Maninder Singh

It is quite a walk from the main entrance of the Supreme Court to get to the Ck Daftary Block. I am usually at desk 217, surrounded by more files than I can count. Tilak Marg is always loud with honking cars and people rushing to hearings, but once you get inside the block, it’s a different kind of busy. There is the constant sound of shuffling papers and low voices discussing cases. I started out here years ago, and not much has changed in this corner of the building. The tea here is okay if you get it fresh. Maninder Singh is the name on the door, but most people just know me as the person sitting behind the stacks of legal documents. My day starts early to beat the Delhi traffic, though I rarely succeed. Some days are just endless filing and checking dates on the calendar. The light in this room isn't the best, so I had to bring in an extra lamp for the desk. It’s a small space, barely enough for two chairs and the shelves, but it serves the purpose. People come in and out all day looking for signatures or updates. You get used to the rhythm of the court after a while. Sometimes I look out the window at the gardens, but mostly I am looking at the ink on the page. It is a long day every day.