Justice Suitfilekar and the bulls

IN many areas of Maharashtra, prize bulls have become a source of prestige and entertainment. There is a season every year when the racing of bulls or bullock carts takes precedence over all other activities.

In the bad old days, there used to be gory bullfights as well but the bulls often turned upon their human goaders and instigators instead of their reluctant breed-brothers forcibly pushed into the festooned arenas.

Gradually, animal welfare laws started getting enforced and bloody ‘sports’ involving cruelty to animals were controlled to some extent. But the bull and bullock cart races continued to flourish.

Several local politicians either owned or sponsored bulls. Their parties too got actively involved as the swelling crowds of spectators at such events were all potential voters.

The prize money too kept increasing. Pedigreed bulls were purchased from various parts of India at astronomical prices and nurtured as prized possessions by their powerful owners to be used for these races.

The Animal Welfare Board had received several complaints about malpractices involving cruelty to the bulls at these races.

The allegations, supported by photographs, indicated not just the usual things such as whipping of bulls to make them run fast but also forcing alcohol down the bulls' throats and inserting rods coated with chili powder in their anuses to make them run the race of their lives.

All this competition of the bulls was simply to increase the clout and prestige of their rich, influential and politically connected owners. One such patron of these races was also a sitting member of the then Lok Sabha (MP) and belonged to a party known as Gunda Sena (GS).

Let us call him Shri Aapatrao Dhopte-Patil aka ‘Khaasdaar Saheb’ for the sake of this story. Built like a wrestler and sporting a huge mustache and a well-dyed beard, his posters used to adorn his entire fiefdom, especially during the bull racing season.

He proudly displayed the various first information reports (FIRs) against him as if they were certificates of his competence as a ‘leader who works’. Of course, his electors fully deserved a ‘representative’ like him but his bulls certainly deserved better. At least that is what the Animal Welfare Board thought.

The Animal Welfare Board at that time was under the control of a Union minister Ms Monika Bandit, who had been elected to the Lok Sabha from another state on the ticket of the political party that ruled at the Union level. This was the Better Join Us Party (BJU).

She was a fiery animal welfare activist whose barks were so effective in getting things done that she did not have to bite. But she loved to give bytes. Media persons loved her and followed her everywhere like tail-wagging strays.

The political strategists of the BJU realised that the only way to dislodge the power structure of Aapatrao Dhopte-Patil was to catch his bulls by their tails, if not by their horns, in his own territory.

As a part of this strategy, several news reporters suddenly started focusing on the ‘cruel practices’ involving the bulls. Soon, urban animal activists who had never even smelt bullshit all their lives began petitioning Ms Bandit, their favourite politician, about cruelty to bulls in rural areas.

Monika Bandit's oral directions had the force of law in the Animal Welfare Board in those days. The Board soon sent an advisory to all states, asking them to prohibit any animal sports involving cruelty to animals.

In Maharashtra at that time, the state government could do with some goodwill of the BJU. Animal welfare was a safe, non-controversial area in which help could be extended by the state to the Union government as a gesture of cooperation in the hope of some reciprocity as and when needed.

As a result, just a fortnight before the bull races of that year were due to be held, a government resolution was issued by the state government prohibiting bull and bullock cart racing.

Having already spent crores of rupees on the event that year, there was no way the Khaasdaar Saheb was going to tolerate this ban. His first reaction was to call for the blocking of roads and using strong-arm tactics to force the state government into submission.

But his advisors told him that the government resolution was legally on a very weak footing and could easily be stayed by the high court.

What his advisors had not realised was that the Bombay High Court at that point in time was awaiting the appointment of a new Chief Justice and the man temporarily in charge was the whimsical Justice Suitfilekar.

Aapatrao Dhopte-Patil moved the Bombay High Court. His counsel sought an urgent hearing from the acting chief. Justice Suitfilekar was an intelligent man but idiosyncratic. His hair all white, he looked much older than his real age.

People dreaded to circulate any writ petition before him as he would relegate them to ‘the ordinary remedy of a civil suit’ in almost every matter. While taking up the writ assignments, he only entertained what he considered to be ‘extraordinary’ matters where no other remedy was available.

Being the seniormost puisne judge, he was the acting chief at that time. When the battery of seniors engaged by Dhopte-Patil moved the matter before acting Chief Justice Suitfilekar, he smiled mischievously and said that in view of the extreme urgency of the bull owners, the Bench he was heading would itself hear the case after just two days provided all respondents were duly served and appeared.

On the date fixed for urgent admission, Aapatrao Dhopte-Patil had ferried truckloads of hefty wrestlers from the akharas under his control to the high court. All of them were sporting turbans and had gulal smeared on their foreheads.

They had even brought along a decorated live bull along in a truck as a ‘special effect’ to attract media attention. It was off-loaded temporarily in the high court compound. The stray dogs, who were regulars in the high court compound, barked for some time but soon went back to sleep. The stray cats of the high court, however, took no cognisance of the bull.

The wrestlers went upstairs to the chief's court and totally packed the courtroom as soon as its doors were opened. Even the staff and the lawyers had to struggle to get in. Mercifully, milords had access through a separate corridor and entrance.

As soon as acting Chief Justice Suitfilekar and his brother judge took their seat and looked up, they were faced with the intimidating sight of a hundred fierce wrestlers looking ready to pounce at one false move.

Suitfilekar: Mr Counsel, are all these pehelwans standing behind you the petitioners?

Counsel: Yes, milord.

Suitfilekar: But I see only one name, Shri Aapatrao Dhopte-Patil.

Counsel: These are all his supporters, milord.

Suitfilekar: I want all these fellows cleared from this court in three minutes flat or I will initiate contempt proceedings against all of you for intimidating and obstructing the court.

As soon as the junior lawyers translated what the judge had said to the leaders among the spectators, the crowd began hurriedly leaving the courtroom.

Counsel: Milord, can at least the Bull Race Organising Committee members stay?

Suitfilekar: How many are there?

Counsel (after consulting Aapatrao): Just six, apart from the petitioner.

Suitfilekar: They may remain but must go and stand right behind without uttering a word or making any gestures. The petitioner alone may stand behind you.

Then the arguments commenced. Suitfilekar asked what was so extraordinary about the State wanting to prevent cruelty to animals. Counsel for the petitioner harped on the huge expenses incurred. Suitfilekar smirked and looked at his junior brother on the Bench.

The Animal Welfare Board lawyer then showed a ghastly photograph of chili powder being shoved in the anus of a bull.

Suitfilekar (passing the photo to the petitioner's counsel): Show this to your client and ask him how he would like this to be done to him.

Counsel (taken aback): I can assure milord that the petitioner has not done this.

Suitfilekar: When you come to court in a representative capacity, you represent everyone, including the persons indulging in these sorts of things.

Counsel: Milord may kindly appreciate that we stakeholders were not heard before banning the bull races.

Suitfilekar: Who are you? What is your connection with bulls? Are you their next of kin?

Counsel: Milords may see… I have invested in the bulls. This is just a traditional sport. I love my bulls.

Suitfilekar: Did you ask the bulls if they love you?

Counsel: How can we do that milord? Bulls can't give instructions.

Suitfilekar: Exactly. That is why the State has decided to step in. Nothing wrong with the government resolution. You want us to dismiss your petition or will you withdraw it?

Counsel: Please appreciate. All arrangements are in place. Lakhs of spectators are waiting for this entertainment. What other remedy is there for us if you don't grant us any relief?

Suitfilekar: Of course, there is a remedy if you wish to avail of it.

Counsel (looking perplexed): May I take the liberty of asking what milord has in mind?

Suitfilekar (speaking in Marathi): All these pehelwans you have brought along are no less than bulls. Why force your precious liquor down the throats of bulls? Give these guys that liquor and make them run instead. Spectators can enjoy something different from this year!

At this, all those in the court started laughing. Aapatrao Dhopte-Patil was seething with rage at Justice Suitfilekar's suggestion. He started whispering animatedly in his counsel's ear.

Counsel: My client wishes to withdraw this writ petition and try his luck with the state government at a political level for urgent relief.

Suitfilekar (with a big smile): Dismissed as withdrawn. We are refraining from imposing costs for wasting the time of the court since the petitioner is a people's representative.

The crowd of wrestlers were waiting in the compound to burst crackers but realised something had gone terribly wrong the moment they saw their MP's ashen face.

The solitary bull, who was the centre of attraction for visitors and bystanders alike, was getting agitated though he had been well fed. As Aapatrao Dhopte-Patil made his way towards this crowd he saw the bull and the media persons. Instinctively, he walked up to the bull to pose next to him for the newsmen.

As the media persons swarmed around the MP and his prize bull to click their photos against the backdrop of the heritage high court building, his supporters too crowded closely around him to come in the frame.

Just as the cameras whirred and lights flashed, the prize bull offloaded his ‘warm regards’ on the foot of his owner. The cameras did not notice this as they were focusing on the faces, but Khaasdar Saheb surely felt the warmth of his bull's love on his right foot.

In all the photos published in the newspapers the next morning, readers could not make out if the MP was smiling or grimacing.

The prize bull, however, was definitely smiling.