"There was this high court judge who ordered the CBI to take a lawyer to the mental institution in Agra!"
"So? Perhaps the lawyer required medical attention," I said soothingly. "You don’t understand," he said angrily. "That lawyer was leading a campaign by lawyers against the conduct of HC judges. After that, the court declared him insane and sent him to the loony bin!" "There must be some good reason for the judge to send the lawyer to the asylum," I said.
"There was a reason, but not a good reason," he said. "It seems the lawyer’s wife had filed a complaint with the police against the lawyer, alleging mental cruelty. That was considered to be sufficient prima facie evidence by the judge to send the lawyer to the mental asylum!" "There you are," I said triumphantly. "See? The judge did have a reason!"
"You are totally ignorant," he exploded. "The wife told the media that she merely filed a complaint against her husband. She had no idea her complaint would be misused in this fashion. She was shocked by the judge’s order. She said her husband was not at all insane!" "Oh," I said and stroked my chin.
"Moreover, another bench has stayed the judge’s order after the lawyers argued that the court had no right to pass such an order. Imagine what would have happened if the other bench had not intervened! How many such judicial orders there must be! Our system has collapsed—there is no justice in this country!"
"Now, now, calm down," I said. "There may be some exceptions but our democracy is working very well. We do have justice in this country!" He gave me a strange look. Then scowling and muttering to himself, he walked away.
Next morning there was a knock at my door. I opened it to find two policemen. "Get dressed, sir," one of them said. "We are taking you for observation to the mental asylum."
"What! How dare you?" "Sorry, sir," the policeman said apologetically. "Your neighbour has made a serious allegation. He says you are dangerously insane. Did you actually tell him, sir, that our democratic system works and there is justice in this country?"
