Anatole France

Posted on by Rudrajyoti Nath Ray

Recently, SC, while imposing exemplary costs of Rs. 10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs) on Industrialist-Appellant, in Vijay Mallya v. Enforcement Directorate, [Criminal Appeal No. 1406 of 2009], quoted Anatole France.

The famous words of Anatole: “The law in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread”, has been cited in a SC Judgment 4 times before.

Murthy Match Works, (1974) 4 SCC 428.

N.M. Thomas, (1976) 2 SCC 310.

Moti Ram, (1978) 4 SCC 47.

Ganga Sugar Corporation, (1980) 1 SCC 223.

No points for guessing, Hon’ble Judge on each occasion was Hon’ble Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer.

Anatole France

'The Last Word' seeks to include not only wise and witty sayings but also curiosities. These words are not of obligation but of delight. I am not alone in my refusal to believe, law is tedious. For all who escaped these percipient eyes, mea culpa maxima. History, after all, has many cunning passages, contrived corridors and issues.