Vishwanatha Sastri

Mr. M. Raghavan who later became the President of the Madras Bar Association in his early days of practice lost a case. The client felt strongly that Supreme Court would reverse if only a certain eminent senior represents his case. He was willing to spend money and sent Mr. M. Raghavan to Delhi. He met the said Senior Counsel who was practising in the Supreme Court and requested him to appear. The Senior Counsel after going through the case papers said that it was a bad case and Supreme Court would dismiss the Special Leave Petition and declined to appear.

Mr. M. Raghavan requested him to appear as his client was very keen that ‘he’ should appear. The brief and the fee were accepted. When the matter was called the senior counsel stood up. The judges said ‘what Mr................... there are no merits in this case. How do you accept this brief.” He replied “Yes, my Lords, there are no merits I had already told my colleague
(Mr. M. Raghavan).”

The SLP was dismissed. But Mr. Raghavan was very sad at this since the senior counsel did not make any efforts to convince the Judges.

When both of them came out of the court hall and reached the veranda, the senior counsel pulled out an envelop in which the fee was paid and returned it intact. He said, “I do not argue against my own conviction. I have agreed to represent because your client was keen and particular that I should appear for him. I do not charge anything for merely representing a client. Take back the fee.”

Mr. M. Raghavan was speechless. It was Mr. Viswanatha Sasthri. Such senior counsels were there;

Yes, were there.