Wicket jokes
In a recent cricket match between teams representing Delhi’s District Judiciary and Rohini Bar lawyers, live commentary proved to be the biggest entertainer. The witty commentator made the misfields tougher for lawyers as he kept wondering whether a particular lawyer had just dropped the catch to appease the judge. When a stout fielder dropped two catches, the commentator quipped about his strong arms suddenly turning limp. When a Metropolitan Magistrate took over commentary, he wondered whether the lax wicket-keeping had anything to do with the lawyer-wicketkeeper and his several cases pending in the batsman- judge’s court. However, match fixing remained restricted to jokes as the lawyers went on to win comprehensively.

Lost in translation
Delhi Police last month had a tough time deciphering the speech of a Japanese national admitted in a city hospital after a suicide attempt. Cops waited for a JNU interpreter to record the statement. But last week, after failing to receive the statement officials went ahead, filed a case and a charge-sheet in the court against him without even cracking the lingual code. Later, the Delhi Police removed its security personnel from the hospital. Now, they are wondering when the tourist regained consciousness and walked out of the hospital.

No smoke without fire
An anti-tobacco campaigner, fighting a seven-year-old PIL for better transparency on nicotine levels in cigarettes, was in for a surprise when a senior judge at the Delhi High Court asked her in open court if she had a personal animosity towards tobacco. “Madam, tell us why are you so sincerely angry with tobacco? Does your husband smoke?” queried the judge, tongue-in-cheek. Being a person rarely at a loss for words, the lady replied: “I don’t know whether he smokes. But he dare not in front of me.” The hearing continued after the “formidable” answer.

Brooming the groom
The marriage plans of a 25-year-old Balbir Nagar resident turned sour as his first wife arrived at the spot, accompanied by members of an NGO. Police said that Rakesh Kumar was on a horse, going with the baraat, when his first wife, Gudiya, reached the spot with her all-woman army, armed with brooms. At Gali number 13, Gudiya and members of the NGO dragged Kumar off his horse and started beating him up. It was learnt that Kumar and Gudiya had married two years ago, but were living separately. Well, all’s well that ends well — and the couple are now living together after reaching a compromise.

Much ado over nothing
A star-filled party was what she dreamt of. An empty auditorium was what she got. Amrita Bahri, DUSU president, had nowhere to hide when her Women’s Day celebrations saw no takers. While big posters announcing the participation of Renuka Chowdhury and Ambika Soni had covered the walls of North campus for a while, on the actual date, nobody turned up. Unfazed, Amrita was still heard saying it was a “beautiful ceremony”. Day dreaming, Amrita?

WHO is on to polio case
With the detection of another polio case from a slum last month, the Delhi government’s polio eradication programme received another jolt. And on ground, there was more embarrassment in store. As the media attention and constant visits by WHO officials shifted to the dingy slums of Zakhira, from where the latest case was reported, health officials were seen scurrying to collect data on the pulse polio campaign in the area. While one may think a database on health initiatives may be considered elementary for government-run Public Health Centres, a volunteer from a non-governmental organisation was heard complaining: “We have more data and records with us than the government dispensary in Inderlok. No wonder, they keep calling us day and night!”

Police chief ticks off staff
Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal is not exactly topping the popularity charts with his policies. The majority of out-of-turn promotions promised in the earlier regime have been stalled. Dadwal himself is closely scrutinising each promotion. Police officers are also not happy with the cut in ‘monetary award’, which was lavishly showered earlier. The award is limited to Special Cell and Crime Branch officials only, leaving peeved administrative staff grumbling about there being no point of working anymore.

Glib talk
At a meeting of the members of New Delhi Bar Association to nominate a returning officer for their upcoming election, the lawyer’s body had a “unanimous” choice for the post. The “majority” zeroed in on a well-known lawyer over the other three less-known faces, even as the latter chose to withdraw from the battle mid-way after they saw advocates raising both their hands in favour of the “clear winner”. But that did not prevent one of the defeated trio from speaking from the podium like an expert politician about the “generous” support he had received.