K selvaraj law notes *27.3.’21, EXPERIENCE IN COURT:* *”FIRE IN THE FOREST — Mr. Grant”* *”MOON IN THE STARRY HEAVENS — Mr. V.L. Ethiraj”* These two legal luminaries in the criminal side of the Madras High Court always attracted a large and admiring group of lawyers. The brilliance of Mr. Grant could be compared to the lustre of Jupiter and the brightness of Mr. Ethiraj to the shining of Venus. Amongst the Criminal Advocates the former shone like a fire in the forest, the latter like the moon in the starry Heavens, the former hot and incandescent, the latter cool and refreshing.

K selvaraj law notes

*27.3.’21, EXPERIENCE IN COURT:*

*”FIRE IN THE FOREST — Mr. Grant”*
*”MOON IN THE STARRY HEAVENS — Mr. V.L. Ethiraj”*

These two legal luminaries in the criminal side of the Madras High Court always attracted a large and admiring group of lawyers. The brilliance of Mr. Grant could be compared to the lustre of Jupiter and the brightness of Mr. Ethiraj to the shining of Venus. Amongst the Criminal Advocates the former shone like a fire in the forest, the latter like the moon in the starry Heavens, the former hot and incandescent, the latter cool and refreshing.
Unfairness in Mr. Ethiraj’s advocacy is absolutely unknown. As Public Prosecutor, Mr. Ethiraj standing up in numerous cases and admitting to the Judges that the conviction by the lower Court could not be sustained. But when an accused deserved his conviction, it is difficult to think of a more dangerous Public Prosecutor. That the role of a Public Prosecutor is not that of a Persecutor of the accused but of one whose duty is to help in the administration of justice fairly and efficiently was at no time better exemplified and illustrated than during the Public Prosecutorship of Mr. V.L. Ethiraj and by none better than him.

— From *”Famous Judges and Famous Lawyers of Madras”*
— By *Suresh Balakrishnan*