Few years ago, when Justice Ranga Nath Mishra was the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India, he was invited as the Chief guest to the Law College of Puri, Odisha. On the particular day before going for the college function he went to Jagannath Temple, Puri to have the Darshan of Lord Jagannath & while returning he heard near the Lions gate someone calling his name "Ranganath Babu" several times. He was astonished as to who can call him like this in a loud voice, that too near the temple entrance & whether it's for him or someone else! In a dilemma, he looked back & saw a beggar who was afflicted with Leprosy. His body was covered with wounds with bandages in his hands & legs, calling him.
Justice Mishra asked him as to who he was & why he was calling him.
The Leprosy patient told him, "Sir, you don't remember me? I am the notorious Kulia Daku (thief). A few years ago ,when you were practising in Odisha High Court, I was your client. In a robbery & murder case, I was awarded rigorous life imprisonment by the lower court. But you argued in my favour in Odisha High Court & got me released without any punishment. But Sir actually I was the culprit & murdered the person & looted the money & gold. Similarly, in other cases also I was set free without any punishment."
He continued, "Sir, I was freed by the Justice of human beings, but in the court of the Almighty, I was severely punished & got Leprosy throughout my body. My family, my kith & kin hated me, & drove me out from the village. Now I am crawling on the road & begging for food. Near the temple gate, sometimes someone gives food or else I go without food."
Hearing this Justice Mishra with a heavy heart gave him a hundred rupees & left silently.
At the Law College function, Justice Mishra narrated this true incident with tears in his eyes .He said we are judges here to set free or sentence someone as per our wit. But there's one more UPPER COURT above, where no wit works & there is no escape. The culprit will be punished for sure.
Though the mills of God grind slowly; Yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, With exactness grinds He all.
