Freedom with responsibility

The Editors Guild has pounced on Justice Markandey Katju, Chairman of the Press Council of India for demanding that the watchdog of the print medium be given more teeth. The media which was once the epitome of integrity is today plagued by charges of corruption, blackmail, extortion and unethical practices. While all other organs of democracy are receiving the rap on the knuckles for their wrongdoing, the media with its glaring shortcomings cannot be allowed a free run. There can be no compromise on the freedom of the press, but at the same time it cannot be an unfettered right. After all, with freedom comes responsibility.

Court order an attack on human dignity

Suman Patra, a 19-year-old boy accused of molesting a girl, has been ordered by the Orissa High Court to clean the shoes of devotees at a local temple for two hours a week for three months as a condition for granting him bail. The court apparently handed down this punishment though there is no such provision in law, to reform the young man and save him the ignominy of going to jail. Crimes against women no doubt deserve exemplary punishment, but ordering an accused to polish dirty shoes is a direct attack on his human rights and dignity. Some sects like Sikhism advocate such punishments, popularly called ‘Kar Seva’, to atone for one’s sins, but a court of law is supposed to be guided strictly by the rule book, not religious sentiments. Would the court have the courage to mete a similar punishment to some of our political leaders who are accused of more heinous crimes, as a pre-condition for granting bail? Obviously, in India all are not equal in the eyes of law.

 

Sham of an interview at Mysore Varsity

The Mysore University recently called for applications for post of a lecturer with expertise in electronic media. A person no less distinguished than the Vice-Chancellor himself sat on the interview panel. But the googlies that the Vice-Chancellor threw at the interview left the candidates stumped and the other panelists red faced with embarrassment. One such masterpiece was: “Deliver a lecture imagining that you are a poor student of Maharaja’s College.” Pray, what has this got to do with a candidate’s knowledge of the electronic media? Apparently, the Vice-Chancellor did a good job in bowling out all meritorious candidates, so that he could accommodate his own crony. With this being the state of affairs, there no doubt why Universities produce sub-standard students. It is high time Governor H.R. Bharadwaj, who is also the Chancellor of Universities showed the red card to the Vice-Chancellor, who has continuously been embroiled in one controversy or the other.

The Secret Rooms of Taj

The Supreme Court has ordered the opening of secret chambers in the famous Sri Anantha Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, which are rumoured to contain fortunes stored by the erstwhile rulers of the Travancore princely state. In another related development, riches worth millions were discovered in the private abode of Sri Satya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi. This has brought to focus the hidden rooms in Taj Mahal, which are said to hold secrets of historical importance.  Will the Supreme Court order a similar exercise in the monument of love too? If Padmanabhaswamy and Sai Baba are not above the law of the land, why should Shah Jahan be?

Criminals in Uniform

Policemen in India are often called criminals in uniform, a charge that has taken deeper roots following their alleged complicity in the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh and the slaying of Mumbai based investigative journalist, J. Dey. That the accused are seldom brought to book given the inordinate delays associated with our justice delivery system seems to have further emboldened them.  Public confidence will be restored only if errant policemen are subjected to summary trial and exemplary punishment, similar to the Court Marshal in the Army. People who are charged with task of upholding the rule of law cannot be allowed to become a law unto themselves.

Charity Begins At Home

Congress leader Digvijay Singh has dared yoga guru Baba Ramdev to release the list of donors to his spiritual empire. But will Digvijay lead by example and reveal from where the Congress raises million of rupees that it splurges during every election? After all, charity should begin at home. The Congress leader’s allegation might be a case of the kettle calling the pot black, but he should remember that what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Public Office Private Views

The photograph of Karnataka Lok Ayukta Santosh Hegde in today’s newspapers, signing a petition against a proposed steel plant presented a distressing picture. Judges who are tasked with the most onerous responsibility of dispensing justice should not only be impartial, dispassionate and detached, but should also appear to be so. By publicly voicing his dissent, Justice Hegde has now disabled himself from hearing any complaint against the steel plant, should such a situation arise. Justice is not a popularity contest and judges are expected to maintain the highest level of independence in their personal and professional lives.