Lawyers and litigants should always meticulously ensure that the details of Court proceedings are always correctly recorded.
In 2014, I learnt this the hard way and that too in the High Court. I had filed a regular petition challenging the Special Marriage Act, 1954 which was extended to Goa solely to facilitate the marriage of a flamboyant former Solicitor General of India’s daughter.
When the matter came up the bench comprising of two judges asked me as to how I would be affected if this Act was extended to Goa. I submitted that it would be against public interest as Goa is governed by the Uniform Civil Code. The Judges advised me to withdraw the petition and file it as a PIL. So I promptly withdrew it but my error was not to get it recorded in the order that the petition was being withdrawn with leave to file it as a PIL.
When it came up for hearing before the very same Judges, they feigned ignorance that I was allowed to withdraw the earlier petition and file it as a PIL.
I couldn’t believe and was so distraught. Unfortunate as it was, I learnt it the hard way to ensure that everything is always in black and white.
