CITYLIGHTS

CITYLIGHTS

13.09.2021

From the mouth of babes

Keeping junk food away from children can be a tough task. While I was munching a packet of potato chips, the little one asked if she could have just one. After a quick thought, I showed her a couple of words on the packet, saying, "It is written, 'This is not for children'. That means no." It slipped my mind that she has begun reading and learning new words. She immediately said, “There is no N-O-T (spelling the word), there is no T-H-I-S and no I-S. Is there a spelling mistake on the packet?" Her disapproving nod told the rest, and I was left speechless! — Shanmughasundaram J

Translation woes

A transportation activist from Chennai who filed an RTI application for details on action taken against fake driving licences in Chennai Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) misunderstood a response and created confusion among reporters. One RTO, replying in English, said in the response that 1,000-odd ‘duplicate’ licences were issued. The activist thought ‘duplicate’ was the same as ‘fake’ and issued a press release to all media houses saying RTOs were issuing thousands of fake licences every year. While many reporters did not carry the news report, a few social media and TV channels carried it. The RTO had to send out explanations to his seniors — Ram Sundaram

Seating problems

Visitors to a recent function at Kalaivanar Arangam had a tough time as many plastic chairs collapsed on the slippery floor tiles. The organisers stacked one chair against the other to ensure stability, but a middle aged man pulled out a chair and sat before others could warn him. As he was speaking to a friend seated next to him, his chair gave way and he fell. As one organiser rushed in to help, people said it was the fifth or sixth such incident — Raghu Raman

Courtroom quips

A lawyer was arguing an appeal in a commercial litigation before the first bench of Madras HC headed by the Chief Justice.

Advocate: My lords, 7/11 provides for...

CJ: Please don’t mention it as 7/11 as it reminds me of the grocery store.

Advocate: Sorry, my lord. Under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code... By the way, the grocery brand is out of the country now, my lord.

In another courtroom exchange

Advocate: My lords, I hope I can build a bridge over the troubled waters through my arguments and it would end like 'The Bridge On The River Kwai'.

CJ: That wasn't a very happy ending.

Advocate: Sorry, my lord. I was about to say that it doesn't end like like 'The Bridge On The River Kwai' — Sureshkumar