Jaitley vs Jethmalani: When two legal doyens came face to face

Jethmalani asked Jaitley why he had claimed for damages from AAP leaders when he had incurred no financial loss.

New Delhi, March 7: It was an interesting day in court where Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was crossed-examined in a defamation case by none other than eminent lawyer and MP Ram Jethmalani. The case on hand related to one filed by Jaitley against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Both Jaitley and Jethmalani are lawyers of immense repute and their knowledge of the law was at display in the court at Delhi where the cross-examination took place. Jaitley began by introducing himself as a lawyer since 1977 with knowledge of both the criminal and civil law. "I am more interested in knowing about your knowledge about the civil law," Jethmalani shot back.

Jethmalani asked Jaitley why he had claimed for damages from AAP leaders when he had incurred no financial loss. "The loss caused to me was huge considering my reputation and background and that should be considered unquantifiable," Jaitley replied. Jaitley had sought damages of Rs 10 crore.

Jethmalani replied,"Did you file the case not because of any monetary loss? Was it because your personal feeling of greatness that cannot be quantified in fiscal measure?" This is a case where personal imputations were made against me. I am not opposed to political criticism," Jaitley added.

Jethmalani then referred to an application filed by Jaitley in which he said that his personal goodwill had suffered due to the statements made against him in the DDCA matter. Jethmalani asked Jaitley if he knew the difference between goodwill and reputation. Jaitley said that there are overlapping areas in the meaning of the two words. However, Jethmalani refused to agree and said that he was showing him a dictionary of English language, the Webster's Comprehensive dictionary.

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