June 19, 2018:

In this interview with  Namita Sirsiya, Advocate Rajni Anand talks about her early years, her moves towards criminal practice , her views on Delhi Criminal  Bar, and much more about her life .

Name of the Legal Stalwart : Advocate Rajni Anand.Experience at Bar : 30 years in New Delhi.

Position Held : Advocate in Delhi High Court.

Area of specialisation : Property Law, Criminal Defence, Divorce, Dowry and Default or fraud.

Contact Details : 79, RPS Colony, Sheikh Sarai, Phase- 1 Delhi-110006

Mobile No: 9891593401

The interviewer is Namita Sirsiya, She is a 3rd year student in Amity Law School,Delhi. She is currently interning with LatestLaws.com

Can you share your early childhood?

I used to be very active in sports and mostly I played with boys. That time I am like a boyish child in my family and only friends of mine were boys! Those were the days when I was very famous in my family regarding my studies because I was the only child who was very much concerned about studies. When I used to come back to the house from school , first thing I used to do is that to complete my homework not bother about lunch or even I don’t even change my school dress. This is the reason  I was very popular on my family

 

Tell me about your schooling?

It was lovely days. I did my schooling from Mumbai school and it was very speacial place for me because lots of memory attached to that city. I studied there since childhood and was very active in curricular actives, teachers used to like me as well because I was a very brilliant student in school and I was the only student who love to apply studies as a practical into daily life incidents.

 

When did you decide to pursue law as a profession?

Very good question you have asked. I decided to go law school since my childhood, when I was in 11th standard I was clear about that I would choose law as my profession. But, unfortunately I did not take admission in law school due to some personal problems and took admission in Bachelor of Science (BSc) and did my graduation. After my degree I got admission in Master of sciences and I also did Master of science (Msc), I already done bachelor of education (Bed) also. I forgot about the dream profession as lawyer because my school principal did not wanted a girl go in that field. It’s a Long story, I’ll tell you later.

 

Are you a first-generation lawyer?

Of course yes! I’m a first generation lawyer in my family and it’s a proud feeling as well as difficulty in the beginning of the law profession. My father was a property dealer and my mother was a house wife. It was very difficult for me to pursue law although my father also wanted me to choose law as a profession but he had changed his mind and I had done my degree in Bachelors of Science(Bsc) and forgot about the dream for which I was passionate about. This sudden change in my father's thought was because of my school principle.

On that day, I remember my father went to meet my principal to talk about my career or which prodded should I choose. So, my Principal Sir said “no” to law as profession to my father. He pointed out all the negative points about the law as a profession; said it’s very difficult for any girl to survive in this field, very dangerous to deal with criminals, she is a girl, you should not send her to law school .

On that day, when my dad came back after the meet up with Principal Sir , he tore my admission form of law school into pieces and said you will not pursue law as a profession where I shattered and cried a lot. At that times women were not allowed to speak loud in front of their husbands or to argue with her husband. So, this applied to my mother as well, she did not utter anything on this topic. Then I got married after completing my B.Sc, MSc, and Bed. I married to a navy officer to whom my mother told everything about my passion and my dream job.

So, it was my husband and my mother to whom I would give all credit about my profession because my husband sent me law school and it was very near to my house. My degree completed after my marriage and it was totally amazing journey because God wanted me to go in this field. 

Would you like to share your first day in court?

Oh it was lovely! When I completed my degree in law I decided to go to court and find out some senior advocate to whom I can learn more  about this profession . On the first day in the court, there were two girls asked me what do you want ? I said I want some senior advocate  so that I can learn something to improve my knowledge . To practice law in the courts or to study in the books is totally different. They said, you can drink some tea and else but we cannot provide you senior law because you don’t have any lawyer in your family; your father is not lawyer, brother,sister no one in you family is a lawyer and you are unfit. So, we can’t search a senior advocate for you ! It was very sad moment for me and I return back to home sadly. This was my first day in the court lil bit sad.. but after that day I found my self to be very lucky!

 

Please share two or three  memorable cases you dealt in your professional journey?

I was selected as Lexus curaçao; it is a friend of courted they took me in the penal of Lexus Curaça. In this if advocate loses they got  ₹250 in High Court and ₹500 in Supreme Court and if wins in Supreme Court or u acquits Care then you will get reward of ₹500-₹1000.  I won 3-4 cases related to this because many times there was missing of evidences, witness is not there but there was a memorable case of Lexus Curaçao in which they awarded me on my winning then I came back to my chamber and there was person who was standing out of my chamber and I invited him to come inside. He asked me that are you a Rajni Anand, I said yes. He said I’m came here to give you thanks that you won my case and I came out to jail and I said today there was your case, were you present there ? He said yes ma’am I came today out of the jail and came here to give you thanks I said it’s alright it’s my duty and I don’t even know you, court appointed me it’s ok! Suddenly, he said I want to help you in your profession, he said I’m an astrologer and you will get more success in your field and sooner will touch the sky in your profession. I told him you didn’t helped yourself, what will you help me ? Who says that I didn’t helped myself and God as well helped me in your presence. God sent you for me . I suddenly stand up and ordered him to go away from my cabin. I said, I don’t want anything much, I’m very much satisfied what I have so please u can go . He got aggressive and said you’re the first person who said no to me. I replied, I’m happy what I have and I don’t want to be famous I want live my as a mediocre, you can go now. And he leaves my chamber , this was very memorable case for me .

 

One last- any advice for the upcoming lawyers ?

Yeah, well I’m always inspired to see the spirit of young generation and there many opportunities opened now. I would suggest that, Never say “no” to anything never ever ! Remove “no” word from your dictionary, everything is possible in this world. You are upcoming lawyers, you will face many difficulties ad lawyer, you have to help yourself no one will come and give you work. So do hard work and when you feel that you are losing everything, it’s all done, nothing good is happening or you don’t get any case or job that time just feel relax and observe your environment and observe And help yourself. There is a great opportunity in this field, it requires a a lot of hard work and professionalism

And most important among all is “Hard work never goes in vain’, and ‘ Help yourself God will help you’. So good luck for your future.

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