Bombay Bar Association Podcast - Trailer

The Bombay High Court shares an illustrious history of over 160 years. Some of India's preeminent jurists have sharpened their skills in its corridors. Their contributions to India's legal landscape has long been documented by others but rarely does one get an opportunity to peek into their lives and gather their legal insights in their own words.

Season 1 of the podcast kicks off with one of the most path breaking former members, Justice Sujata Manohar, being interviewed by the Bombay Bar Association  President, Mr. Nitin Thakker. Justice Manohar was the first woman to be appointed Chief Justice of first the Bombay and later the Kerala High Court and only the second woman judge to be elevated to the Supreme Court of India. Justice Manohar speaks of the challenges she faced as a woman in her early days in the profession, how she pioneered legal aid in the Bombay High Court well before the establishment of the Legal Aid Cell, and important moments in her career.

Justice B.N.Srikrishna, is perhaps best known for heading the Srikrishna Commission that dealt with complex matters of the 1992 & 93 Bombay Riots, barely two years after he accepted judgeship. He's in conversation with the Vice President of the Bombay Bar Association, Sr. Adv. Venkatesh Dhond. In the episode, Justice Srikrishna explains why he took up judgeship in the middle of a crisis at the Bombay High Court, how he taught himself computer code and why he had to spend some time on a submarine when he was heading the pay commission.

Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman: The rare privilege of hosting the Bombay Bar Association's renaissance man in his first podcast interview ever. Interviewed by his close friend, Sr. Adv. Fredun DeVitre, Justice Nariman shares the impact moving to Delhi had on him when his father was appointed Additional Solicitor General of India, working alongside the great Nani Palkhivala and why according to him there is no case which is so bad that it cannot be argued. You will also be treated to an enthralling discussion on the Basic Structure Doctrine of the Constitution.

Justice Shiavaz Vazifdar, former Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court. In conversation with his former chamber colleague Sr. Adv. Pradeep Sancheti, they share the impact that their senior, Sr. Adv. Mr. Rohit Kapadia had on their practice as a mentor and a guide, the importance of the chamber system and the value of spending time at the Bombay High Court Library.

Justice Ramesh D. Dhanuka, the 46th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court is in conversation with the former President of the Bombay Bar Association and his former senior chamber colleague Sr. Adv. Dr. Milind Sathe. They reminisce about Justice Dhanuka's father, the late D.R. Dhanuka's chamber being a gurukul, Justice Dhanuka's struggles to establish himself as a lawyer and a judge, and how he learned the importance of giving every litigant a patient hearing in court.

Justice Suresh C. Gupte was the first person in his family to pursue law, and was uniquely groomed by his grandfather to become a judge from a very young age. Chatting with Sr. Adv. Darius Khambatta, we explore Justice Gupte's love for theatre and how there is a little bit of an actor in every lawyer and a bit of a director in every judge. He talks about the challenges he faced as a junior member of the bar, the qualities in a lawyer he looked for as a judge, as well as his views on the judiciary when it comes to fairness, honesty, and of course, justice.

Justice Shahrukh J. Kathawalla candidly opens up about his journey into law and the path that led to him accepting judgeship. Talking to senior advocate (and well-known thespian) Darius Shroff, they explore the value of dogged self belief and determination. From relying on the charity of others that supported his family and education as a child, to now providing scholarships and aid to less fortunate families, Justice Kathawalla's story is truly inspiring. We also explore why he believed that in most cases, litigants through their advocates and the court, should first always explore a path to settlement.

The final episode is a rare coming together of two Advocate General, Dr. Birendra Saraf the incumbent Advocate General for the State of Maharashtra, and his senior, Mr. Ravi Kadam, former Advocate General for the State of Maharashtra. Both men share uniquely parallel lives - both their parents migrated to Bombay, their fathers were the first members of their family to pursue law, and as second generation lawyers they carved their own unique practice that could be distinguished from their illustrious fathers' careers. Hosting this episode is Secretary of the Bombay Bar Association, Mr. Vishal Kanade, who was part of Mr. Kadam's chamber.

The first episode of the Bombay Bar Association Podcast featuring one of the most path breaking former members (retd.) Justice Sujata Manohar releases on 16th February!

Here is a trailer to give you a sense of what the next eight weeks have in store. 

The Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/bba

 A Bombay Bar Association initiative!