Friendship with the left hand

Ram Jethmalani missed the relevant paragraph in a case law he was quoting while arguing on behalf of Sahara India Real Estate in the Supreme Court. His long-suffering opponent, Securities and Exchange Board of India counsel Arvind Datar, was quick to help, saying it was "para 21." Even as Jethmalani was thanking Datar, Judge J S Khehar pounced on the opportunity to say, "He is very good to you. You are not." Referring to the senior lawyer's dig at Datar at a previous hearing, the judge said, "you left-handed him the other day" ( see "Meaning of Contempt", Chinese Whispers, August 8). To this, Jethmalani said it was "a hand of friendship." A bewildered Datar said to Jethmalani, "You are making matters worse!"