For officials to be held accountable, everyone of us needs to speak up. It's now or never. #SpeakUp #JusticeForJayarajandBennicks
