Nov 22, 2024
Nov 22, 2024
Hypothetically if I publicly stated that I will physically thrash a chief minister if he dared criticize my articles would I be breaking the law? Of course I would. Certainly the government would take action against me. Issuing such public threats against innocent citizens violates law. But if I publicly threatened teachers who have Left leaning views that unless they change their views I will strip them naked, would I or would I not be breaking the law? Of course I would. But when such events periodically occur is any action taken? It is not.
Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code states:
Alas, politicians are unbridled while the President and Governors are impotent. “Whoever commits, the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both; If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc. And if the threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or [imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or to impute, unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.”
Whether it is Trinamool leaders who violate laws in such manner in Kolkata or it is Raj Thackeray doing so in Mumbai, or indeed a host of politicians doing so elsewhere in the country, nothing happens. People shake their heads and pass moral judgment. Morality is not relevant. Do we or do we not have the rule of law in our democracy? Has or has not the Governor been appointed to ensure that a state government adheres to law and Constitution? Is or is not the President under oath to ensure that all laws and the Constitution are observed? Alas, politicians are unbridled while the President and Governors are impotent.
It seems such rash statements and actions by politicians that violate law have become routine. Public criticism is limited to such inane remarks as, “Cartoons are part of our political culture, why should he be arrested?” or, “He is a respected scientist, he was merely protesting against forcible evictions, why arrest him?” or, “There are so many local people in Mumbai who have lost employment!”!
All Indians should think. As our political system totters, implement first things first. The rule of law is the very foundation of democracy.
28-Apr-2012
More by : Dr. Rajinder Puri
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Good article. On a lighter note, an exercise to first educate our President, Governors & politicians about the necessity of laws, and the consequences of violation of such laws by them ought to be taught to 'em in a mandatory legal 2-3 week course ...a kind of school that these high and the mighty must compulsorily attend and even have to pass with bare minimum marks at the end of the school :)... |
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Once the local systems are destroyed, the locals struggle in vain but cannot go back to what existed before or recreate and accept fully what occurs in foreign lands, because it is NOT PART OF THEIR ETHOS! How are Kumbh melas and Ardh-Kumbhs organized? Which govt body plans and executes them? They are the same---WE are the lost ones! |
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I fully agree with the views expressed by Mr. G. Swaminathan above. I have an elderly relative in his eighties who rides with me some times and at each traffic intersection, when light is red, he comments that I could have gone through the red light since there was no traffic from other side. I wonder at times if this breaking rule or disrespect for the law is right in the blood. This is how cultue developes. A child sees law being broken by his elders will consider this as pefectly normal. The culture of corruption that has spread during last 6+ decades of Indian Misrule will not go away soon. It is a part of Indian Psyche and has spread to all branches of mis-government including defense. No one can help this unless there is absolue dictatorial rule that imposes it. That is the only language Indian masses understand. |
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While I appreciate the views of Mr Puri, I cannot but state that India has become an unruly land long back. Here, the people themselves have no respect for law and order, leave alone the political section who are branded law breakers. Right from crossing the roads to stand in a queue for billing, every citizen of India is very keen in violating discipline. Law and order are made for only to discipline the society. If that fails it shows the people of India has the least respect for discipline or law and order. Political pundits may blame it on poverty and population. In my view they are not the real reasons. The majority of the Indian populace is basically very selfish, greedy and indisciplined. Period. |