The humanist in the administrator

By P. Venugopal

Justice Poondi Rajagopalan will be remembered long by members of the subordinate judiciary for his unbounded humanism, care and concern for the welfare of its members. He was a born administrator with an extraordinary ability of locating talented and hardworking judicial officers and he took all efforts to encourage them. His birth centenary fell on April 29, 2001.

In May 1952, the committee for separation of the executive from the judiciary, headed by Justice Rajagopalan and Sattiyanathan, Chief Secretary of the composite State of Madras, was touring southern districts.

I was then working as district munsif-cum-sub-divisional magistrate, Srivilliputtur. Justice Rajagopalan, addressing the judicial officers, said the ``simultaneous system'', whereby the same judicial officer disposes of civil and criminal cases allotting separate days for their disposal, was a complete failure as both civil and criminal cases had run into heavy arrears.

But I stood up and said, ``Your Lordship, the ``simultaneous system'' was not a failure in Srivilliputtur where there were no arrears. Justice Rajagopalan became red-faced and his stern look frightened my district judge more than me. At the end of the meeting, he told me that I should meet the judge and tender an unconditional apology.

However, Justice Rajagopalan, belonging to the ICS cadre and having imbibed the true British tradition of fairness and impartiality, was impressed with the disposal of cases in Srivilliputtur.

When the separation committee report was published, I found, to my utter surprise, the remarks: ``The simultaneous system is no doubt a failure except we find some bright patches in places like Srivilliputtur''.

Later, the first Law Commission headed by the then Attorney- General Stealwad and Justice Wanchoo visited Madras. I was directed to appear before it and give evidence on problems relating to judicial administration. I was the only person selected at the level of sub-divisional magistrate to give evidence before the commission.

I was informed that it was at the instance of Justice Rajagopalan I was selected. When I met the judge at his home, I almost broke down. He asked me to compose myself and, in an endearing tone, said, ``I know you. I have been watching your progress with interest. I will give a posting in Madras. Why don't you come here''.

But to my surprise I was posted as district munsif, Kumbakonam. I rushed to Madras and told the judge that I was practising in Thanjavur and that I knew most of the lawyers in Kumbakonam. Functioning at such a place would be an embarrassment to me.

The judge said, ``getting a good name in a place where your are not known is quite easy and I want to see how you fare in a place where your are known to many''. I had no option but to join as district munsif, Kumbakonam. I did the job without any fall in the qualitative or quantitative disposal of cases.

The city civil courts were inspected by Justice N. Somasundaram and noting the chaotic condition that prevailed-suits and appeals were not numbered and decrees not drafted in several cases-he recommended the creation of a new post of assistant judge-cum- registrar.

The matter was placed before Justice Rajagopalan and I was appointed to that post. It was extremely difficult to make the staff work to a time schedule and obey the instructions issued for streamlining the administration. I met Justice Rajagopalan and submitted a proposal for transferring a few ring leaders to far off places in the southern districts.

It was accepted. The results were both immediate and effective. The judicial administration in the city civil courts was streamlined and delays in administration were eliminated.

When I was appointed assistant legal adviser in the Union Law Ministry, the time had come to bid farewell to my mentor, guardian angel and architect of my career. With fruits and a big rose garland I went to meet the judge, who was unwell.

Hindu tradition prohibits garlanding of a person lying on bed. Seeing my predicament, the judge in a soft voice asked me to place the garland in the pooja room.

Fortytwo years have passed. Looking back, I often wonder whether anyone will be a mentor and benefactor to a person who has annoyed him at a gathering of judicial officers. Such was the greatness of a man who had a big heart to forget and forgive.

(The writer is a former judge of the Madras High Court.)

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