We went to the High Court of Mumbai and I asked a lawyer if we were allowed into the courtrooms and he said yes so I decided to sit in on a case. Everybody was wearing judge-like robes, even the defendants. Although everything was conducted in English I had a hard time understanding the debate but afterwards I talked to the plaintiff and she explained what the case was about.
A development corporation had bought out some slums and was going to tear them down without relocating any of the tenants and was only going to pay a fraction of just compensation. There are apparently laws against this since it’s a common problem but the defense lawyer was a former judge who was good friends with the judge deciding the case. He actually sat up at the judge’s table and they left together after the case was postponed yet again over another technicality. It sounded like it involved a petition that was submitted a day late or not properly paid for.
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The Indian court system is known for denial of justice through endless delay.
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