Sir Tej and his classmate, The Chief Justice of Nabha

This interesting story was narrated by Sir Tej himself when I used to attend his chambers during the day and his public darbar in the evening.

In the years after 1920 when Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was the Law Member of the Viceroys Executive Council and was living in Delhi, an old classmate of his happened to call on him.The visitor was made to sit in the drawing room and Sir Tej was informed. When Sir Tej came the visitor introduced himself as his old classmate in school. Sir Tej remembered him well and asked him what he was doing now. He said that he was Chief Justice of Nabha State. Sir Tej complimented him on his achievement and happened to ask him what salary was he getting. His reply shocked Sir Tej out of his wits.He said that his salary was Rs 66 per month. The salary paid to a member of the Executive Council was Rs 6600 per month.

Sir Tej said that the salary was extremely inadequate for the position of a Chief Justice and he would speak to the Maharaja of Nabha who was coming to dine with him in a day or two. Afterwards when Sir Tej came out to see him off at the porch he saw the new Nash Car in which the Chief Justice had come. So he said that the State was at least giving a grand car to its Chief Justice.The class fellow however said that it was not the State’s car but he himself had purchased it a week before. 

When the Maharaja came for dinner after a few days Sir Tej remembered the conversation with his classmate and told the Maharaja that it was not proper at all to pay a Chief Justice such a low salary as Rs 66 per month.The Maharaja had a big laugh and said whether the man was paid 66 or 6600, khayega sala phir bhi. (He will still make money by corruption whether he was paid a salary of Rs 66 or Rs 6600)

One has no means of knowing whether the Maharaja knew that Sir Tej was getting a salary of Rs 6600. Sir Tej however took the comment in his stride and gave the Maharaja benefit of doubt that the comment was not directed against Sir Tej himself.

SHANTI BHUSHAN

FORMER UNION LAW MINISTER & SENIOR ADVOCATE