TORT

The English calls a Tort a tort. It is a wrongful act or a violation of a right leading to legal liability. It is as one progress to basic advance legal studies, also a case of not doing the right thing when one should have.

Hitting a man's arm is a tortious act. To be hit by instant fame is not as there is no one to be redressed at.

Simply tortious, is wrong and injustice. It is not a noble act.

So the Law lecturer on Tort went on, in a humid and near pack classroom now suddenly lost all the air conditioning for power failure.

The rather small in stature lecturer Ah Jong Esquire kept his handkerchief busy on the forehead.

The students got agitated and unhappy by the minutes. One shy hand raised and asked, ”Can't we sue the electricity company for this?”

“You could.” was the short answer with a touch of unconvincing tone.

“You see, this is strictly a case of contractual responsibility.” The Law lecturer added.

“Tell us how to sue and may be we can deliver a Summons.” another voice came out from the far corner.

The Lecturer smiled but encouraged the class to debate on the issues of cause of actions and possible remedies.

The discussions were very lively and attentive, somehow nobody seemed to mind the heat on this windless afternoon.

From a distance, the church bell from St. Peter rang and there was no concrete solution to the air-conditioning nor to the legal discussions. Students and teacher emerged the classroom quite appease with the days class.

“Care for a football game, sir?” A young voice from behind while Ah Jong reached his 3^rd hand battered Ferarri.

“well, you are athletic eh?” was the reply.

“What do you say? Lets have a quick game then. My gang will be there in 30 minutes time at the Simpang Tiga pitch you know.”

“O.K.” the lecturer replied very keenly and with as much curiousity as well.

In the outdoor court, the ever liked friendly pitch at Simpang Tiga was filled with young men of all races, colourful T shirts and boots, laughing all chasing one single sphere commonly called football.

Of course the game was nothing more stupendous. It was pure great fun meant for the youthful and the health conscious youngsters. To play among bunch of amateurs and not knowing each other that well is far more exciting than sitting in dull classroom.

It was more like practice runs than the game proper with so much of the non stop runnings and passings (in case the injury became unbearable) and shoutings.

This is simply fun. Everyone seemed to enjoy this outdoor outburst of sweaty joy.

As there has been recent heavy down pours, the soil was unusually soft and all players felt very comfortable on the near grassless pitch. No serious injuries and no body bothered with the scores.

At nearly 5.30 p. m. everybody emerged from the mud pool looking ugly scrubby and dirty. No one dared to go to the nearby coffee shop for the post game drinks.

“why are judges not playing football?”, the same law student who invited the law lecturer to come to the game asked.

“Done know why. Seem odd for a lonely fellow sitting on the bench all day long to squat shout and mix with we bunch of noisy future lawyers isn't it?” A young fellow sighed form nowhere.

“There is no rule against pure portsmanship by all a-likes lawyers or no lawyers. Isn't it?” The first guy answered him but puzzled.

“The likes enjoy it. The others don't.” Another young man commented.

“Well, I want to be a great lawyer and a good judge and Holy Grail, a great footballer!” One tall lanky guy from the far shouted happily just as every body began to walk towards the parking spaces.

“I concur.” the Law lecturer smiled.

Laughter adorned the quiet evening.