Ramesh: I will go to jail again

FORMER Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said yesterday he was ready to go to jail again in order to prevent injustice being committed against anyone. Thirty years ago yesterday, Maharaj was sentenced to seven days’ simple imprisonment when he questioned a ruling made by then High Court judge, Justice Sonny Maharaj. The former AG subsequently prevailed when the case came before the Privy Council and the case has since been used as a key reference throughout the Commonwealth.

Maharaj recalled that some of his legal colleagues had advised him to apologise to the judge in order to end the matter but he said he was not prepared to do that. He said he was prepared to serve even more jail time if it was necessary. The former AG said the moral to be learnt from his experience was that lawyers and the judiciary as a whole must seek to ensure that those who come before it receive justice. Maharaj’s experience led to the publication of the book Barrister Behind Bars.