As a nation, we insist that we are neither of the following - racist, casteist or classist. Though recurrent incidents of violence and discrimination say otherwise, we dismiss the same as lapses made by a few, ignorant people.
Today, a document surfaced on Twitter which suggests that the most respected of our citizens could be guilty of shameful discrimination. In a tweet put out by a Twitter user who goes by the handle @roshankar, put up a picture of a notice, reportedly found displayed in the Bar Council of India office in New Delhi.
Check out his tweet below:
Bar Council of India, ladies and gentlemen.
Don't know where they find moral authority to defend the constitution. pic.twitter.com/cJhdfus6No
— Roshan (@roshankar) June 3, 2016
The notice says that any staff member who is younger than 50 years of age and holds a rank lower than that of an Assistant Secretary cannot use the elevator, unless he or she is unwell.
The notice also categorically states that any 'outsourced' employee - like sweepers - cannot use the lift used by staff members and other senior 'honourable' members. In the first case, a person stands to 'loose' a day's worth of attendance and in the second, the 'offender' will lose a day's pay.
Many people observed the irony of such a discriminatory notice being put up in an institution populated with individuals who are supposed to defend the constitution.
@roshankar This building, and this notice, is a great metaphor for the social hierarchy in India.
— Nigel Britto (@NigelBritto) June 4, 2016
@roshankar@aswinsam recently in TN lawyers attacked leaders of @sattapanchayath for daring to ask for their right to sit in court.
— Akilan (@akilan27) June 4, 2016
@roshankar Real danger to Indian democracy always been higher judiciary. Passing strictures on soft targets while shivering at real power!
— K (@dww_k) June 4, 2016
Looks like the only Lift the Bar Council of India needs... Is a modern one! https://t.co/x5gsToqH17
— Ashwin Mushran (@ashwinmushran) June 4, 2016
Wow... The Bar Council of India wants to live in the British era and can't spell "lose" https://t.co/1io9nL05KC
— Scotchy (@scotchism) June 4, 2016
Others joked about the bar council's inability to spell properly. Some others wondered if the council wanted its members and employees to get fit and hence barred them from using the lift.