tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41250518524058262022024-02-25T19:57:14.850-08:00raviforjusticeVeteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-60101654166126154542024-02-25T19:56:00.000-08:002024-02-25T19:56:42.214-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-31 VALIDATING SCHOPENHAUER-PART-3<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In critiques of this nature statistics, when available, are
an important factor in providing authenticity to the narrative. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kerala State Information Commission (KSIC) had
been periodically putting up data about registration, disposal and pending
cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they have not followed any
standard format. For example, in 2007 and 2014 it is cases registered and
disposed, the pending figures are left to be calculated by the viewer. In 2021
it is registered and pending, disposed is left to be calculated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On closer scrutiny it is seen that there is
no integrity either. Here is some data compared from 4 documents downloaded at
three different times:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -1.0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Abbreviations
used: C- Complaints; A- Appeals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.65pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 628px;">
<tbody><tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="bottom" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t32" o:oned="t" o:spt="32" path="m,l21600,21600e">
<v:path arrowok="t" fillok="f" o:connecttype="none">
<o:lock shapetype="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" o:connectortype="straight" style="height: 72.75pt; margin-left: 19.35pt; margin-top: .5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 36pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t32"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></v:shape></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="80">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Registered<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="82">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Disposed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 66.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="88">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Received<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 61.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="82">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Pending<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="8" nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 249.4pt;" valign="bottom" width="333">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Note: C-Complaint, A-Appeal<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Row No<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Doc downloaded<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Period <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">C<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">C<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">C<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">C<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Date (ddmmyy)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="bottom" width="126">
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Column No ><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">4<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">6<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">7<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">8<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" width="128">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">270907</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">-Monthly<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="bottom" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jan-Dec 2006<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">471<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">226<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">309<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">176<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="bottom" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jan-May 2007<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">296<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">270<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">80<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">84<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 9.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="9" nowrap="" style="border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 344.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="459">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 30.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">200114</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">-Annual<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -.05in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Oct 2005-Nov 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Oct 2005-Dec 2006<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">454<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">216<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">107<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">45<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 30.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 5.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 5.35pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 5.35pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="9" nowrap="" style="border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 5.35pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 344.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="459">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">4<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">130721</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">-Annual<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="bottom" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jan-Dec 2006<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">472<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">226<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: yellow; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2006-21<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" valign="bottom" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jan-Dec 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="40">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: red; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1382<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #00B0F0; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 33.15pt;" valign="bottom" width="44">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2382<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: red; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" valign="bottom" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: #00B0F0; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1105<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 9.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" valign="bottom" width="41">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="9" nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 344.1pt;" valign="bottom" width="459">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="" rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 30.45pt;" width="41">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">6<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">130721</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">-Monthly<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.7pt;" width="126">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jan-Dec 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 60.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="80"></td>
<td nowrap="" rowspan="2" style="background: red; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.55pt;" width="37">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">547<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" rowspan="2" style="background: #00B0F0; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.0pt;" width="45">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2057<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td colspan="4" nowrap="" rowspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid black .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 127.85pt;" valign="bottom" width="170"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 96.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="128">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">May2016-Feb2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -1.0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Notes:
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>(i)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Presuming that Registered and
Received mean same, figures at R1C1 (471)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>does not tally with R4C5 (472).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>*R1C1 means cell at Row1, Column 1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(ii)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">R1C1 (471)-R1C3 (309) = 162 (Pending
complaints at the end of 2006). It is shown as zero in R4C7. Similar
discrepancy for appeals too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(iii)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">R5C5 (1382)-R6C3 (547) = 835 (Pending
complaints at the end of 2017). It is shown as 500 in R5C7. Similar discrepancy
for appeals too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(iv)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Standard
format for presenting such data is already available</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,
for example in financial accounting. There is always the Amount Brought
Forward, Receipts/Income during the month/year, Payments/Expenditure during the
same period and Amount Carried Forward/Pending. This would translate to: Cases
Brought Forward, New Cases Registered, Cases Disposed Of, Cases Carried
Forward. If the cases are disposed of on First Come, First Served basis, as it
should be, the cases brought forward, in an annual statement, cannot be older
than the ones registered during the previous year and there cannot be cases
that are older than those registered in the current year that are carried
forward. Under the circumstances, since cases, even complaints, are pending for
many years the Cases Brought Forward, Cases Disposed Of and Cases Carried
Forward will need sub-columns indicating the years pertaining to the cases too.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This kind of detail is necessary to ensure that cases are not
pending for unduly long periods and also for institutions like banks to track their
Non Performing Assets involved in court cases. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(v)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The above data had thrown up more
facts like between the 4 ICs, including the CIC, in 2006, they had disposed of
only 485 cases, including complaints. Presuming 200 working days for 2 who were
there throughout the year and 120 days for two who had been appointed only on
24/05/2006, it works out to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">just less
than one case per IC per day</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(vi)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was at this point that I decided to do a
thorough study of the information available at the website of the KSIC. The
results have been compiled separately as</span> <b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">SUBVERSION
OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT: A CASE STUDY OF KERALA STATE INFORMATION
COMMISSION (KSIC). </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This is attached at the end of this paper. Copy of this has already been
submitted to the constitutional authorities like the Governor of Kerala, the
President of India and the CJI through email to </span><a href="mailto:keralagovernor@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">keralagovernor@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span><a href="mailto:presidentofindia@rb.nic.in"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">presidentofindia@rb.nic.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and </span><a href="mailto:justice.dychandrachud@sci.nic.in"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">justice.dychandrachud@sci.nic.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is pertinent to recollect here that a
letter had been addressed to the President of India, on 21/04/2007, to remove
Wajahat Habibullah, the first CIC of the Central Information Commission when he
had sent an appeal under the RTI Act, against the PIO of the National Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), to the KSIC. Not once, but twice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The simple fact was that a complaint had been
submitted to the then President of the NCDRC, M B Shah, in person by me on 17
Aug 2005, as a member of Save Consumer Courts Action Council, a collective of
consumer activists of Kerala. The complaint was, among other things, that he
had filed a false affidavit in the High Court of Kerala and it had been placed
on record by the High Court in Confederation of Consumer Vigilance Centre Vs
State of Kerala (2004(3) KLT 1073). The relevant extract of the order is given
below:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXMyQ4xydIh1hiSAFeMJYGC--uHK-ICbhYpneuvO5fiKjFgL37WM-6yWTS3RElnn-QZgR8c88I46Gq8I0MkyfvvAjqCwI5Ms1Q0ASzLFzuY90AKjUTCSe_6dq-6B78qi8ye0TxfNc3nXVkLpS-Z3jvFR5aUgC67jTJux-Az11eOgn5easpTuzbiGQGsMeE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="917" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXMyQ4xydIh1hiSAFeMJYGC--uHK-ICbhYpneuvO5fiKjFgL37WM-6yWTS3RElnn-QZgR8c88I46Gq8I0MkyfvvAjqCwI5Ms1Q0ASzLFzuY90AKjUTCSe_6dq-6B78qi8ye0TxfNc3nXVkLpS-Z3jvFR5aUgC67jTJux-Az11eOgn5easpTuzbiGQGsMeE=w603-h163" width="603" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>The application, dated 24/03/2006 under the
RTI Act, sought information on action taken on the complaint. When no response
was received from the PIO of NCDRC, the matter was escalated to the Central
Information Commission, then headed by Wajahat Habibulla.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It was this appeal that was forwarded by the
CIC to the KSIC. In spite of clarifying the matter through email and when
provided an additional copy, even that copy was forwarded to KSIC.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That was when the President was approached,
on 21/04/2007, to remove Wajahat Habibulla under Section 14(3)(d) which reads
as:</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The President may by order remove from office the Chief
Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner if the Chief Information
Commissioner or a Information Commissioner, as the case may be,—<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in the opinion of the
President</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unfit to continue in
office by reason of infirmity of mind or body<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Needless to say, no action was taken and
Wajahat Habibullah continued in office to subvert the law with impunity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here are a few more examples of the
preposterous failures of the Central Information Commission:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two appeals were sent on 07/07/2010, under
one covering letter, against the PIOs of State Bank of India. One was disposed
of on 18/12/2010, and the other lost. In the one that was disposed of, the
decision was correct but the delay was condoned without reason. The lost appeal
was never found. Against an application under the RTI Act to find its disposal,
even though the FAA had directed the PIO to trace it, the IC, Shailesh Gandhi,
disposed it off by stating that all available information had been provided. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If there is one example needed to prove <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Schopenhauer, this was it</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">. This also proved another <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">glaring lapse- the failure of ICs to go
through the appeals themselves</b> and the failure of the CIC as an institution
to even conduct inquiries to fix responsibility and take corrective action. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
best decision I have ever received on an appeal under the RTI Act was from
Annapoorna Dixit. The appeal was against the failure of the PIO of Southern
Railway, Chennai to provide information on the progress of construction of road
over bridges (ROBs) in the erstwhile Palakkad Division. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It was declined under the most misused provision of voluminous
information diverting the resources of the public authority disproportionately.
But the IC directed it to be provided</b>, as per order dated 19/05/2009 in
appeal number CIC/OK/A/2008/00766-AD. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I
got 13 pages of Excel spreadsheet data</b>. Meanwhile the delay in providing
this data had exceeded 100 days <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">warranting
imposition of the maximum penalty of Rs 25,000/-.</b> But the IC just took the
period between her direction and provision of the information as the delay
period and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">imposed just Rs 7000/-</b> as
penalty as per adjunct dated 16/06/2009 to the earlier order.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Subsequently, an update of the same
details was sought through an application dated on 19/09/2013. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There were no responses either from the PIO
or from the FAA.</b> The IC, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Vijay
Sharma, in his order dated 08/07/2015, recorded a lie</b> that the PIO had
provided a reply on 04/10/2013, when it was just a letter forwarding the
application to the concerned PIO under Section 5 of the RTI Act. Isn’t there
something drastically wrong with the selection process of the information
commissioners? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If this is the quality
and competence of the people selected after their retirement from regular
employment is there any need to imagine why our system of administration in
government is so corrupt and treacherous?</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In another simple case with the
railways, I had sought <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">copies of the
reservation chart which had been updated by the TTE during a journey</b>. The
intention was two-fold: one, to check whether the TTE was allotting berths to
passengers who had been provided sitting accommodation in sleeper coaches
strictly in the order of the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) list. The
second one was to learn if those passengers who had to complete the travel
availing sitting accommodation only, even though they had paid the full sleeper
class fare while purchasing the tickets, were eligible for refund of the excess
fare. These two issues are interrelated too. Because, having paid the full
fare, the TTE needed to only allot berths falling vacant due to some passengers
failing to turn up. There was no need to issue any fresh receipt for additional
charges. This provides a better environment for corruption where the TTE could
just mark the berth allotted to an RAC passenger, in the reservation chart held
with him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Horror of horrors, the PIO, P A
Dhananjayan, IRTS, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Railway Divisional
Office, Palakkad replied on 04/10/2013 that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">an amount of Rs 750/- per PNR number should be paid for every page</b>.
The relevant extract of the reply is given below:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2NW13byJWWD3PsdZw_OaCqQODyFrwr-oBkXNsk3d0SAZeMwJqTIDFgImtCU-0je8JJ9yUFXgOcNGoaRVvCRkcm60Qg2IEizxJwKK5tVSVsv4kP0VOUDNfWwQGfbfirDKqPIF9boE52KiLDq3_fN01j_d5LEbaBgc-a2oMIAENyYHee-Uw8Np7ejCXrlfL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="922" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2NW13byJWWD3PsdZw_OaCqQODyFrwr-oBkXNsk3d0SAZeMwJqTIDFgImtCU-0je8JJ9yUFXgOcNGoaRVvCRkcm60Qg2IEizxJwKK5tVSVsv4kP0VOUDNfWwQGfbfirDKqPIF9boE52KiLDq3_fN01j_d5LEbaBgc-a2oMIAENyYHee-Uw8Np7ejCXrlfL=w612-h145" width="612" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Before proceeding
further here is one clarification: the railways are bound by the rules laid
down by the competent authority which is the Central Government. They have no
business demanding any fee beyond Rs 2/- per copy of an A4 size page or actual
photocopying charges for other sizes. PIOs making such blasphemous demands and
the FAA concurring with them are glaring evidence of how the RTI Act has been
subverted at all levels with the ultimate responsibility being with the ICs.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Incidentally,
even the Rs 2/- demanded for supplying one page of their internal order is
illegal as such information is required to be provided suo moto under Section
4(1)(b)(v) of the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So no prizes for
guessing what would be the order of the IC. In this case, IC <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bimal Julka</b>, disposed of the appeal,
CIC/VS/A/2014/001182/BJ on 14/07/2016 with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
lie that ‘the information sought by the appellant had been provided’</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An appeal against the Animal Welfare
Board, pending with the Central IC, since 16/02/2023, without even an
acknowledgement, is a classic illustration of how the RTI Act has been
castrated. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There had been no response from
the PIO or the FAA</b>. It could easily have been a complaint but since ICs
have been seen sending the complaint to the FAA for providing a reply and
directing the complainant to file the appeal again if no reply or
unsatisfactory reply is received, this unwarranted procedure was sought to be
avoided by filing the 1<sup>st</sup> appeal in the usual manner and then the 2<sup>nd</sup>
appeal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To subvert a simple, unambiguous law
like the RTI Act needs special skill. That is how I homed on to those
responsible for administering government services. There is a quip: a man at 20
if he is not an idealist has no heart, at 40 if he is not pragmatic, he has no
head. And I have read about the rank holders of Civil Services Exam claiming
that they chose it for serving the public. I have no reason for not believing
them. But then there is certainly a big slip between what they talk and do
later. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I know that the candidates for
civil services are not selected based on any assessed quality like armed forces
officers are in the Services Selection Boards. </b>The only assessment is of
memorizing and recollecting. A matter of 1 percent motivation, 9 percent
perspiration and 90 percent luck. Because the canvas is wide, a question that
becomes pertinent is: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what is the need
to know the name of the President of Timbaktu to be a clerk in a government
office? That’s when I decided to find out how the Alma Mater of the babus
respond to applications under the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On 07 Apr 2017, I
sought some information from the Lal Bahadur Sastri National Academy of
Administration (LBSNAA) where future administrators of the government are
trained. The information sought (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IS</b>)
and the reply received (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RR</b>), along
with my comments are given below: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">IS</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> 1.1. What is the duration of training of a member newly
admitted into the IAS? Provide the date of commencement of training of the
current batch and the date when it will conclude. If there is no such batch
undergoing training, provide teh date of commencement and conclusion of training
of the last batch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">RR</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">: </span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The duration of training are: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Foundation
Course</b> from 29/08/2016 to 9/12/2016, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IAS
Course Professional Course Phase 1</b> from 12/1/22016 to 12/05/2017. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">District Training during IAS Phase II</b>
will be for 53 weeks and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">professional
course Phase II</b> will be for 6 weeks in LBSNAA, Mussoorie. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Comment:</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Is the reply
complete and unambiguous? You decide. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">IS</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> 1.2. If the training period is in different
phases/parts/institutions/places provide the details of each phase, duration in
weeks and institutions/places<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">RR</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">: </span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The period will be as above. Intuitional
(sic) training to be in the State ATIs and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">period
will be differ in each case.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Comment: </span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Presuming<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b>that the institutional training is part of the District Training, it has to
be within the 53 weeks. But why are the dates not provided for these 53 weeks
of an ongoing course? And the dated of the 6 weeks of Phase II training?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">IS</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> 1.3. Are the trainees provided stipend/salary during the
period of training or any part/phase of the training?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">RR: During the Foundation Course and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IAS Professional Course Phase 1 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the academy pays salary advance</b> of Rs
50,000/- per month. After reliving (sic) from the Academy after completion of
Phase I training, the trainees get full salary from their respective state
government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Comment: </span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An advance is paid from what is due in future.
So what does this salary advance paid during the foundation course and Phase I
Professional Course mean? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">IS</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 1.9. </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When is the service period reckoned from- on reporting
for/commencement of training or completion of training and reporting for duty?</span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">RR</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
service period reckoned from reporting of training</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Comment:</span></b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> That nails it,
doesn’t it? If the service period is reckoned from the date of reporting for
training, then the remuneration/salary has also got to be due from that date.
So why obfuscate a simple issue? (For the moment, forget the confusion between
date of reporting for, which will be variable for each candiate, and date of
commencement of training, which will be the same for all candidates.)</span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The first appeal was responded to with a curt <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This appeal is being treated as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cancelled</b>.
Kindly desist from further communciation on this issue with this authority. </i>It
was signed by Thulasi Maddineni as the Appellate Authority and Deputy Director.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Apart from filing the 2nd appeal with the Central Information Commission on
14/07/2017 (which is pending till date), the only other thing I could do was to
write to the Director, LBSNAA to either send the FAA to a lunatic asylum or try
him/her for treason. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: .5in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It would be presumptuous of me to quote
celebrities on corruption in India. The deaf, dumb and the blind know the
extent to which it prevails in India. N N Vohra Committee’s Report of 1993- on
the politician-bureaucrat-underworld nexus is passé. One just needs to browse
through media reports about the scams in Kerala during the last 8 years where
the name of the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan and his Secretary, Sivasankaran
of the IAS, has figured. Also the reports of life convicts in prisons getting
privileges not available to ordinary under-trials would cover the other link
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to forget the tax payers’ money
being splurged by the government to engage celebrity lawyers to challenge even CBI
enquiries ordered by the high court in murder cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the years since the establishment of the</span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) in 1974, Hong
Kong had been transformed into one of the least corrupt places in the world, as
recognized by international institutions such as the World Bank, the Heritage
Foundation and Transparency International. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In India we have the Central Vigilance
Commission operating since 1964, though it was given a statutory status only in
2003 through the CVC Act. But how effective has the CVC been in controlling
corruption? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The only case I can recollect
in the context of the CVC is of a Central Vigilance Commissioner being removed in
2011 by the apex court, due to a case pending against him in a scam since 1992</b>.
Any data available on corrupt public servants prosecuted and punished? The
website of the CVC hasn’t published even the information required to be
disclosed under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, completely. Even the disclosure
under Section 4(1)(b)(x) regarding remuneration of the officers and employees
have been provided only in terms of levels of a pay matrix which makes no sense
to the layman. Even the number of employees at each level has not been
provided. That way <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the apex court
disclosure is one step better</b> because the scale of pay at each level of the
matrix has been provided and the nominal roll of the employees has been provided
separately. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The problem, as I can see it, is the
government’s over dependence on babus. Whether it is the CVC or the CIC,
retired babus are rehabilitated in these offices to deal with alleged offences/defects/deficiencies
in services against their ex-colleagues. It had to be a sure shot prescription
for disaster. The judiciary did try to have a share of the pie by ordering that
information commissioners shall decide cases in benches of two, one being from
the judiciary. They had to beat a hasty retreat. Namit Sharma cases only
created confusion for a few months and then it was all back to normal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Interestingly, the apex court recently tried
to take on a role in the appointment of the Election Commissioners (and not for
a role as election commissioner itself), forgetting that it was not only the
election commissioners who were being appointed in the manner they are by a
committee comprising the Prime Minister, another minister and the Leader of the
Opposition. These kinds of interventions would really make any rational citizen
question the intentions and competence of the judiciary too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
/23 Feb 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-23354954444176911452024-02-25T19:50:00.000-08:002024-02-25T19:50:49.162-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDES-30 VALIDATING SCHOPENHAUER-PART-2<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The failure of the judiciary can easily be
attributed to the failure of the Constitution to provide the necessary systemic
checks and balances, particularly for accountability of the judges. But the
bureaucracy does not have such freedom. In fact, we can easily automate their
functions and provide their services through kiosks placed at vantage points
all over populated areas. It is just a matter of linking the needs of citizens
to the resources available and provisions of laws. However the babus, who have
reduced government administration to a synonym for corruption and treason, have
survived, nay, thrived, by riding on the failure of the judiciary. If it had
been under a shroud earlier, the RTI Act has helped to simply remove that
shroud. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have not only used this law extensively but
also helped many to use it for seeking information right from Village Offices
and Gram Panchayats to Rashtrapati Bhavan and PMO. Positive results have been
almost negligible but the failures have helped in exposing the underbelly of
what we call the government, in its widest sense. Yes, the sense in which we
have three organs, one each for legislating, executing and arbitrating/adjudicating.
In the narrow sense we know that it is just the President and Cabinet of
Ministers headed by the Prime Minister at the Centre and the Governor and
Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister in the States. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, here are more examples of how various
public authorities, read government offices, have responded to the RTI
Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Soon
after the law came into force, I had sought information on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">tenures of District Collectors and District
Superintendents of Police</b> (now re-designated as District Police Chiefs).
While the General Administration Department of the Government of Kerala did not
have the information, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the application
was forwarded to all the districts and information was provided by the district
offices directly</b>. (Just as an aside, it revealed that the DCs had a tenure
of less than one year and the Police Chiefs less than 10 months, with rare
exceptions. Interestingly, after this, at least in my district, both these
public servants have been having 2 years plus tenures. But, did it help in
improving the administration or law and order in the district? Unfortunately, it
has to be a ‘no’.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In contrast,
shortly thereafter, I had sought information from the office of the DC about
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">digitization of land records</b>
and, horror of horrors, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I was asked to
approach the taluk offices.</b> The reason? In the first step towards
subversion of the RTI Act, the babus began claiming that the Act only mandated
transferring the application to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the other
public authority</i> (singular) and not authorities (plural). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They were either ignoramuses themselves or
simply exploiting the ignorance of the public</b> about the provision of the
General Clauses Act whose Section 13 has stated that ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">words importing the masculine gender shall be taken to include females’</i>
and ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">words in the singular shall include
the plural and vice versa</i>’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It took Shailesh
Gandhi, one of the rare RTI activists to be appointed as an information
commissioner, to quote this clause and other apex court verdicts to rule
unequivocally that the application will have to be send to as many other public
authorities as were required. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had the
opportunity to quote this decision, dated 16/06/2011 in Appeal Number
CIC/SM/A/2011/000278/SG, to a Chief Information Commissioner of Kerala, Vinson
Paul, a former DG of Police. His response was that he was not bound by the
decisions of Central Information Commissioners. He had no response when
confronted with the query that it was not the Central Information
Commissioner’s decision that was pertinent but the laws and apex court verdicts
quoted by him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Unabashedly, he
was learnt to have gone one step further and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">advised the PIOs in the State that, if they did not have the
information sought, they could direct the applicant to apply directly to the
concerned offices, while providing the details of those offices if they had
them</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
had submitted an application for some information from the Kerala State
Pollution Control Board, Thiruvananthapuram regarding a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bio-medical waste incineration plant</b> set up by the Indian Medical
Association in the catchment area of the Malampuzha reservoir in Palakkad.
Confining myself just to the subversion of the RTI Act by the information
commission, here are some facts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The application
was submitted, in accordance with Sec 5 of the RTI Act, through the Assistant
PIO of the office of the Revenue Divisional Office at Palakkad on 17/07/2006.
The PIO had received the application on 31/07/2006. He demanded a cost of Rs
40/- through his letter of 26/08/2006. 30 days prescribed for providing the
information was getting over on 29/08/2006. This meant that the PIO had just 3
days to send the information after receipt of payment of cost or proof of such
payment. The payment was demanded as cash or through Demand Draft. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As per the
prevailing rules, the applicant had the choice of making this payment at a
government treasury also. Rule 4(3), extracted from Kerala Right to Information
(Regulation of Fee and Cost Rules), 2006, published on 18/05/2006 in Kerala
Gazette (Extraordinary) Volume 51, Number 893, is given below:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
fee specified in sub-rules (1) and (2) shall be collected by way of cash
against proper receipt or by remitting the amount in the Treasury under the
head of account “0070-other administrative services-60 other services-800 other
receipts-42 other items” or by demand draft, or bankers cheque or pay order
payable to the concerned State Public Information Officer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The treasury
receipt was sent through the same APIO on 13/09/2006 and received by the PIO on
04/10/2006. He sent a reply on 4/11/2006 (32 days later instead of the
available 3 days) stating that the copies of the documents were enclosed. There
was a delay of 29 days. This was received by me on 14/11/2006. But there were
no copies of any document. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The bluff was
called as the value of the stamps on the envelope proved that 20 pages of
documents could not be sent for that amount.</b> Also, if it had been
inadvertently left behind I should have received the same by post shortly
thereafter. This also did not happen. My letter of 14/11/2006, communicating
this fact, was received by the PIO on 21/12/2006, as claimed by him. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">An unbelievable 37 days later</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The PIO then sent
the copies on 29/12/2006. It was received by me on 01/01/2007, just 3 days
later. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I sought refund
of the cost I had paid, as the RTI Act mandates provision of information free
of cost after 30 days. There was no response. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1<sup>st</sup>
appeal was filed on 23/01/2007 which was disposed of on 18/04/2007, without any
corrective action. Presuming that the appeal had been delivered to the FAA 15
days later, there was a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">delay of more
than 40 days in the FAA’s reply</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The 2<sup>nd</sup>
appeal was submitted to the Information Commission at Thiruvananthapuram,
through the APIO of the office of RDO, Palakkad on 31/05/2007 and received by
the Commission on 13/06/2007, 13 days later. The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Commission’s order dated <span style="color: red;">21/12/2007</span> in
this appeal, numbered as AP 452/2007/SIC, is a classic example of subversion of
the law itself. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The appeal was
decided by a bench of 2 commissioners, Palat Mohandas, the CIC and V V Giry,
IC. Just for the record, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RTI Act
does not provide for multimember benches</b> and most of the decisions can be
seen to be that of single information commissioners only. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The appeal was
dismissed on the following grounds:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since the appellant had not made
remittance towards cost of providing the information as per the provisions in
the relevant rules, the information shall be deemed to have been given free of
cost and therefore refund of cost does not arise<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since the appellant had not made
remittance towards cost of providing the information, as per rules, the
respondents were not under any obligation to provide the information and
therefore the other reliefs sought for in the appeal are irrelevant. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">these conclusions were absolute frauds</b>,
being lies that the appellant had not made remittance towards cost of providing
the information as per rules. It had definitely been paid as per rules but not
as per the choice of the PIO. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Interestingly, on
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">22/12/2007</span></b>,
the Government of Kerala published an amendment to the rules in Volume 52,
Issue Number 2290 of the Kerala Gazette (Extraordinary). Para 3(b) of this
amendment is extracted below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
rule 4, - (i) in sub-rule (1), after the words “the fee shall be charged at the
following rates” the words “in case no separate fee is prescribed” shall be
inserted. (ii) after sub-rule (3), the following proviso shall be inserted,
namely:- “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Provided that in the case of
public authorities other than the Government Departments</b>, the fee shall be
remitted to the account of such public authority as provided in clauses (c )
and (d) of rule 3. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It can be seen
that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the amendments were made only to
validate the order but it came a day too late</b>. This was a typical case of
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">proverbial thief leaving his
fingerprints</b>. It is also pertinent that this amendment cannot apply to the
fees/cost paid prior to 22/12/2007. And one can imagine who all were complicit
in this foul play. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now,
let me cite an example of trying to pay the fees/cost by cash to a PIO in the
State Secretariat itself. I had got a demand for Rs 6/- for copies of three
pages from the General Administration Department (GAD). I approached the PIO
and offered to pay cash. But it was not accepted. I was told to pay it in the
treasury and produce the receipt. I refused. I was directed to the FAA, a Joint
Secretary to the Government of Kerala. She also parroted the PIO’s words. On
refusing to pay by any mode other than cash, she simply directed the PIO to
provide the copies free of cost. I accepted it and immediately submitted a
complaint at the Chief Minister’s Grievances Cell functioning in the same
office. Nothing happened. Even under the RTI Act the only information that was
provided was that it had been forwarded to the GAD.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Without
going into details let me list some more examples:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(a)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Office of the District Collector
did not have information about 2 touch screen kiosks installed in its premises,
not even the purpose for which they had been installed. A third one was made
functional for checking one’s data in the electoral rolls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(b)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The District Collector is the
Chairperson of the Palakkad Indoor Stadium Complex Society established in 1994.
In 2010 this was left in limbo and a new society was formed as Palakkad Indoor
Stadium Society. Land was handed over to the society for construction of an
indoor stadium and the construction began but was left incomplete. Under RTI
Act it was revealed that (i) sanction for construction had not been accorded by
the local self governing body, (ii) the estimated cost was Rs 13.25 Crores,
(iii) expected completion date was 31/12/2013, (iv) expenditure of Rs 6.2 Cr
had been incurred till 31/03/2013 when work had stopped. However, a gym had
been allowed to function there illegally in connivance with some corrupt public
servants. Though the gym has been closed now, no action has been taken against
the defaulting/corrupt public servants. A complaint with the District Collector
is pending action. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(c)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two
hoardings had been displayed in front of a girls’ school in Palakkad. They
alleged corruption by the MLA in the digitalization of the school. The
photographs of these hoardings were sent to the District Collector for action.
It was forwarded to the Deputy Director of Education who submitted a report
that during his visit he did not find the hoardings. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This preposterous report was accepted by the District Collector. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(d)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Plachimada, in Kerala gained
international media attention due to the struggle of adivasis against Coca Cola
which had contaminated their fresh water sources and depleted the ground water.
In an incidence of destruction of houses of two adivasi families there, coming
under the purview of the SC/ST (Preventions of Atrocities) Act, neither the DC
nor the District Police Chief had taken any action mandated by the Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(e)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Orders were being circulated by the
General Administration Department of the Government of Kerala to every office
that receipts should be provided to all citizens submitting documents to the
office. This was not being followed. In 2009, two additional paragraphs were
found introduced- one specifying the format of the receipt and the other the
size of a board on which this information, along with the format of the
receipt, had to be displayed. Complaints about non-compliance followed by
applications under the RTI Act had the DC’s Office providing receipts but the
board has still not been displayed. The reason once given by the DC, in a file
noting, is that it will be complied with when funds are allotted for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(f)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In 2018 there were floods all over
Kerala. Application under the RTI Act revealed that the Executive Engineer,
Irrigation Division, Malampuzha had been writing to the DC/RDO Palakkad since
19/07/2018 about the dam getting filled. By 04/08/2018, it was only 0.03 meter
short but only spillways were opened to some extent. On 09/08/2018, the water
level had risen 15 cms above the permitted maximum level when the shutters were
raised by 100 cms each. People who were affected by the flood lost much more
than money could buy, like professors losing their handwritten notes, and
improved over the years, used for teaching. It was certainly a heavy price to
pay for the incompetence and indifference of the district administration. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(g)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Post election of 2014, information was
sought on the dues from candidates towards cost of anti-defacement effort of
the District Collector in his role as the District Electoral Officer. It was
provided as Rs 2,78,812/- from various parties/candidates. However no information
had been provided about any recovery made. (Graffiti/banners put up by
candidates/parties in public places illegally is called defacement, defacing
the defacement by blackening it, is called anti defacement) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(h)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During the 2019 elections, the CEC had
introduced an app called eVigil to report complaints about election code
violations. I tried it but failed because the GPS was not working, though it
was working perfectly with Googlemaps. However, complaints were submitted
through emails to </span><a href="mailto:dcpkd@kerala.nic.in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">dcpkd@kerala.nic.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,
</span><a href="mailto:pkd-colt.msg@kerala.gov.in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">pkd-colt.msg@kerala.gov.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:pkd_collectorate@messaging.kerala.gov.in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">pkd_collectorate@messaging.kerala.gov.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:contactus@ceo.kerala.gov.in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">contactus@ceo.kerala.gov.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
and </span><a href="mailto:complaints@eci.gov.in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">complaints@eci.gov.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
about the compound wall of an extension of my plot being defaced with posters
of one of the candidates. In the complaint I had specifically mentioned that if
they were not removed and the wall cleaned within 48 hours I would clean them
and the cost will have to be reimbursed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>along with compensation of Rs 50,000/-. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No responses from any except from ECI and that
too only a cryptic ‘we have raised a complaint to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">concern officers</b> through our NGS portal’. They <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">did not disclose who these concerned officers were</b> even to an
application under the RTI Act. Persistently following up the complaint resulted
in the Election Department of the Government of Kerala providing me a copy of a
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">letter dated 19/05/2023 from the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">District Collector making a false claim</b>
that as soon as the complaint was received the anti-defacement squad had
removed the posters and cleaned the wall, when it had actually been done by me
after the expiry of 48 hours of my email. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
this is the state of affairs in the case of an office headed by a member of the
IAS, one can well imagine the condition in other offices/institutions of
government. Or, may be, it could even be that the failures are due to the
office being headed by a member of the IAS. The members of this cadre indeed
have a reputation of their own. And one of them is that India is doing well in
the areas of space and atomic energy only because these are two areas where the
members of the IAS do not have any control. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have read an
article, dated 02/11/2015, by Sam Pitroda ‘When Rajiv Gandhi fired two babus’ at
</span><a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/books/when-rajiv-gandhi-fired-two-babus-news-295761"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/books/when-rajiv-gandhi-fired-two-babus-news-295761</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.
He had written: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.35pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">…he(water secretary) and the agriculture secretary were
bureaucrats, not specialists. They didn't get into the details. They were
responsible for planning, but they didn't feel that a technical understanding
was essential for the planning function, or at least for their function. In
their presentation to Rajiv they had shown a kind of feel-good,
advertisement-type video on India's water and food production—pretty
generalities with little substance. Rajiv was a nuts-and-bolts kind of guy. I
understood how those presentations must have infuriated him. No wonder he had
stopped them midway and fired them.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
be continued..<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
/ 12 Feb 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-65993621007111907602024-02-25T19:49:00.000-08:002024-02-25T19:49:28.959-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDES-29 VALIDATING SCHOPENHAUER-PART-1<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is imperative to study
the effect of judicial failure on other institutions of the government,
particularly the institutions required to deliver services of the government to
the people, before I wind up this series. And here, I am reminded of </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Schopenhauer's</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Law of Entropy which states</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘<span style="background: white; color: #222222;">If you put a spoonful of wine in a
barrel full of sewage you get sewage. If you put a spoonful of sewage in a
barrel full of wine you get sewage!’</span></i></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To anybody who
has read this series this far, there would not be any doubt how badly our
judiciary fares in fulfilling its assigned task of delivering justice to the
aggrieved. Its deleterious effect is there for all to see, nay experience. It
looks like everybody in government is forcing aggrieved citizens to approach
the courts where their cases can languish indefinitely and nobody can do
anything about it. The only alternative is to suffer in silence and ignominy. ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When we transformed from subjects to
citizens, we forfeited our rights it seems, since <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">what happens in our country now in the name of law is often rank
injustic</b>e</i>’, wrote Renuka Narayanan in The New Indian Express of 20 Dec
2004 (‘Human rights, the genesis of justice is from religion' under her column 'Faith
line'). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Right to
Information Act, 2005 can be considered as the only pro-democracy, citizen
friendly law in the country. Its preamble has unambiguously stated its purpose
as:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to
promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public
authority</i>’ and ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to contain corruption
and to hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the
governed’</i>. The law is simple enough to be understood by anyone who has
passed 5<sup>th</sup> standard. But, horror of horrors, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">even this law has been subverted so badly</b> that the information
commissions have turned out to be just rehabilitation centers for retired babus
for an additional 5 (now 3) years after their retirement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before listing
some case studies, let me list some important provisions of the Act, relevant to
understanding the treachery of the babus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The law
came into effect on 15 Jun 2005 for the public servants and 120 days later (12
Oct 2005) for the public. This was to enable the public servants to organize
their files and designate those responsible for dealing with applications (the
Public Information Officer, PIO) and appeals (the First Appellate Authority,
FAA, who is an authority superior to the PIO and the 2<sup>nd</sup> appellate
authority, the Information Commissioners, ICs, empowered to penalize defaulting
PIOs). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Within
this period they were also required to suo moto disclose certain common
information listed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Act. Two of these- directory of
the public servants in the office and their remuneration- have been of
particular interest to me mainly for the ease of validating the compliance with
this requirement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
PIOs cannot drive applicants from pillar to post saying that the information is
not available with them. They are bound to send the application to the public
servant who is expected to be holding the information. If this public servant
is in another office, this transfer is required to be done within 5 days of
receipt of the application and the applicant has to be informed of this
transfer. If the custodian of the information sought is in the same office the
information should be collected by the PIO and provided by him. If the public
servant holding the information, being in the same office, does not provide the
information to the PIO, then, as per the law, the one holding the information
is deemed to be the PIO and liable for penalty in case of delay. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
information sought has to be provided within 30 days from the date of receipt
of the application by the PIO. If any cost is required for copies of documents
or materials to be provided then the period between demanding the cost and production
of proof of payment, is excluded from this period. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
applicant has the choice of three languages-Hindi, English and official
regional language- to apply for information. Needless to say the replies are
expected to be in the same language as the application. Logically it applies to
appeals also, except that in the case of central government offices the 2<sup>nd</sup>
appeal will necessarily have to be in Hindi or English only. Hence it would be
advisable to seek information from central government offices (including Public
Sector Banks, industries and other service providers) in English or Hindi only.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
applicant also has the choice of paying the fees required with the application
and the cost, when demanded, by different means. Unfortunately, these methods
are not uniform for all the states, the Center and the judiciary. Worse, there
are many examples of PIOs imposing their own choices on unwary applicants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Time
frames are fixed-30 days, excluding the transit time for communication through
snail mail- for replying to application, submitting 1<sup>st</sup> appeal and
replying to 1<sup>st</sup> appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
the 2<sup>nd</sup> appeal can be filed within 90 days of receipt of the reply
from the FAA, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">there is no time frame prescribed
for disposing of these appeals by the ICs</b>. Worse, because it has not been
specified in the Act or rules, they are also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not disposed of on 1<sup>st</sup> come 1<sup>st</sup> served basis</b>.
There is no reason why this is not followed because the Act specifies <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only one class of applications to be dealt
with expeditiously- those dealing with life and liberty of individuals</b>. This
is a gross <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">failure of the competent
authorities with disastrous consequences</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Act
prescribes imposing a penalty of Rs 250/- per day of delay, beyond the 30 days
prescribed for providing the information sought. The onus is on the PIO to
prove that the reasons for not providing the complete information were beyond
his control (I can think of only one, that is, destruction as per laid down
policy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Act
also provides for compensating the applicant for any loss or detriment
suffered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This Act
also has overriding effect vis-a-vis other laws in force. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even in
the matter of organizations exempted from the provisions of this Act, the
information pertaining to corruption and human rights violations and those in
public interest are required to be provided. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After
completing 18 years of the Act, it is appalling to note that there is gross
failure of the public servants in complying with the Act. Some failures are
listed below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
disclosures required to be made suo moto have not been made by most, if not
any, of the public authorities. I can vouch for the failures of the Supreme Court,
Central and the Kerala State Information Commissions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: -4.5pt; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
PIOs/ appellate authorities do not acknowledge the receipt of the application/
appeal. Nor do they comply with the time frames and get away with it with impunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
PIOs do not comply with the requirement of transferring the applications to
other public authorities within the prescribed time and intimating the
applicant. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Quite
often the applications are sent to other irrelevant authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
PIOs and appellate authorities do not respond to the applications/appeals in
the language of the application/appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
use devious methods like asking applicants to visit their office and peruse the
files and collect the information needed. Just imagine an applicant in Kerala
being asked to peruse the files and collect the information from an office in
Delhi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
appellate authorities do not apply their mind to the incongruities/deficiencies/
defects brought out in the appeals. The FAAs invariably can be seen justifying
or overlooking the defaults of the PIO. The ICs too are seen glossing over the
shortcoming brought out in the 2<sup>nd</sup> appeal. Even in the rare cases
they order PIOs to provide some random information they fail to impose the
mandatory penalty. This is when, by the time the IC orders information to be
provided, there is already over 100 days of delay and the maximum penalty of Rs
25000/- is liable to be imposed. This has led to not only total subversion of
the law, but also loss to the exchequer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
lapses of the PIOs when condoned without valid reason, gives room for
suspecting corruption. We are all familiar with the quip there are no free
lunches. These are cases prosecutable under Section 219 of the Indian Penal
Code which provides for 7 years in prison. But here the information seeker
faces two problems: one, is the need to get permission from one public servant
to prosecute another public servant and two, the impossibility of getting a
fair decision from the courts within any reasonable time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
cost in terms of time and effort invested by the appellants are not taken into
account and they are invariably denied compensation for pursuing the appeals. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some Case Studies<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Palat Mohandas was the Chief Secretary to the
Government of Kerala when the RTI Act came into force. State Information
Commission should have been active at least by 01/11/2005 to receive the first
complaint under the RTI Act. But Mohandas had other plans and, amidst
controversy, he hopped from the office of the Chief Secretary on 31/10/2005 and
landed as the first Chief Information Commissioner on 21/12/2005. One more IC was
appointed along with him on the same day. Two more followed only on 24/05/2006.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The current CIC
of Kerala, Viswas Mehta, did it one better. He just stepped out of the CS’s
office on 28/02/2021 and into the CIC’s office on 01/03/2021. His appointment is
also mired in controversies. The most important of them is the opposition of Leader
of the Opposition who one of the members of the selection panel along with the
Chief Minister and another minister. The opposition was on the ground that he
had filed a complaint against him with the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau
“for his attempt to engage some private international consultancy firms in the
works and projects of Water Resource Department in a highly irregular manner”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One is reminded
of a similar situation where the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">apex
court had dislodged P J Thomas</b>, a Central Vigilance Commissioner, appointed
in 2010. His tenure lasted for just 6 months as he had to resign on 03/03/2011.
But the cause of his removal, being an accused in the Palmolien Import Scam,
which made news in 1991-92, remains unaddressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shockingly,
Viswas Mehta continues in office even now and plumbing new depths in subverting
the law he has been tasked, empowered and paid to enforce. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are also aware
how the apex court had found it imperative to intervene in the matter of
appointment of election commissioners who are also appointed in the same manner
as the information commissioners and other quasi judicial authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since these dubious appointments will continue till transparent and
stringent procedures are put in place and followed rigidly, we can only strive
for it, hoping that the efforts will yield result sooner than later</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Palat
Mohandas and his team of ICs had held a sitting at Palakkad on 19/02/2007. I
tried to attend the hearings held in the Conference Hall of the Collectorate.
The first shock was delivered when I was told that the hearings were being held
one to one and others were not permitted. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That
is, it was not like public hearings held in open courts.</b> Seeking to know the
number of complaints and/or appeals being heard also drew a blank. Fortunately
the hearings were over in about half an hour and there was a press conference
addressed by all the information commissioners. There was an effort to restrict
entry to only accredited media representatives but I made my way by arguing
that since it was an outreach program I wanted to seek some clarifications.
Clarifications sought on whether cases were being disposed of on first come,
first served basis and the rate of disposal of cases again drew blanks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So this
information was sought under the RTI Act itself. Here are some pertinent
details.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(a)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Regarding information provided on
hearings held outside the Headquarter, the PIO could not provide the dates of
the hearings scheduled for the period immediately following his reply. The FAA
informed that there is no policy for holding such hearings. This straight away
validates the common perception that these hearings are scheduled to cover the
personal needs of the public servants. (Reminded of a media report of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chairman of the State Human Rights
Commission, a former judge of the High Court, holding sittings at the temple
town of Guruvayur on the 1<sup>st</sup> day of every month of the Malayalam
Calendar</b>.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(b)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There were<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> only 3 appeals and 2 complaints heard by the 4 ICs at Palakkad</b>.
The PIO had informed that except for one appeal all the others came under the
category of information concerned with the life or liberty of a person, which
needed to be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request.
The FAA corrected that none were of this category. This is proof of the effort
to obfuscate information. Also, the lackadaisical and profligate manner in
which the information commissioners perform their tasks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(c)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The FAA also amended the number of
older cases, from Palakkad, pending with the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commission, compared to the oldest case heard
at the sitting on 19/02/2007, from 5 to 8. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
RTI Act treats all applications for information as equally important except
those concerning life and liberty. Hence there is no reason why all the cases,
other than those dealing with life and liberty, are not disposed of on a first
come, first served basis. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(d)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Regarding the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cost to exchequer</b> for the sitting held at Palakkad, the PIO
informed that it was actual Travelling Allowance (without, of course, giving
the specific figures which is what should have been provided) entitled to the
participants where as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FAA informed
that the information is not available</b>. This again exposes the lack of
competence and/or of deliberate effort to deny information. The PIOs and FAAs
cannot take excuse of the law mandating provision of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">available</b> information only because all these are information that
has to be available with the every public authority because they would be using
it on routine basis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It looks like I rubbed on the wrong
side of the information commissioners and the reprisal was swift. On
05/10/2007, the Kerala State Information Commission, wrote to the PIO, office
of the Revenue Divisional Office, Palakkad not to accept any ‘petitions’ under
the RTI Act and direct the petitioner to send the applications, complaints and
appeals directly to the public authorities concerned. This was in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">blatant violation of Section 5 of the RTI
Act and the instructions issued by the competent authority through two
circulars on 30/10/2006</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To
be continued…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span>/ <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">10 Feb 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-78106207969985654172023-09-30T06:44:00.000-07:002023-09-30T06:44:50.498-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-28<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s been a long break
since the last part of this series of critiques was authored on 20 December
2022. Not that there has been dearth of material to write on. Believe it or
not, it had actually been a surfeit of information on the subject that had diverted
my attention and kept me commenting on social media rather than pursuing this
series. Of course, there was also this thought that I had presented enough
material to prove my contention that the judiciary is not just the worst of the
three organs of our Constitution but a totally failed one. As a follow up on
this thinking was the realization of the need to logically end this series and
publish it as a book for posterity to read and understand in brief the history
of our judiciary in the third quarter of the first century of the nation’s
freedom.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This report of 15 Sep
2023, ‘CJI DY Chandrachud Rebukes Lawyer For Saying That Supreme Court Should
Hear Ordinary Cases Instead Of Constitution Bench Matters’ at </span><a href="https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/cji-dy-chandrachud-rebukes-lawyer-for-saying-that-supreme-court-should-hear-ordinary-cases-instead-of-constitution-bench-matters-237878"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/cji-dy-chandrachud-rebukes-lawyer-for-saying-that-supreme-court-should-hear-ordinary-cases-instead-of-constitution-bench-matters-237878</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">, appeared a Godsent. My comment posted on Facebook is
reproduced below:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sorry, Mr CJI, I can't believe that an
advocate of Mr Nedumpara's experience would make such an allegation like 'the
apex court is wasting time hearing Constitution bench matters and are not
hearing matters affecting the common man'. I do not even know whether you have
been rightly quoted in the report. It is more likely that Adv Nedumpara might
have rightly said that the apex court is wasting time on matters like Art 370.
It is not only Nedumpara's views but shared by many right thinking citizens of
this country. The basic fact of the matter is that J&K was singled out for
unwarranted privileges through a constitutional amendment which has explicitly
stated that it is a temporary provision. That itself should have settled the
matter once and for all. On the ground too, the changes in J&K, post the
abrogation of Art 370, are tremendous on the positive side. That should have also
sealed the issue. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The apex court has wasted 16 long days
in adjudicating the matter for nothing. The questions that arise are: can or
should the court abrogate the abrogation? And what will be the consequences? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Worse, as per statistics presented in
the Parliament that are 5 cases pending before 9 member judges, the oldest
being of 1999; there are 6 cases pending before 7 member benches, the oldest
being of 1994; there are 18 cases pending before 5 member benches, the oldest
being of 1992. Just imagine the gross injustice of it all. Makes one wonder
whether we need such a judiciary at all?</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Adv Mathews J Nedumpara
has been practicing law for almost 40 years now and has been campaigning for
judicial accountability and reforms for 20 years. That makes us, Nedumpara and
me, two birds of the same feather, except that one is a lawyer and the other
just an ordinary citizen who believes that law is nothing but enforceable code
of conduct in the society. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Nedumpara’s NGO, National
Lawyers Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms, has listed out its
objectives at </span><a href="https://nlc.org.in/objectives/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://nlc.org.in/objectives/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. They are immensely logical and need to be pursued by
everyone concerned with rule of law in the society. They are copied below for
ease of understanding. Some points to ponder are provided in context.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">1.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Abolition of
Collegium system of appointment and transfer of judges and the substitution of
the same by an independent judicial appointments commission where neither the
executive nor the judiciary will have a primacy. The NJAC (National Judicial
Appointments Commission) shall advertise the vacancies and invite applications
from all eligible candidates;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Collegium of the Supreme Court is no
doubt an unconstitutional body. It has been constituted through a series of
calibrated illegal decisions of the apex court itself by giving an unheard of
meaning to the term ‘consultation’ used in Article 124(2) of the Constitution
and when weak coalition governments were in power at the Centre. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Many legal luminaries have themselves
criticized it for promoting nepotism, if nothing else. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Even a judiciary-headed, judiciary-heavy
National Commission to review the working of the Constitution had decided to
recommend an NJAC headed by the Vice President and with the Union Law Minister
as member. However, in the final report it actually replaced the VP with the
CJI as chairman and in lieu introduced an eminent person from the public as yet
another member. This subterfuge was exposed thanks to one of the minority
members in the Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The actual NJAC constituted by the
competent authority, through a constitutional amendment in 2014 which involved
not just a majority in Parliament but also the majority in the majority of
state legislatures, being dumped by a majority of judges in a bench
constituting of 5 members is nothing by subversion of democracy. I have heard
people calling it the tyranny of the unelected too. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The concept of Basic Structure of the
Constitution and independence of the judiciary as propounded by the judiciary
are frauds on the Constitution itself and the sovereign citizens of the
democratic nation. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The fact that India is a democracy
itself implies that the only sovereign entities are the citizens of this
country. To facilitate governance, We, the People, elect (read appoint people
through a selection process known as election) our people in government. But
even all these elected people do not constitute the government. At the national
level the government constitutes the President and the Cabinet of Ministers.
The President is the alter ego of the sovereign citizens and is indirectly
elected by the elected representatives of both the Parliament and state
legislatures. The Cabinet of Ministers constitutes of the elected members of
the majority party or the coalition of parties having the majority in the
Parliament. The rest of the elected members of the Parliament constitute the
eyes and ears of the people and contribute to the law making process. (This
part requires more explanation which is beyond the scope of the context). The
gist of it is that the sovereign People share a bit of their sovereignty with
their directly and indirectly elected representatives. The other public
servants, the bureaucracy to assist the Executive and the judges to adjudicate
in disputes, are just employees of the employees of the People. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The absolute independence of the
judiciary, as claimed by it, is a myth and obnoxious in a democracy. There is the requirement of mandatory checks
and balances. And if the judiciary can adjudicate even in disputes involving
the Executive and Legislature/Parliament there cannot be any doubt that the Executive
and Parliament will have their roles cut out to include the judiciary too in
their tasking. It is not a mere hypothesis being postulated by me. It is very
much part of the Constitution as in the cases of appointing judges and removing
them from office too. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is actually a failure of the
Constitution that it has not provided double checks on the judicial functions,
which is so much based on discretion of judges. The failure has been aggravated
by providing contempt powers also to courts. The law enacted by the same
Parliament- The Contempt of Courts Act- which covers even criticism of the
judges, can be said to be the first nail on the coffin of democracy and the
first step toward kritocracy. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">No wonder, the much acclaimed architect
of the Constitution, Dr B R Ambedkar, is on record having said that he would be
the first one to burn it. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Creation of a
Judicial Ombudsman to deal with the complaints of corruption and malpractices
against judges;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Considering the performance of ombudsmen
appointed in other fields, like local self governing bodies, banks etc,
including the Lok Ayuktas and Lok Pal, this cannot be a satisfactory solution
to the problems prevailing in and due to the judiciary. There is a Judicial
Accountability and Disciplinary Commission Bill pending with the Parliament for
over a decade now. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on 29 Mar 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is sufficient information
available in public domain on the subject. Some interesting links are:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><a href="https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-judicial-standards-and-accountability-bill-2010"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-judicial-standards-and-accountability-bill-2010</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: .5in;"><a href="https://blog.ipleaders.in/need-stronger-judicial-accountability/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://blog.ipleaders.in/need-stronger-judicial-accountability/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: .5in;"><a href="https://blog.forumias.com/judicial-accountability-in-india/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://blog.forumias.com/judicial-accountability-in-india/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Looks like the issue of independence of
the judiciary being compromised in case anybody from outside the judiciary is
included in any body constituted to deal with any aspect of judiciary,
including administration, appointment, transfer and discipline of judges, is
what is making this a touch me not subject. Nothing can be more reprehensible
in a democracy than this argument.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In this context I want to make a
comparison with the management of Hindu religious institutions by the
government. The violation of Article 26 in the act of the government managing
Hindu religious institutions only not withstanding even in this management the
courts have allowed non-Hindus also to administer temples on the logic that the
administration is different from the religious rituals practiced in the
temples. So how can the courts follow a different logic with respect to
management of the courts? Isn’t administration different from judicial
functions? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In any case it would be specious for any
public servant to claim immunity from any laws applicable for ordinary citizens.
The fact is that they are all subject to all laws applicable to every citizen
plus the laws that are applicable to them in the matter of responsibility for
providing the services required to be provided by them and the authority to
perform those tasks. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the matter of courts, specifically
the higher judiciary, Articles 124 (4) provides for removing a judge of the higher
judiciary but that no where states that they can only be removed, in other
words there is no provision in the constitution that exempts them from the laws
applicable to ordinary citizens. In the case of public servants there are
procedures specified for removing them and the courts have jurisdiction to
decide if the procedure, and only the procedure, has been adhered to or not by
the competent authority in any case that is taken up with them. But Article
124(4) makes only such procedures inapplicable to removing judges of the
Supreme Court. Article 228 extends the same procedure for removing High Court
judges also. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, here is the extract of my online
petition addressed to the President of India and the Prime Minister, posted on
31 May 2005, for constituting a National Judicial Commission </span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to try and punish
guilty judges as per laws applicable to ordinary citizens:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Commission should have powers to
receive complaints against judges from any citizen of this country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Commission should have judicial
powers but should have only one member from the legal profession as in army
court-martials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Commission should have total
powers and resources to investigate the allegations independently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Judge against whom allegation
have been made should be deemed suspended once investigations have been
initiated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The trial should be concluded within
three months of initiating the investigations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The punishment should be deterrent.
It should have at least twice the severity as would be applicable for a
non-legal person convicted for the same offences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only appeal permitted should be
to the President of India who will dispose it off on the advice of the
Vice-President, PM, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Leaders of the Opposition
in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">429 citizens from all over the country had supported the petition
then when social networks and smart phones were not very popular.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Audio/video-recording
of proceedings of all Courts and Tribunals and access to such records to the
litigants, lawyers and public;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This would of course curb misbehavior of
judges in court rooms, nothing more, nothing less. But, as a refrain goes,
something is better than nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Reintroduction of
the policy of transfer of 1/3rd of judges out of their parent High Court as a
panacea for the pernicious practices of the kith and kin of judges practicing
in the very same court, nay, the “Uncle Judges Syndrome”;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> This is a theoretical solution because the
definition of kith and kin, as it existed earlier, does not hold good anymore.
And space certainly is not a factor at all. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The case of Punjab and Haryana High
Court Chief Justice ordering a dozen or so advocates, who were related to the
judges in that court, not to appear before any one of them is an example of how
mutual help is extended and availed. Incidentally this Chief Justice was
transferred as the judges reportedly resorted to non-cooperation resulting in a
stalemate in the court’s functions. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">5.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Abolition of the
practice of designation of Advocates as Senior Advocates by the judges, so too
abolition of AOR;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This practice, though looks innocuous,
is really quite dangerous as can be seen from some ‘celebrity’ lawyers
garnering court’s time for frivolous and vexatious litigation at the cost of
important constitutional matters. In fact, it is high time that the apex court,
for one, started disposing of cases on first come, first served basis and
treating all advocates at par. Unfortunately there is a hitch, all advocates
are not at par when it comes to knowledge of law, articulation and competence.
So what is required is a system of accrediting advocates on a one to five star
scale, based on periodic tests and feedback from litigants. It is Fali S
Nariman who has written that what advocates play is a game of skill and the
more skilful invariably wins and hence are costly too. Nothing can be more
harmful to delivery of justice than this uneven playing field. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">6.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Abolition of the concept of Contempt of Courts by
scandalization<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact, the whole contempt provisions
need to be abrogated as it is anathema is a democracy. Section 186 of the IPC
provides for punishing anybody o</span>bstructing a </i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">public servant in discharge of his
public functions and it is a sufficient deterrent for anybody interfering with
the functions of judges too. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">7.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Enactment of laws
to ensure that Public Prosecutors/ Govt. Pleaders/ Standing Counsel for Central
Government and statutory Authorities are appointed in a Transparent manner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is of course a non debatable requirement. But I would like to add that the
practice of engaging the services of other advocates to represent the
government should be stopped forthwith. I have come across many reports of the
Government of Kerala engaging ‘celebrity’ lawyers to represent them in cases
like appeal against the order of the High Court to have CBI inquiry into a
murder case or even seeking advice on the legality and the procedure to remove
the Governor of the State as the Chancellor of Universities. These are unwarranted
and exorbitant cost to the exchequer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">8.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Restoration of
the pristine glory of the civil courts as the court of record of plenary
jurisdiction empowered, competent and duty bound to embark upon any dispute of
a civil nature including the constitutionality of a statute as it was the case
prior to independence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Given the need for doorstep delivery of
justice (I have heard such phrases being touted even by some judges), this is a
valid requirement. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So what will be the role of the Supreme
Court? Adjudicate in disputes between states and suo moto review decisions of
high courts on important subjects, and advice the government on framing laws.
That will put to rest the need for establishing regional benches of the Supreme
Court too, which is being resisted by the apex court. There are many cases
being reported of conflicting orders by different courts on the same subject. One
example is the issue of marriage age. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">9.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Simplification of
procedures of all courts and tribunals and, in particular, implementation of
the E-courts project on a war footing;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact there is a need to merge all
quasi judicial organizations with the judiciary. As of now these are waste of
taxpayers’ money, with most of them being used as rehabilitation centers for
retired public servants, of the blue eyed variety. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As far as their oversight is concerned
neither the government nor the courts seem responsible. I can vouch for it from
my experiences of taking up issues related to Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commissions (CDRC) and Information Commissions with the state government/
Central Government and in the matter of State CDRC, with the National CDRC
also. I have also taken up consumer cases up to the High Court and Supreme
Court. While the High Court judgment took almost 5 years and was absolutely
disappointing, the apex court case was returned by the registry after 6 months
with a note that it has to be filed in person at the registry or through an
advocate on record. (These cases have been dealt with in detail in the earlier
parts of this series.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Simplification is a sine qua non. In
fact the first step is to permit litigants to present their cases themselves, at
least at the trial stage, devoid of technicalities. This allows a level playing
field. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The courts are also wasting a lot of its
time, at taxpayers cost, when they list 100s of cases per day when a judge
cannot hear more than five to ten matters in a day. It would be prudent to list
only one or two more cases per day than what the judge can actually hear and do
justice to. Also, a case once taken up should be heard continuously till orders
are delivered. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am seriously for adopting the health
care model of private practioners, both general n specialists, and the
hospitals where serious cases are treated as in-patients. The nitty-gritty
details can be worked out once the principle is accepted. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">10.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Abolition of
Tribunals except involving highly technical subjects which require non lawyer
Members on the Bench and equal opportunity of selection to lawyers qua those
from judicial services;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">See comments to para 9. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To add to this specific issue I am aware
of a case where a central government employee resigned with 18 years of
service. He was denied not only pension but even gratuity. When he came to know
that employees with even 10 years of service were eligible for pension and even
those dismissed form service were entitled to some pension he took up the
matter with the CAT. The tribunal dismissed it on the ground that it was time
barred. The matter went to high court and was returned to the tribunal with the
observation that pension matters are never time barred. The question that
arises is shouldn’t the tribunal members be aware of this basic issue of law?
Suffice to say that the tribunal then came up with the issue of resignation and
those who resigned forfeiting all their service and hence eligibility for
pension under Rule 26(1) of C C S(P) 1972. (Shouldn’t one be shocked that such
patently unfair rules are also there in our rule books?) The matter went back
to the high court. After hearing the matter for a prolonged period of time the
judge sat on the verdict for over 4 years and went on to become a judge of the
apex court without giving the verdict. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Viewed in the context of Virendra Dutt
Gyani judgement (the catalyst for this series of critiques) this case also
exposes the double standards followed by the judiciary in human rights (read
pension) issues of judges and the laity. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">11.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Repeal the
Articles 226, 32 of the constitution because the said jurisdiction is
pronouncedly absolutely discretionary or make it function as a court of plenary
jurisdiction which will act on law and least on its discretion, will allow the
litigants to adduce evidence on disputed facts, frame issues and hear the
parties on all issues and pass a speaking order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course, the primary issue is whether
the court is competent to do it. But going by the manner in which it has
usurped of power to appoint judges and introduced the fundamentally flawed
concept of basic structure only to empower itself as the most wayward and
whimsical court in the whole world, we can presume that even this is possible.
But then the question also arises if there a need to repeal them. The courts
need to only simply refuse to entertain petitions under these articles. My support
for leaving it redundant is because I have never seen any instance of it being
used positively or with positive outcomes. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">12.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Make it mandatory
that no judge of the SC shall be eligible for appointment of any office until
the expiry of at least two years since retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a very important requirement. Fortunately,
these provisions exist in the Constitution: Articles 124(7) and 220. They are
reproduced here for ease of reference.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Article 124(7) reads as ‘No person who has held office
as a Judge of the Supreme Court shall plead or act in any court or before any
authority within the territory of India’<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">220. No person who, after the commencement of this
Constitution, has held office as a permanent Judge of a High Court shall plead
or act in any court or before any authority in India except the Supreme Court
and the other High Courts<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Any scope for misinterpreting the terms plead or act
before any authority within (the territory of) India is ruled out by the
explicit provision in the case of High Court judges that they can plead or act
only before the Supreme Court or other High Courts. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It may be argued that being the Chairperson of the
Human Rights Commission or such other quasi judicial bodies does not involve
pleading or acting before any authority. While that may be legally right, in a
critical sense, the issue is of the spirit of the clauses. Equally, for
argument sake, it can be said that they are subordinate to and controlled by
non-judicial authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For an ordinary citizen like me judges holding such
appointments after retirement are violating the spirit of the above provisions.
Worse, most of these appointments have only powers to recommend a particular
action. In fact, quite recently we had the case of the Kerala Government trying
to amend the Lok Ayukta Act to make even the decisions of the Lok Ayukta only
recommendatory in nature. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">13.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Make Sec.92 and
Order 1 Rule 8 of the CPC applicable to PILs so that PIL is no longer an
instrument of tyranny and injustice where the public at large is bound by a
judgement of a case where they were not party and PIL is not abused as a
political weapon against the political Executive. At the same time Promote “pro
bono” litigation for the benefit of the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That PILs are misused is a fact that is evident even
to ordinary citizens. I am aware of even orders affecting a class of people not
being made applicable to all members of that class until individuals and groups
of such classes litigate separately. Virendra Dutt Gyani judgement is one such
case. The Rank Pay case of military officers is another classic case. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Regarding pro bono litigation, I am left wondering why
justice delivery is not made free when that is the primary function of any
government. Justice is an intrinsic need. Maybe, even more intrinsic than literacy
and health. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">14.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To bring an
appropriate legislation providing for at least one Forum of Appeal on facts and
law against all judicial pronouncements and in particular of the SC under
Articles 32, 129, 141,142 of the Constitution or under the Contempt of Court
Act<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It has been brought out earlier that the
judiciary is only an appendix of the government. So the ultimate decision
makers will remain the government. We know that even in cases of capital
punishment awarded by courts the government has the powers to grant reprieve.
Further, there is also a need for checks and balances between the various
organs of the Constitution. While the government itself is subject to the
ultimate check by the citizens, the judiciary at the highest level also does
need to have a check by the government. This can be included in the tasking of
the National Judicial Accountability and Disciplinary Commission itself. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">15.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Do away with the
immunity judges today enjoy even from penal offence because of the orders of
the SC that no FIR shall be registered against the judges of the SC and HC
without the permission of the CJI. The role of the brokers who meddle with the
affairs of the judiciary be investigated by CBI and ED.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is yet another indisputable
requirement. It was in 2014 that the apex court struck down Section 6A of the
DSPE Act which mandated prior permission of the Government for CBI to
investigate public servants of the level of Joint Secretary and above. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But just read the report of cash at
judge’s door step scam at </span></i><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-cash-at-judges-door-case-a-chronological-revisit"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-cash-at-judges-door-case-a-chronological-revisit</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. It was
first reported in 2008, there were controversies on getting CJI’s permission to
prosecute the accused high court judge, but the case is still pending.
Meanwhile the accused judge has retired (honorably?) and the prime witness, the
person who carried the money to the judge and wrongly delivered it has died and
few other witnesses have also turned hostile. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly, there was never a move to
impeach the accused judge.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">16.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Abolition of the concept of absolute judicial immunity
and instead immunity be limited where the judge acts bonafide as is the case
with any other public servant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That this issue is being projected now
is itself a sign of the failure of the Constitution, the law makers and the
judiciary so fa, when all of them have been unanimous in crying hoarse that be
you ever so high the law is above you. The need for a National Judicial
Commission </span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to try and punish guilty judges as per laws applicable to
ordinary citizens has already been explained under para 2. While I had suggested, in 2005, twice the
severity in punishment as applicable to ordinary citizens, I would now
recommend thrice the severity for judges and twice the severity for other
public servants. This is in conformity with the logic, commonly espoused by the
courts themselves, that unequals cannot be considered equals.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">17.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Bring an end to the ill treatment and harassment of
the ‘Party in Person’ and to provide them at least bare minimum facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is not only party in person who is
ill treated and harassed. I have seen advocates too in the same boat. Of
course, the party in person would need a bit of extra guidance on the procedure
at every step which is not available and aggravates his condition. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here, let me narrate my experience in a
consumer ‘court’. I was the complainant in person and the opposite party was
demanding adjournment after adjournment for no rhyme or reason. But then a
provision had been introduced in the Consumer Protection Act that whenever a
party seeks adjournment the opposite party has to be paid Rs 500/- as
compensation. On the second adjournment sought I demanded this compensation. It
was not granted. This repeated again.
When it was about to be repeated the third time I casually mentioned
that I will have to report it to higher authorities. And, lo and behold, the
opposite party was asked to pay Rs 750/- as compensation!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have seen Helpdesks in many public
offices, including motor vehicles department, income tax offices and even banks.
Why not have such a system in courts? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">18.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So far as the
affairs of the judiciary is concerned, RTI is a dead letter, judges are no
longer declaring assets. Both to be made mandatory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Not only the judiciary, it is a dead
letter for everybody. The unfortunate thing is that it was the judiciary that
has been in the forefront of subverting the law. Right from misusing the power
to make rules for the implementation of the Act to declare a court’s judicial
functions out of purview of the Act, to not complying with the mandate of
Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act to even absurdly denying copy of court orders
which should have been up there in the court’s website the violations have
become the law. Needles to say the other public authorities had followed suit
and now information commissions are merely rehabilitation centers for blue eyed
babus, post their retirement from regular employment. I can vouch for the fact
that if only the courts worked 10 percent as effectively as it is expected to
work, most, if not all, the information commissioners would be spending the
rest of their lives, including their next 7 lives, behind bars after conviction
under Section 219 of the IPC. And each conviction should not take more than 30
minutes of any court’s time. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">19.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">All cases
including Review Petition be heard in the open court, except cases which are
required to be heard ‘in-camera’ and no case shall be disposed of without a
speaking order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">No elaboration needed. Either this
should be done or at least the judges should stop pontificating on transparency
in public dealings. Not that this will eliminate corruption or improve
efficiency. But, like introducing telecasting of court proceedings, it will be something
better than nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">20.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Increase the
strength of judiciary at all levels including the SC and, in particular, the
subordinate judiciary; improve the infrastructure of subordinate courts which
is in an abysmal position today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a facile suggestion. Or the
illogically bandied judge to population ratio expressed differently. This is what Adv Tulsi presented to the
Supreme Court Bar Association on 24 Aug 2004 on the subject Justice Delayed in
India:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The crucial question is the Judge - Docket Ratio and not Judge - Population Ratio<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: .5in;"><i><u>Cases Filed In One Year (1999)</u> <u>Docket’s Per Judge</u><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">INDIA 13.6
Million (1,36,68,073) 987
per Judge<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">USA 93.81
Million 3235 per Judge <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*Note: India’s population is 4 to 5
times the population of the USA whereas the number of cases filed there is more
than 7 times that in India and dockets per judges is more than 3 times that of
a judge in India. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If that is not enough Tulsi has
explicitly stated that the primary causes of delay is not the law, not the
procedure, not the paucity of judges but sheer mismanagement.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">21.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Financial
assistance to all lawyers irrespective of standing, particularly, from Banks
and Financial Institutions obligated by law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I do not know if this is a red herring
introduced by Adv Nedumpara on the presumption that even if none of the earlier
requirements were met at least this one could pass muster because those who can
do it are not really bothered about the modus operandi of banking and financial
institutions. To my mind this requirement is illogical as these institutions
are commercial organizations and work for profit. They will certainly look into
the beneficiary’s repaying capacity before extending any assistance and that is
fair enough. And by this yardstick alone each individual will be provided
assistance on a case to case basis. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i></p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P M
Ravindran/ </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 23 Sep 2023</span>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-29098211129837157782022-12-28T19:18:00.003-08:002022-12-28T19:18:35.831-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-27<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I had concluded my last
part with the promise that I will be dealing with more methods used by public
authorities, including information commissions and courts, to subvert the only
pro- democracy and citizen friendly law, the Right to Information Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Way back in 2013 I had sought some information
pertaining to Members of Parliament. It included the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">total number of pensioners/family pensioners, amount spent on pension and other
facilities/concessions provided to them during the previous three months, month
wise.</span></i><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I got the
following information:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Point 1.4. There are total 3857 pensioners/family pensioners under the category pension to <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ex MPs upto the month of January 2013</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Point 1.5. Total amount disbursed as pension/family pension the last three months are as under:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">December 2012 : Rs 3,86,48,441/-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">January 2013 : Rs 4,68,91,359/-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">February 2013 : Rs 4,35,54,552/-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Extract of Letter No CPAO/RTII/2013-14/508/44 dated Nil</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span> <span> </span><span> </span></span>1.6. <span> <span> </span><span> </span></span>Besides pension the ex MPs are entitled to Rail/Steamer travel and medical <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>facilities as mentioned in enclosed pamphlet on Facilities to Members/ex Members of Parliament. As per latest debt claim raised by the M/o Railways, the bill amounting to Rs 2,645/- Crores was settled in respect of ex MP during the January 2013 to March 2013 quarter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Extract from Annexure to Lok Sabha Letter No 1(556)/IC/13 dated 31/05/2013</div><br /><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="judicial perfidies-27-mps pension n number-dec2012-feb2013.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" style="height: 107.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 439.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="judicial perfidies-27-mps pension n number-dec2012-feb2013" src="file:///C:\Users\Ravindran\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape alt="judicial perfidies-27-mps expenses on rail travel-jan-mar 2013.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 91.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 445.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="judicial perfidies-27-mps expenses on rail travel-jan-mar 2013" src="file:///C:\Users\Ravindran\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A similar request was made in 2017, seeking information of the previous 3
years. I did not get any information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">At the end of this critique I am attaching a copy of Department of
Personnel and Training OM No F/10/2/2008-IR dated 24/09/2010.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This, on the face of it is illegal as it
subverts Section 6(3) of the RTI Act which reads as:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">6 (3) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Where
an application is made to a public authority requesting for an information,—<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(i) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>which
is held by another public authority; or<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ii) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the
subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>another public authority,<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">the public authority, to which such application is
made, shall transfer the application or such part of it as may be appropriate
to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately about such
transfer:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant
to this sub-section shall be made as soon as practicable but in no case later
than five days from the date of receipt of the application.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
subversion has been attempted by emphasizing on the use of singular while
referring to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that other public authority.
<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But
a central information commissioner, Shailesh Gandhi, in one of the rarest good
decisions of an information commissioner had in his decision dated 16/06/2011 (Chetan
Kothari Vs CPIO Cabinet Secretariat; Appeal No. CIC/SM/A/2011/000278/SG) amply
clarified that DOPT’s office memorandum no. 10/02/2008-IR dated 12/06/2008 is
not consistent with the law. Incidentally, this was an earlier version of the
OM dated 24/09/2010 dealing with the same issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
is the relevant extract from his decision: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The point to be determined is whether
Section 6(3) means that the transfer should only be made to one public
authority or to multiple public authorities, if required. Section 13 of the
General Clauses Act, 1897 stipulates inter alia that in all central legislations
and regulations, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
words in the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa. Section 13 of
the General Clauses Act, 1897 enacts a general rule of construction that words
in the singular shall include the plural and vice versa but the rule is subject
to the proviso that there shall be nothing repugnant to such a construction in
the subject or context of the legislation which is to be construed. This
principle of law has been well- established and applied by the Supreme Court of
India from time to time viz. in K. Satwant Singh v. State of Punjab 1960 SCR
(2) 89, Narashimaha Murthy v. Susheelabai & Ors. AIR 1996 SC 1826 and J.
Jayalalitha v. UOI & Anr. AIR 1999 SC 1912, as well as by several High
Courts while interpreting various statutory provisions.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
spite of this a Chief Information Commissioner of the Kerala State Information
Commission had been going around advising public authorities not to transfer
the application to even another public authority if the information sought was
not held by it and advise the applicant to seek information from that public
authority directly. I had an occasion to hand over a copy of Shailesh Gandhi’s decision
to him but his response was that he was not bound the decisions of any
information commissioner of the Central Information Commission. To my query
whether the General Clauses Act and orders of the apex court quoted by Gandhi
were not applicable, there was no response. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The matter did not end
there. I sought the copy of the document that would substantiate the claim- of
having consulted the Chief Information Commissioner of the Central Information
Commission- in the 2<sup>nd</sup> paragraph of the OM. Needless to say, I did
not get any. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A notice under Section 80
of the Civil Procedure Code to DoPT elicited no response either. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Further pursuit under the
RTI Act, on action taken on the notice, got a copy of the notings of their File
No 11/2/2013-IR. Its relevant extract is given below: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span> </span><span> </span>7. As per the available records, it is found that the above clarificatory OM dated 24.09.2010 was <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>issued as per the telephonic advice of CIC to the then JS (AT&A) . Further, it is pertinent to <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>mention that earlier OM dated 12.06.2008 was issued after due approval of Secretary(P)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape alt="judicial perfidies-27-dopt file noting-110413.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 54.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 447pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="judicial perfidies-27-dopt file noting-110413" src="file:///C:\Users\Ravindran\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember that in the
initial days of the RTI Act, an application seeking the tenures of the District
Collectors and Superintendents of Police for the previous 10 years had been
transferred to all the district headquarters and the information was provided
by the respective offices in the district headquarters. It had revealed that
the average tenure of district collectors in all the districts, other than
Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikkode, was about a year and that of the
SPs was about 10 months. After that the situation did improve and I can say
that at least in my district these two public servants have been having on an
average more than 2 years. But has it led to any improvement in the
administration or law and order? I would say, no. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In another case the
Director of Panchayat sent copies of the application to about 900 Gram
Panchayats and I got replies from almost all of them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On 14/07/ 2011 I had sought information
on 2 subjects-on the implementation of UID (Adhaar) and computeriation of land
records- from the office of the District Collector. The application was transferred
to two different public authorities under Section 6(3) of the Act. Most of the
information sought was not provided. In the matter of 2nd appeal, submitted on
11/10/2011, both the Public Information Officer (PIO) and the First Appellate
Authority (FAA, the District Collector) had appeared before the Kerala State
Information Commission on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">14/11/2012</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In his order dated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">02/03/2013</b>, the information commissioner <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">wrongly</b> upheld the claim that in the matter of computerisation, the
Government Order dated October <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1997</b>
had not been received by the public authority and hence the information sought
could not be given. This was wrong for these reasons:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the GO dated 23 (or 25) of October 1997 on the important topic of
computerisation of land records, had not been received by the public authority
till 14 July 2011 then the information provided that 68.2% computerisation had
been completed had no authenticity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also, the PIO had replied that the taluk wise details should be sought from
the respective taulk offices. This was wrong because the PIO was required to transfer
the application to these taluk offices as per Section 6(3) of the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The FAA (District Collector) had in his reply to the 1st appeal quoted a
letter from General Administration Department (Co-ordination) dated 18/10/2010
quoting an Office Memorandum (OM) Number F10/2/2008-12 (He was possibly wrongly
quoting OM No F/10/2/2008-IR dated 24/09/2010, mentioned earlier), to justify
not complying with Section 6(3) of the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regarding UID, the Project Director
Kerala State IT Mission had sent a letter to the District Collector on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">16/08/2011</b> which was not provided to me
by the PIO, Collectorate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further, the
FAA as the District Collector was the Working Chairperson of the District
Implementing and Monitoring Committee for implementing UID as per Government of
Kerala order dated 26/02/2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there
was no way the FAA could be exonerated of his lapses while replying on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">25/09/2011</b> to my 1st appeal dated
22/08/2011. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The information commissioner had also directed the PIO, Akshaya to provide
all information pertaining to Adhaar within 10 days of receipt of the order and
also to explain why penalty under Section 20 should not be imposed on him for
his lapse. Neither the copy of the explanation was provided to me for my
counter arguments nor was the copy of the order accepting his explanation and
exonerating him was provided. Truly a case of subverting the law punishable
under Section 219 of the IPC and of corruption, at least in its widest sense as
accepted by the Supreme Court while dismissing the contempt of court case
against Adv Prashant Bhushan for alleging that 8 Chief Justices of India were
corrupt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consequent to the hearing by the Information Commissioner I had received
copies of two letters from the PIO, Collectorate-one dated 4/4/2011 from
Cabinet Secretary to State Chief Secretaries and Kerala Government Order dated
26/02/2011. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consequent to the order of the Information Commissioner I had received a
copy of Project Director Kerala State IT Mission letter dated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">16/08/2011 addressed </b>to the District
Collector, which was practically providing most (not all) of the information
sought about UID/Adhaar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are some important articles of the
Constitution:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">124. (1) There
shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India and,
until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than seven2
other Judges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">124. (7) No
person who has held office as a Judge of the Supreme Court shall plead or act
in any court or before any authority within the territory of India.</span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Similarly, articles 216
and 220 govern the judges of the high courts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Based on these I had sought the following information
from the Supreme Court: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: 22.5pt 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.1.</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Any amendments made to the above articles where by judges other than the
CJI and Chief Justices of High Courts are permitted to use the honourific
Justice before their names, during their service and after retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: 22.5pt 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.2.</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Any amendments to the above articles whereby retired judges of the apex
court and high courts are permitted to be appointed to various bodies like
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commissions
(SHRCs) and other bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 22.5pt 45.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The reply by the
PIO was: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is beyond the jurisdiction and scope of the duties of the CPIO,
Supreme Court of India under the Right to Information ,Act, 2005 to interpret
the Iaw, judgments/orders of this Hon'ble Court or of any other Court, to give
explanation, opine, comment or advise on matters. Your request is not covered
under Section 2 (f) of the Right to Information Act - 2O05"<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Section 2(f) of the RTI Act defines
information as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">any material in any form,
including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press
releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples,
models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to
any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other
law for the time being in force;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I leave it to the
readers to guage the absurdity of the reply by the PIO of the highest court of
the land. Just a clue: I have only sought copies of any amendments to the
articles of the Constitution, referred to. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before I conclude
this part here are some questions which one always wanted to ask but never
could.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Which is the only legacy of colonial times
that is being perpetuated by any public office in the country?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amoung our public servants, who are more
prone to lying blatantly? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amoung our public servants, who are more
prone to subverting the law? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="DE" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amoung our public servants, who are the ones
ill treating the public the most?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those who have
time and inclination may post their answers to the email id given below. The
answers shall be compiled and published as a survey result in due course. Do
remember to use JD-27-Quiz as the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tailpiece: The
apex court of the land just dug the last nail on the coffin of its relevance
this Christmas season when all the judges have gone on vacation, not even having
a vacation bench, as has been the practice so far. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>21 December 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-90421743796793648962022-12-28T18:34:00.000-08:002022-12-28T18:34:15.512-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-26<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, the
all time favorite and one of the most beloved Presidents of this country, had
once famously quipped: dreams are not what you see in sleep, dreams are what
drive you to achieve your ambitions when you are awake.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I must admit, I seem to
have gone beyond. My dream, of seeing a transparent and accountable judiciary,
has taken me to a state of sleep deprivation or insomnia. Of late my wife has
been complaining about me talking in my sleep. The words she has recognized are
like ‘unfair’, ‘injustice’, ‘stupid’, ‘selfish’ etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That put me at a loss in
deciding whether I should continue with my question ‘who will judge the judges’
and assertion that ‘contempt of court is anathema in a democracy, democracy
demands Contempt of Citizen (Prevention of) Act’ or retire. Would it result in
the proverbial slip between the cup and lip? Or would it be like the proverbial
dog’s tail that can never be straightened? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyhow, when the debate
over the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary is heating up, I have
decided to take a break. For now I shall refrain from dealing with case laws
that question the credibility and integrity of the justice delivery system
headed by the judiciary. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here I shall narrate how
the total failure of our judiciary has led to the collapse of the system of
governance itself. This is notwithstanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fast
paced creation of infrastructure, generation of employment and access to basic
facilities offered to the marginalized. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The problem is with
delivery of government services, in its myriad forms, to citizens, in general.
I, for one, believe that the failure of the judiciary is being exploited by the
public servants in the other organs of governance and driving citizens to take
law into their own hands. It is now the proverbial question of which came first:
the chicken or the egg? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On 03/12/2022 the media
reported a tall claim-</span> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">we are ‘most
transparent institution’- made by some judges of the apex court. The fact is
they are not. Absolutely not. Let us analyze it in the context of compliance
with the Right to Information Act.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The first and foremost
fact is neither the apex court nor the information commissions have complied
with the mandate of Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act whereby all public
authorities are required to disclose certain information about their structure,
employees, functions , remuneration, contact information, documents held,
procedure followed etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I usually seek information
on compliance with two of these- the directory of the public servants and their
remuneration- which are required to be disclosed under Sec4(1)(b) (ix) and(x). It is my simple yardstick for measuring the
transparency of any public authority.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The data downloaded from
the respective websites of the Kerala State Information Commission (KSIC),
Central Information Commission (CIC) and the
Supreme Court (SC), are shown in
the screenshots 1 to 5 provided at the end of this part. The facts to be noted are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The KSIC had published the information correct enough
to pass muster till 2011<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The CIC had published the information correctly till
2012.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The apex court had not published the information
pertaining to judges even in 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The CIC has reduced its disclosure to practically
nothing in 2022. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The KSIC has totally done away with disclosures
mandated under Section4(1)(b) in 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Certain provisions of the
RTI Act appear to be designed to subvert the law itself. It begins with the
process of selection of the information commissioners. It is done by a
committee of three comprising the PM/CM, another minister from the respective
cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition. With the absence of a mandate for
unanimity, the Leader of the Opposition is just a dummy in the selection
process. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So far, I have come across
just one case of such a selection process being challenged. This happened when
a retired bureaucrat, P J Thomas, facing trial in the Palmolien Import Scam,
was appointed as the Central Vigilance Commissioner. The apex court set aside
his appointment in 2011. (But the case in which he is an accused is still
pending. The alleged offence was committed in 1992.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">More importantly, the
allegation of nepotism being hurled at the judiciary and its Collegium, is
relevant in the case of these appointments too. It is generally bureaucrats who
are closer to the power centers, who are seen making it as information
commissioners and members of other quasi judicial bodies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Given the fact that the
task of the information commissioners is simpler than that of a munsif, the
status, pay and perks given to them make it lucrative as sine cures for
retiring babus; of course, at unwarranted and exorbitant cost to the exchequer.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The law has explicitly
barred certain information from being disclosed as well as kept certain
organizations, as a whole, out of purview of the RTI Act. With that, all that
the information commissioners have to do, on receipt of an appeal, is to ask
just two questions beginning with: have all the information sought, which can
be disclosed, been provided or not? If yes, have they been provided within the
specified time frame? If not, is there any legally valid reason for the delay
or denial? It is now for the information commissioner to get these reasons from
the Public Information Officer, through a show cause notice. In the words of
the law, <i>be given a reasonable opportunity
of being heard before any penalty is imposed on him. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The penalty is also
specified-Rs 250/- per day of delay after 30 days of receipt of the
application. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However, what we find is
that even when the information commissioners order the PIOs to provide the
information that had not been provided, he desists from imposing the mandated
penalty. It leads not only to subversion of the law but also to financial loss
to the State. Worse, apprehensions of corruption also become wholly justified,
not only in the broadest sense that Advocate Prashant Bhushan meant while
alleging that 8 chief justices of India were corrupt, but also in its narrowest
terms. The subversion of law is to such
an extent that even when no information has been provided the information
commissioners brazenly record that all available information has been provided
and close the case. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me narrate an example.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I was travelling by train
to Thiruvananthapuram. I had only an RAC (Reservation against Cancellation)
ticket but I was the first on the RAC list. That meant even if there had been
just one cancellation I should have got a berth. However, even after one hour
of the departure from the train there was no allotment of berth. So, when the
TTE (Travelling Ticket Examiner) came around next time, I approached him with a
request that I should be given a certificate that I had not been allotted a
berth. The reason was simple. The RAC tickets are issued against full cost of a
sleeper ticket, but when you are not allotted a berth it turns out to be just a
sitting accommodation in the Sleeper Coach. So I wanted to claim refund of the
excess cost and if denied follow it up with appropriate authorities. Suffice to say that the TTE did not give the
certificate sought but allotted a berth within the next 15 minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, the issue could not
be left at that. The objective of the RTI Act is to contain corruption and I
wanted to check if anybody else had been allotted a berth before me (a sign of
corruption, if not in its narrowest sense, surely in its widest sense). So I
sought copies of the reservation chart with the data updated by the TTE. Horror of horrors, the public authority, that
is the Southern Railway Divisional Office at Thiruvananthapuram, demanded <b>Rs 750/-</b> <b>per PNR number</b> against Rs 2/- per page prescribed in the RTI Rules
of the Central Government. The 2<sup>nd</sup> appeal filed on 16/04/2014 was dismissed
by the information commissioner, Bimal Julka, on 14/07/2016. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Section 219 of the Indian
Penal Code does provide for prosecuting such public servants and when convicted
they are liable to imprisonment for 7 years. Just imagine what would happen if
each information commissioner is prosecuted for every wrong verdict he
delivers. But who will prosecute these delinquent and corrupt information
commissioners when the judiciary takes decades to give verdict even in rape and
murder cases? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is also this
unwarranted hurdle of seeking permission for prosecution of these treacherous
public servants from others of their ilk. Just imagine the ridiculousness of
the public needing to take permission from a public servant to prosecute
another public servant. And even in the rare cases you get the permission, the
public servant will defend his case at taxpayer’s money where as the
complainant will have to drain his own resources. Great level playing field,
isn’t it? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There have been cases
where PIOs penalized by the information commissioners have appealed to the high
courts, at taxpayers’ cost. In one such case at least, a high court had ruled
that the appellant (the penalized PIO) will have to bear the expenses himself
and tax payers’ money cannot be wasted on it. But, has any competent authority
followed the logic and incorporated it in their rules? To the best of my knowledge and belief, it is
a definite no. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The RTI Act is a very
simple and unambiguous law. It, to my mind, is the only pro-democracy and
citizen friendly law in the country. It empowers the President (Sec 14(3)(d))
and the Governors in the respective
states (Section 17(3)(d ))to order removal of information commissioners who
are, in their opinion, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of
mind or body. But what do you do when
these high offices act only as post offices? Let me narrate two instances.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A judgment published as
2004(3) KLT 1073 had observed that the President of the Kerala State Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commission, a former judge of the same court, had <i>mislead</i> the court in the matter of the
President having declared holidays for the Commission in line with the holidays
declared by the High Court. Since no action for perjury had been initiated by
the court a complaint was filed with the National Consumer Dispute Redressal
Commission by an umbrella organization of consumer rights activists, Save
Consumer Courts Action Council. Later an application under the RTI Act was
submitted to get information on action taken on the complaint. The reply advised the matter to be taken up
with the Government of Kerala. Since
that could not be accepted as an action taken on the complaint the matter
finally landed with the Chief Information Commissioner, Wajahat Habibulla. He, without
applying his mind (not unusual with our babus), sent it to the Kerala State
Information Commission. The fiasco was brought to his notice and the appeal was
resubmitted. He, shockingly, forwarded it also to the KSIC. A complaint was
submitted to the President to remove him under Section 14(3)(d) of the RTI Act.
An application under the RTI Act for information on action taken revealed that
it had been forwarded to the Department of Personnel and Training for action at
their end and informing the complainant. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Similarly, a complaint was
submitted to the Chief Minister of Kerala listing a number of defects and
deficiencies in the functioning of the KSIC and requesting for action under
Section 26 and 27 of the RTI Act. Of these, Section 27(2)(e) and (f) empowers
the competent authority <i>to prescribe the
procedure to be adopted by the State Information Commission in deciding the
appeals and any other matter which is required to be, or may be prescribed</i>.
This was important since the Commission was not even disposing of complaints
and appeals on a first come, first served basis, leave alone directing
delinquent PIOs to provide the information sought or penalizing them, as
mandated by the law. Unfortunately,
after persistent follow up the only response received was from the Department
of General Administration stating that since the Information Commission was an
autonomous entity the Government cannot interfere in its functions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Can one imagine that there
can be chaos even in the matter of language used? Section 6(1) of the RTI Act
states that <i>A person, who desires to
obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing or
through electronic means in <b>English</b>
or <b>Hindi</b> or in the official language
of the area in which the application is being made. </i>Now, should there be
any doubt about the language in which appeals are to be submitted or replies
are to be given? Just imagine a citizen from Delhi seeking information from a
public authority in Kerala and applying in English and getting a reply in
Malayalam. In any case, we are following a three language formula for our high
school education and no public servant handling documents can be expected to be
having education less than SSLC. But even in fully literate Kerala, it is
common experience that most applications/appeals in English are replied to in
Malayalam. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The malicious nature of
functioning of the public authorities can be seen even in quoting the
references to communications from the applicant /appellant. From PIOs to the
Secretary of the Commission, they will only refer to the date of the
application/appeal, sometimes not even the date mentioned in the document but
the date of its receipt by the PIO/appellate authority, whereas they would
refer to the complete file number and date of the communication from public
authorities. (See Screenshot-6) Even specific requirement of quoting the file
number is maliciously neglected by the PIOs and the appellate authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The latest scam in the
matter of implementing the RTI Act in Kerala is that the KSIC has devised a
new, illegal and abhorrable means of disposing of complaints and appeals. One
fine day the appellant gets a letter from the commission just referring to the
date of submission of application and the public authority and seeking to know
if the contentions averred in the appeal are persisting and if persisting it
should be intimated to the Commission within 10 days, failing which the appeal
would be closed. Adding insult to injury, on the letter head will be given an e
mail id that does not work either.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is more to the
methods by which this simple pro-democracy, citizen friendly law is being
subverted by the public authorities, including the information commissions and
the courts. More on this later.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> 05 December 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwg_kcEV7-VZpD9w005UXQZQwcpa55cOm45SvjQGG070dzWZcYVG584i9fqc3nlzl4bJ3-OjeCjddjPykn4PErx8XuuSnV7DhH6D3SOlwr_h5IE7x27cf_4yyzRImkOXPTN7bMM_8VdNY-Wkj_QjzERy5CEzzuikicxjvsPjjT88OyzAGoJ2wMnmYVfw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="499" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwg_kcEV7-VZpD9w005UXQZQwcpa55cOm45SvjQGG070dzWZcYVG584i9fqc3nlzl4bJ3-OjeCjddjPykn4PErx8XuuSnV7DhH6D3SOlwr_h5IE7x27cf_4yyzRImkOXPTN7bMM_8VdNY-Wkj_QjzERy5CEzzuikicxjvsPjjT88OyzAGoJ2wMnmYVfw=w483-h431" width="483" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Screenshot-</span><span style="text-align: left;">1.
Disclosure under Sec 4(1)(b)(x) of the RTI Act by Kerala State Information
Commission as on 01/10/2011</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXU9ZPeQ2qUM2L-bArYWqXb5qu6kQd26q45Z4muOz2dtIcXjrqER2QyrxFgSxyaQEFQJQUajRFb8r2jzSefdocwD67z2O8_LHDs2JbstXa_yJpDD1ZKCWaikA1DPu1WbRl7mtQyf1VYkqABM3S5tPK8kgoBFottCX_p6InqNlqXdpaveG2Sr6vysKo1w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXU9ZPeQ2qUM2L-bArYWqXb5qu6kQd26q45Z4muOz2dtIcXjrqER2QyrxFgSxyaQEFQJQUajRFb8r2jzSefdocwD67z2O8_LHDs2JbstXa_yJpDD1ZKCWaikA1DPu1WbRl7mtQyf1VYkqABM3S5tPK8kgoBFottCX_p6InqNlqXdpaveG2Sr6vysKo1w=w584-h294" width="584" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Screenshot-</span>2.
Disclosure under Sec 4(1)(b)(x) of the RTI Act by the Central Information
Commission as on 14/05/12, accessed on 19/01/2014.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsnSUNxW47d5aMCgDSagACzWjEe8R1vNGLwgNBIKZixeKXtBtIzPV1AXQAZu2lqwg_w6YKUhN-_I3uoNSsfaAF_I6bTOVaKofag7K5OzD0lKUcWqrQdtt9zqXgSozvAt3PkcHsdkMh6XLVAAmhByZqGJBTfaVwpuk8h02MjMyhhbBewwGuUuCe2YXJ2Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="707" height="703" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsnSUNxW47d5aMCgDSagACzWjEe8R1vNGLwgNBIKZixeKXtBtIzPV1AXQAZu2lqwg_w6YKUhN-_I3uoNSsfaAF_I6bTOVaKofag7K5OzD0lKUcWqrQdtt9zqXgSozvAt3PkcHsdkMh6XLVAAmhByZqGJBTfaVwpuk8h02MjMyhhbBewwGuUuCe2YXJ2Q=w531-h703" width="531" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Screenshot-</span><span style="text-align: left;">3.
Disclosure under Sec 4(1)(b)(x) of the RTI Act by the Supreme Court of India</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5lNkowhSRcXnmA-x68OxExPZ7qVSHFIapzNHSl16Vb-B2m2QikZox49RaR3j-C3Tqo3PvU3LLCSrBYm-PqCcYbf_XkvT14PtmxsXGbhfUJUK_7Wr4RFCy_q70PcilQ19v-CvX_9M_YSzPwrLbcuA5frogNVVDUXHNXbwuIPDOlUiDBry9nFYNAJUeSw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="613" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5lNkowhSRcXnmA-x68OxExPZ7qVSHFIapzNHSl16Vb-B2m2QikZox49RaR3j-C3Tqo3PvU3LLCSrBYm-PqCcYbf_XkvT14PtmxsXGbhfUJUK_7Wr4RFCy_q70PcilQ19v-CvX_9M_YSzPwrLbcuA5frogNVVDUXHNXbwuIPDOlUiDBry9nFYNAJUeSw=w595-h405" width="595" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Screenshot-</span>4.
Disclosure under Sec 4(1)(b)(x) of the RTI Act by the Central Information
Commission as accessed on 04/12/2022</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8hbJtniW_W2emirTyDhiqFTYtJFMRdsQAK_erazCyEyiRRSIWoJwvDsMtxrtg6QNXeiuiKq15h7FizKzlbrajrU6nynewhv67a_O8FTi8scNZ2BOdeRoUrWtRW1P2SkM2rcpOLvFktVJVW30RJX0-E0C_BmaUBAjScxyabS68WTpA3nLqX0x6eY1tAg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="753" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8hbJtniW_W2emirTyDhiqFTYtJFMRdsQAK_erazCyEyiRRSIWoJwvDsMtxrtg6QNXeiuiKq15h7FizKzlbrajrU6nynewhv67a_O8FTi8scNZ2BOdeRoUrWtRW1P2SkM2rcpOLvFktVJVW30RJX0-E0C_BmaUBAjScxyabS68WTpA3nLqX0x6eY1tAg=w596-h620" width="596" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Screenshot-</span><span style="text-align: left;">5.
Disclosure under Sec 4(1)(b)(x) of the RTI Act by the Central Information
Commission as accessed on 04/12/2022</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNiwwDrazbsbIl3mK09OJT5usZf0bKtVbPQlRyczM2s2wgNZZpgA0OOfdBDvsor5hRj7NK5j5VzEdGTWHltz81t9RGY7MXLlrDPLFhXradO_njSDOGvchc3o99AJPPIBSHsLrMlJkU5FO1hDFt97sFkzafGKma7q_D1t8ZmpDYs92-tsdRZ89THXdu2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="717" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNiwwDrazbsbIl3mK09OJT5usZf0bKtVbPQlRyczM2s2wgNZZpgA0OOfdBDvsor5hRj7NK5j5VzEdGTWHltz81t9RGY7MXLlrDPLFhXradO_njSDOGvchc3o99AJPPIBSHsLrMlJkU5FO1hDFt97sFkzafGKma7q_D1t8ZmpDYs92-tsdRZ89THXdu2A=w638-h482" width="638" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Screenshot-</span><span style="text-align: left;">6.
Notice sent by Kerala State Information Commission to the FAA in my 2</span><sup style="text-align: left;">nd</sup><span style="text-align: left;">
appeal.</span></div></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-92195532204513452682022-12-28T18:24:00.000-08:002022-12-28T18:24:06.886-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-25<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On 05 November 2022, a
report at </span><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/news/not-satisfied-collegium-system-majority-judges-agree-with-me-law-ministerkirenrijiju"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.barandbench.com/news/not-satisfied-collegium-system-majority-judges-agree-with-me-law-ministerkirenrijiju</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> informed its readers that the Union Law Minister,
Kiren Rijju, had made a serious observation about the Collegium system. He had
said: "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The politics that we
politicians do is nothing in front of the politics which happens inside
judiciary. It is not visible but it is intense politics</i>".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I, for one, believe him
totally. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I know how the apex court
usurped the powers of the Executive to appoint judges to the higher judiciary.
Nowhere in the dictionary could I find the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">consultation</i> as meaning advice of the consultee binding on the
consulter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first step towards
the constitution of the Collegium and a blatant subversion of the provisions of
the Constitution. Nowhere in the world does such a system exist where judges
appoint judges. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another report, ‘People
unhappy with collegium, govt should appoint judges: Law minister Rijju’,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Oct 18, 2022 at </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/people-unhappy-with-collegium-govt-should-appoint-judges-law-minister-rijiju-2286604-2022-10-18"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/people-unhappy-with-collegium-govt-should-appoint-judges-law-minister-rijiju-2286604-2022-10-18</span></a>)
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">says that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rijju had also driven home another serious<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>issue: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
executive and the legislature are bound and regulated by the judiciary. But if
the judiciary goes astray, there is no mechanism to control it. </i>Succinctly
put, I must say. And this is the same idea I had been harping on for more than
a decade now in the following words: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Among these three organs of our
Constitution the law-makers are (theoretically, at least) controlled by the
people, bureaucracy (yes, bureaucracy, because without the active support of
the bureaucracy no politician can do any wrong!) and finally the judiciary; the
law-enforcers, that is, the Executive, are also controlled by the law-makers
and the judiciary. And then there are the ears and eyes of the people- the
media waiting to sensationalize every news involving the misdemeanor of these
authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In spite of such strict supervision and
control all that we can hear these days are about
politician-bureaucrat-underworld nexus even though the fact remains that none,
worth the name, from this unholy nexus have ever been punished by the
holier-than-thou judiciary.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So now think how bad a system can be
which is not only NOT subject to supervision but also kept beyond critical
observation. Well isn’t our judiciary just that? And do I need to recapitulate
that quip: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Parliamentary Standing
Committee of the Ministry of Law and Justice, then headed by Rajya Sabha member
E.M.S Natchiappan, had said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'Judges appointing
judges is bad enough in itself; judges judging judges is worse</i>.' This
truism does not warrant any debate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It brings me to the more
important requirement of a National Judicial Commission to inquire into and
punish judges for any and all offences, of omissions and commissions that are
applicable to ordinary citizens. And, as the judiciary itself has been harping
that unequals cannot be treated as equals, shouldn’t the punishment for the law
qualified people be more severe than for ordinary citizens, typically, double
for the lawyers and four times more serious for the judges. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, a bill to constitute a National Judicial
Accountability Commission has been gathering dust for decades now. And, with
the apex court trashing even the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act
will this bill ever see the light of the day?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The opaqueness in the
judiciary’s functions is not a feature of the Collegium only. It was the first
to begin subverting the Right to Information Act, with the Chief Justices, as
competent authorities to frame rules, fixing Rs 500/- as application fee and Rs
5/- per page of photocopied information, against Rs 10/- and Rs 2/-
respectively as fixed by other public authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also, we saw in Subhas
Agarwal’s case, how the judiciary stonewalled providing information and the
matter was decided against the public authority not only by the Central
Information Commission and two benches of the Delhi High Court but also by a
bench of the apex court itself. It is also pertinent that , it took the apex
court almost a decade after the division bench of the Delhi High Court had
given its decision, even introducing an unlawful provision that the Public
Information Officers could seek reasons for seeking the information when the
Act explicitly forbids it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Horror of horrors, the
Rules laid down by the respective Chief Justices have also kept the information
about the judicial functions out of purview of the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To dig the last nail on
transparency, the apex court has not even complied completely with the
provision for suo moto disclosure mandated by Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The yardstick I have been
using to gauge transparency in a public authority is by seeking compliance with
Section 4(1)(b), particularly with sub sections (ix) and (x) whereby the public
authorities are required to publish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a
directory of its officers and employees</i> and also the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees,
including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Suffice to say, this has
been a catalyst for subversion of this law by other public authorities,
including the Information Commissions. To begin with, at least the suo moto
disclosures of the Central Information Commission was a model that could be
used as an example for other public authorities but now it has also been reduced
to a farce. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Given the fate of this simplest
of laws, which was enacted with the purported aim of containing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">corruption and to hold Governments and their
instrumentalities accountable to the governed, </i>it can easily be imagined
what a mockery is being made of the other laws of the land. Isn’t it a common
refrain that our laws are like cobwebs that trap insects and let the birds fly
through? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I can vouch, on the
strength of the decisions of the information commissioners of the Central
Information Commission and the Kerala State Information Commission, that these
commissions have been reduced to another cesspool of corruption, in its
broadest meaning as accepted recently by the Indira Banerjee judgment in
Advocate Prashant Bhushan’s contempt of court case. Obviously, it doesn’t rule
out corruption in its narrowest sense either.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am among those who believe
that the RTI Act can be misused only by the information commissioners who can
fail to impose the penalty mandated by Section 20 of the law without assigning
reasons or giving false/misleading reasons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if this is not corruption, nothing can be.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am also aware that this
is an offence punishable under Section 219 of the Indian Penal Code which reads
as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whoever being a public servant,
corruptly or maliciously makes or pronounces in any stage of a judicial
proceeding, any report, or order verdict, or decision which he knows to be
contrary to law shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a
term which may extent to seven years or with fine or with both</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me recollect two more
facts brought out by the Law Minister (‘Why law minister Kiren Rijju wants a
reboot of the collegium system of judges’ appointments, Sep 20, 2022; </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-law-minister-kiren-rijiju-wants-a-reboot-of-the-collegium-system-of-judges-appointments-2002484-2022-09-20"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-law-minister-kiren-rijiju-wants-a-reboot-of-the-collegium-system-of-judges-appointments-2002484-2022-09-20</span></a>)
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the vacancies have added to the
judiciary’s burden, multiplying the case load—there are more than six million
cases pending in the Supreme Court and high courts across the country. The rate
of disposal of cases in the apex court has dropped from 67 per cent in 2018 to
25 per cent this year (till July 31). The disposal rate in high courts has
dropped from 39 per cent in 2018 to just 9 per cent this year (till July 31).
And,</i></span> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Two,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the delay </i>(in appointment of judges)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> starts at the level of HC collegiums. While
there were 380 vacancies in high courts till the end of July (between December
1, 2021 and July 27, 2022), the Supreme Court collegium recommended only 140
names (127 fresh and 13 reiterated) for appointments</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Empire, nay,
Judiciary, strikes back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On November 11, 2022, a
report (‘Supreme Court Issues Notice to Law Secretary Says- Keeping Collegium
recommendations on hold is Unacceptable’) at </span><a href="https://lawtrend.in/supreme-court-issues-notice-to-law-secretary-says-keeping-collegium-recommendations-on-hold-is-unacceptable/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://lawtrend.in/supreme-court-issues-notice-to-law-secretary-says-keeping-collegium-recommendations-on-hold-is-unacceptable/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> quoted a bench of Sanjay Kishan Kaul and AS Oka as having
stated in its order that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Only the
appointment must be issued after the second reiteration. Putting names on hold
is not acceptable; it is becoming a tool to force these people to withdraw
their names, as has happened</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This, to say the least, is
preposterous. The judges seem to be forgetting that the law making authority,
as per our Constitution, is the Parliament and the legislative assemblies in
the States. The courts are empowered only to interpret the law in the context
of the facts of particular cases, where more than one interpretation is
possible, subject to the framework, as outlined in its introduction or
Preamble. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In practice, court orders
are enforced only through follow up executive orders, even in cases where the
judiciary is not a party to the case. That is why even after bandhs were held
illegal by the Kerala High Court and that order was upheld by the apex court,
they have continued to disrupt routine life in the name of hartals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the copies of the orders were denied to me by
the Home and Law Departments of the Government of Kerala. The Kerala High Court
itself denied them to me stating that they, being part of judicial proceedings,
were out of purview of the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the context of the
current notice to the Law Secretary, I wish the Executive could reply that the
Parliament has considered the recommendation and rejected it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another report that
becomes relevant is the decision of the apex court to review its decision in
the JMM bribery case. The report at </span><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1998-jmm-verdict-review-sc-to-examine-legislative-immunity-in-bribe-for-vote/articleshow/95543205.cms"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1998-jmm-verdict-review-sc-to-examine-legislative-immunity-in-bribe-for-vote/articleshow/95543205.cms</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (‘1998 JMM verdict review: SC to examine legislative
immunity in bribe-for-vote’, Nov 16, 2022) informs us that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nearly 24 years after a five-judge Constitution bench by a 3:2 majority
held in the JMM bribery case that MPs cannot be prosecuted in a criminal court
for allegedly taking bribes for voting in the House, a bench of same strength
will now take a call on whether the 1998 verdict needs a relook and said that
it would refer the case to a larger bench, if needed.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
personally believe that the 1998 verdict was flawed. But the logic that
Parliament is not a place for trading in votes cannot be a new concept or a new
moral high ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it should apply
not only to politicians but also judges, babus and public servants of every
hue. In fact, JMM bribery case along with St Kitts case and pickle tycoon Lakhubhai
Patel case, all involving the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, formed the
triology of cases that I first began to analyze from the point of view of our
laws, their interpretation by the judiciary and simple plain logic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For
now, it is important to recollect that there was this cash at door step scam
involving a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On August 13, 2008, a bag containing Rs 15 lakhs
was delivered at the residence of judge Nirmaljit Kaur. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A three member committee was set up by the then CJI K G Balakrishnan
and this committee drew an inference that the money delivered at the residence
of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur was in fact meant for Justice Nirmal Yadav. </i>As
per a report dated 06 November 2021 at </span><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-cash-at-judges-door-case-a-chronological-revisit"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-cash-at-judges-door-case-a-chronological-revisit</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (‘The Cash at Judge's Door case: A chronological
revisit’) the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trial of Justice Yadav is
still inconclusive!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
that’s not all. The apex court is after the appointment of Chief Election
Commissioner and Election Commissioners. ‘Need CEC who can’t be bulldozed, T N
Seshan happens once in a while: Supreme Court’, reads a report, datelined November
23, 2022 (</span><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/need-cec-who-cant-be-bulldozed-t-n-seshan-happens-once-in-a-while-supreme-court-8283854/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://indianexpress.com/article/india/need-cec-who-cant-be-bulldozed-t-n-seshan-happens-once-in-a-while-supreme-court-8283854/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">). ‘‘Will ensure independence’: Supreme Court moots
inclusion of CJI in consultative process for CEC appointment’, reads another
one, of the same date, at </span><a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/will-ensure-independence-supreme-court-moots-inclusion-of-cji-in-consultative-process-for-cec-appointment/2887587/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/will-ensure-independence-supreme-court-moots-inclusion-of-cji-in-consultative-process-for-cec-appointment/2887587/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point
can we forget how the apex court usurped the powers of the Executive to appoint
judges of the higher judiciary by preposterously misinterpreting the meaning of
the word consultation? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
more interesting report is there at </span><a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/total-recall-as-sc-questions-election-commissioner-goels-appointment-it-mustnt-forget-tn-seshans-fate-6464131.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.news18.com/news/india/total-recall-as-sc-questions-election-commissioner-goels-appointment-it-mustnt-forget-tn-seshans-fate-6464131.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (‘Total Recall: As SC Questions Election Commissioner
Goel's Appointment, It Mustn't Forget TN Seshan's Fate’, November 25, 2022). It
reminds the apex court as much as its readers thus: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Supreme Court is worried about the independence of the Election
Commission and it is feeling the absence of a Chief Election Commissioner like
TN Seshan. The only problem is that it’s the same Supreme Court that had made
Seshan weaker by its decision when he was the CEC. </i>(Order dated 14 July
1995 in WP(C) 805 of 1993)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me conclude this part
with two quotes: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'...for judges of the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court, the PCA
Act is a dog is a monkey is a bear is an elephant; intriguingly, a dog is also
not a dog on another day.'</i> (High Court and Supreme Court ‘jallikattu’ the
PCA Act, Radha Rajan; 21 Feb 2012; </span><a href="http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=2195"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=2195</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Already citizens are frustrated with the justice
delivery system and only less than <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10%
of the litigants who have disputes</b> are approaching the court</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">," Justice Kirubakaran. (‘Rise in contempt of
court cases irks Madras high court’, A Subramani; Feb 24, 2013; </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rise-in-in-contempt-of-court-cases-irks-Madras-high-court/articleshow/18651932.cms?intenttarget=no"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rise-in-in-contempt-of-court-cases-irks-Madras-high-court/articleshow/18651932.cms?intenttarget=no</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>27
November, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-40582825035937969592022-11-21T14:35:00.001-08:002022-11-21T14:35:14.178-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-24<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Melukote is a small
village about 50 kms from Mysore. Its inhabitants, mostly Mandyam Iyengars, do
not celebrate Diwali, one of the most important national festivals of India,
that celebrates victory of the good over evil. It was in 1790 that on the
Diwali eve that Tipu Sultan killed their ancestors- men, women and children,
sparing none. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, when D Y
Chandrachud assumes the most powerful office of the nation as the Chief Justice
of India, I remembered Melukote alongwith Sabarimala. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It was four years back
that Chandrachud was part of a bench of 5 judges of the apex court that had
delivered the infamous verdict permitting women of all ages in Sabarimala,
overturning the decision of a bench on the same issue delivered more than a
decade earlier. Even in the majority verdict that permitted women of all age
groups to enter the temple, it is pertinent to note that the lone dissenter was
the lone woman judge of the bench. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember one of the
biggest mobilization of women protestors in Kerala, was in the aftermath of
this verdict. There were also reports of Hindu diaspora all over the world
extending support to these protests. Shockingly, even when appeals had been
filed for review, the court not only deferred them but explicitly stated that
there is no stay on the order, leading to a period of great turmoil in the
state that can be compared with the atrocities committed by the authorities in
the northern parts of the country during the Emergency days. If media reports
are to be believed, more than 40,000 cases were filed against 60,000 odd
devotees protesting to defend their faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Being a layman, but
adequately literate to read and understand the Constitution, written in
English, I believe that even hard core rationalists cannot deny that if any intervention
had to be made by the court it was to be made in the matter of Article 25(2)(b)
by making it non-religion specific and not to re-interpret Article 26 in a
whimsical manner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While the rights under
Article 26 is provided to every religious denomination, the mandate of Article
25(2) (b) is to throw open Hindu religious institutions of a public character
to all classes and sections of Hindus only. Interestingly, Sabarimala is one of
the rarest temples in India where not only men but women of all hues,
irrespective of their caste, creed or religion, are allowed entry, except for
those in a certain age group. I am shocked at this being interpreted as gender
based discrimination. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Compounding the matter
further was a report that the Kerala High Court had dismissed a petition, post
the controversial Sabarimala verdict of the apex court, seeking permission for
entry of muslim women in their institutions of worship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course Chandrachud was
only one of the 4 judges who gave the majority verdict in favour of women of
all age groups entering Lord Ayyappa’s temple at Sabarimala. But what has been
worrying me is his inability to walk the talk while talking too much all the
time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Take the case of granting
bail to the son of Shah Rukh Khan. Chandrachud almost breathed fire when this
celebrity kid, charged in a drug case, was granted bail and the under-trial was
not released within 24 hours. Given the fact that almost 75 percent of the inmates
in our jails are under-trials and many of them have been there for more periods
than they would have been sentenced to had they been convicted, can you blame
anybody who would doubt the wisdom of this judge in balancing idealism with
pragmatism? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A report,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘A Future CJI's Empty Rhetoric, Woke
Liberalism And Why We Should Worry’, dated Jul 14, 2021 at </span><a href="https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/a-future-cjis-empty-rhetoric-woke-liberalism-and-why-we-should-worry"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/a-future-cjis-empty-rhetoric-woke-liberalism-and-why-we-should-worry</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> states: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Justice
Chandrachud may be the doyen of India’s Lutyens media and Left-liberals, but it
seems that he is planning to introduce his own ideas of what constitutes
justice, using his own lenses, and those of legal luminaries in the Christian
West.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at an Indo-US conference on legal ties, Justice Chandrachud, while
correctly talking about the need to avoid using terror laws to stifle dissent,
made unwarranted remarks about how he sees justice being delivered. The Supreme
Court, he said, should play the role of a “counter-majoritarian institution”,
and it was its duty to protect socio-economic minorities.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I had posted the following
comments:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, Criminal, anti-terror laws should
not be misused to quell dissent. But the judiciary can and will use contempt of
court law to even send high court judges who are whistle blowers to jail.
Recollect the case of High Court judge Karnan. He not only did not get his
grievances addressed, forget redresssed, he was sent to jail for 6 months under
contempt of court laws. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Chandrachud has stated another truth
without making it explicit. He has said 'it’s the duty of the court to protect
the rights of socioeconomic minorities' Thank God he has used the term socio
economic minorities, instead of weaker and marginalised sections of the society.
This is in keeping with the belief that 'truth will out'. Because it is openly
visible that the courts do indeed protect the rights of socio economic
minorities. Only thing is that these minorities are the real minorities at the
top of the ladder both socially and economically. If you still can't see the
facts for what they are, then ask yourself why are cases against Raja,
Kanimozhi, Sonia, Rahul, P Chidambaram etc not progressing for so many years
now. Also ask, why are the poor accused languishing in jails as undertrials,
mostly for periods longer than for which they would have been sentenced to if
convicted.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In my critique, Judicial
Perfidies-23, I had dealt with a petition, seeking not to appoint Chandrachud
as CJI, sent to the then CJI on 04 November 2022, through e mail. So I wouldn’t
go into the details here. However, I had stated that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">While we should be thankful that the apex court did not repeat the faux
paus as in the case of a former Chief Justice of India accused of molesting a
woman, I find there are reasons to go a little deeper into the matter than
swallow, hook, line and sinker, whatever the reasons for the dismissal, as
given by the court.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The faux paus I was
referring to was of course about the CJI himself chairing the bench that was
convened first to consider the allegation against himself. In this case, while
it was not Chandrachud who presided or even participated in the bench that
heard the petition, there was still impropriety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was because it was the CJI, who had recommended
Chandrachud as his successor, who headed the bench that decided the petition
seeking to bar Chandrachud being appointed the CJI. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Again, I must confess my
ignorance of the intricacies of law but I am only comparing reports that
informed the ordinary citizens of various judges excusing themselves from
benches on grounds that they had dealt with the issues under consideration of
the bench under different circumstances/roles. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There have been many
eulogies published about the newly anointed CJI. Not surprising either. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the many, I found the following two
interesting: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Action sought against
lawyer who alleged Justice Chandrachud passed orders to help his son's client’,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oct 11, 2022 at </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/action-sought-against-lawyer-alleged-justice-chandrachud-passed-orders-help-son-client-2283700-2022-10-11"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/action-sought-against-lawyer-alleged-justice-chandrachud-passed-orders-help-son-client-2283700-2022-10-11</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> and ‘Bar Council of India responds to allegation
against Justice DY Chandrachud’, Oct 8, 2022 at </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/bar-council-of-india-responds-over-allegation-against-justice-dy-chandrachud-2282852-2022-10-08"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/bar-council-of-india-responds-over-allegation-against-justice-dy-chandrachud-2282852-2022-10-08</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The report dated
11/10/2022 states that the Bombay Bar Association has sought <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">strict action against Pathan and those
associated with him in preparation of the complaint</i> against Chandrachud
being appointed as CJI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About the
allegation that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chandrachud had passed an
order in a matter which was allegedly connected to a matter where his son
Abhinav Chandrachud appeared</i>, the BBA resolution has stated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“There is nothing on the record to
demonstrate the connection or anything to indicate that the Judge would have
known of any connection,”</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite
possible. There could be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no record</b>
to indicate that the judge would have known of any connection. But the Bar
Council Rules are clear and the administrative order of Binod Kumar Roy, Chief
Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court restricting relatives of
certain<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>judges from appearing before
them was also clear and logical. (See ‘Judge Dread’ at </span><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Judge-Dread/225624"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Judge-Dread/225624</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.) Since it has been analysed in fair details at
Judicial Perfidies-23 I shall refrain from delving into it here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The report dated
08/10/2022 is also of the same genre. The Bar Council has stated that it has <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thoroughly examined the contents of this
165-page long letter and it finds that it is nothing but a scurrilous and
malicious attempt to interfere with the functioning of the judiciary and the
administration of justice. </i>It has gone on to state that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No details of Pathan are furnished in the
complaint, no address or nature of body this man claims to represent is there. </i>In
this context there is only one question I would like to pose: without even such
basic information about the petitioner, how did the petition get filed in the
apex court at all? Or is this a different letter and the Bar Council did not
have access to the petition filed, which, by the way is 764 pages long and is
available at </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W0ZMyPAHFlDNpjgkbZQFcjHrkblsP0Fz/view">FINAL
WRIT FOR UPLOAD.pdf - Google Drive</a>. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me narrate here one of
my own experiences with the Bar Council of Kerala. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the early 2000s had
pursued three issues, in one complaint against the railways, with the then
Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum of my district. The issues were: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(a)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">declaring certain trains as superfast
and charging the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passengers/ consumers
Superfast Charges without providing any additional facilities/ savings in time
(without any doubt a deficiency in service as defined in the CPA, Sec 2(g), (o)
and (r)(ii)).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(b)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">showing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>inflated/false distance (1485kms for an actual distance of 1197kms!) on
the ticket and collecting fares for the inflated/false distance (again a case
of outright cheating and falling within the purview of the CPA, Sec 2(g), (o)
and (r )(i)) and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(c) </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">levying charges for facilities NOT used
by the passengers under the Tatkal services, in that they apart from charging
Tatkal Charges also insist that the passenger purchase tickets from the
starting station of the train to its destination even when the passenger has to
travel only between intermediate stations enroute (Sec 2(nnn) of the CPA).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Forum dismissed the
complaint after 8 months stating that it does not fall within the purview of
the Consumer Protection Act and directed me to pursue it with the Railway Rates
Tribunal. The RRT, Chennai replied that it does not fall within its
jurisdiction either.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I had complained against
this decision to the Bar Council of Kerala. The respondents were the advocate
who had represented the Railways and the law qualified member of the Forum. I
was asked to submit 30 additional copies (!), which I did. I did not get any
response from them for a long time. Finally, through the RTI Act route, I got
the copy of the decision which had simply stated that the complaint has been
dismissed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I still keep wondering
about the need for 30 copies of the complaint. Even the largest bench of the
apex court, to the best of my knowledge and understanding, has been only of 13
judges in the Kesavananda Bharti case of 1970. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(<span style="background: white; color: #202122;">The case is also known as the
Fundamental Rights Case. The court in a 7-6 decision asserted its right to
strike down amendments to the constitution that were in violation of the
fundamental architecture of the constitution. It is a different thing that the
same court, through a series of judgments later, violated this decision while
usurping the role of the Executive to appoint and transfer judges to our higher
judiciary.)</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I shall conclude this part
by quoting Chandrachud himself, as reported at </span><a href="https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2022/11/04/justice-d-y-chandrachud-is-known-for-giving-law-a-human-face.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2022/11/04/justice-d-y-chandrachud-is-known-for-giving-law-a-human-face.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (‘Justice D.Y. Chandrachud is known for giving law a
human face’, Issue Date: November 13, 2022):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math";">▸</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> “We will not adjourn the matter. We
don’t want the Supreme Court to be ‘tareekh pe tareekh’ court. We want to
change this perception.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math";">▸</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> “It is well for a judge to remind
himself that flattery is often the graveyard of the gullible.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math";">▸</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> “History and contemporary events across
the world are a reminder that blackouts of information are used as a willing
ally to totalitarian excesses of power. They have no place in a democracy.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math";">▸</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> “The essence of judging is compassion.
You take out compassion from judging, and you will be left with only the husk.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While the above quotes are
self explanatory, I am looking forward to our new Chief Justice walking the
talk, particularly in the manner he is going to curb tareekh pe tareekh, complying
with the mandatory disclosures under the RTI Act (at present the apex court web
site has not disclosed the information under Sec4 (1)(b)(x)- the monthly
remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the
system of compensation as provided in its regulations- in respect of judges)
and amending the Court’s RTI Rules to provide information on the judicial side
too under the RTI Act and in dealing with the poor under-trials in our jails. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Wishing him all the best
in his promised endeavor to bring a semblance of law and order within the
judiciary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>09 November 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-42205479199565784422022-11-21T14:34:00.001-08:002022-11-21T14:34:19.789-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-23<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">30 August 2022 has to be a
Grey Letter Day in the history of free India’s judiciary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the day when a three member bench of
the apex court closed the contempt of court case against Adv Prashant Bhushan
and journalist, Tarun Tejpal. The case was simple. The acclaimed crusader for
judicial reforms had, in an interview given to Tehelka, in 2009, alleged that 8
Chief Justices of India were corrupt. Later in an affidavit submitted to the
court he had named them and explained his reasons for making such an
allegation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The case had been hanging
fire over the two for over 13 years, while the nation itself had been wondering
whether it will ever be decided in their life time. The case had been listed
many times and partly heard by many judges, the last of which was a bench
headed by Arun Mishra in 2020, after a gap of eight years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">During that hearing,
Bhushan had said “In my interview to Tehelka in 2009, I have used the word
corruption in a wide sense meaning lack of propriety. I did not mean only
financial corruption or deriving any pecuniary advantage. If what I have said
caused hurt to any of them or to their families in any way, I regret the same”.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When the bench did not
accept the regrets, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhushan had asked the
three judges to send the case to a Constitution Bench and suggested five issues
that it could be asked to rule on. The important among the five was: “Whether
the expression of a bona fide opinion about the extent of corruption in any
section of the judiciary would amount to contempt of court.” And If yes,
“Whether the person who expresses such opinion…is obliged to prove that his
opinion is correct or whether it is enough to show that he bona fide held that
opinion.”</i> (‘Supreme Court closes 2009 contempt case against Prashant
Bhushan, Tarun Tejpal’, Aug 30, 2022 at </span><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-closes-2009-contempt-case-against-prashant-bhushan-tarun-tejpal-101661868144791.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-closes-2009-contempt-case-against-prashant-bhushan-tarun-tejpal-101661868144791.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Arun Mishra did not decide
the case. But in another contempt case on two tweets, the same judge went on to
award a fine of Re 1/- to the same contemnor. While the judge might have placed
such a low cost for criminal contempt, it cannot be said of the tax payer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The recent verdict by the
3 judges’ bench, headed by Indira Banerjee, indicates that the regrets were finally
accepted <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after senior advocate</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kapil Sibal informed the bench</b> that an
apology has been tendered. </i>(‘Supreme Court closes contempt case against
Prashant Bhushan, Tarun Tejpal’, August 31, 2022 at </span><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-contempt-case-prashan-bhushan-tarun-tejpal-8120346/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-contempt-case-prashan-bhushan-tarun-tejpal-8120346/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Incidentally, the copy of
the judgment could not be accessed at the apex court’s website even though
searches were made based on date of verdict, judge name and free text. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For one who has been
demanding the abrogation of the contempt of court provisions of the
Constitution simply because it is anathema in a democracy, this judgment hardly
merited rejoicing. The scepticism was born out of my own observations of the
functioning of our courts which had been succintly captured by Radha Rajan, in
an article ‘High Court and Supreme Court ‘jallikattu’ the PCA Act’, published
on 21 February 2012 at </span><a href="http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=2195"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=2195</span></a>.<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> She had written: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'...for
judges of the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court, the PCA Act is a dog is
a monkey is a bear is an elephant; intriguingly, a dog is also not a dog on
another day.'</i> I normally refer to such series of judgments as judicial flip
flops. In this case my thoughts were also influenced by the quip <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let the dogs bark, the caravan will move on…
</i>which paraphrased for our context could well be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let the mango people criticize, we, the judges, couldn’t care less..</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And vindication has not
been long in coming. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>M.A. Shaikh, Vice President of ‘Indian Lawyers
and Human Rights Activists' Association’ had recently filed a petition before
the apex court seeking to disqualify CJI designate D Y Chandrachud, from
assuming office on 09 November 2022. The allegations include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">misuse of power by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
in discriminating between ‘Senior and Junior Lawyers’ and ‘rich and poor
litigants’ and passing contrary orders in the similar cases. The instances show
that Justice Chandrachud granted relief to rich people and Senior advocates and
dismissed the request of poor people and junior advocates. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The blog, dated 27 Oct
2022, at </span><a href="https://rashidkhanvaccineblog.blogspot.com/2022/10/important-justice-chandrachud.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://rashidkhanvaccineblog.blogspot.com/2022/10/important-justice-chandrachud.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> also informed its readers that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Supreme Court Advocate Anand Jondhale is going to represent the
petitioner and around 70 counsels from Indian Lawyers Association are going to
assist him</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While a bench headed by
CJI Lalit had dismissed the plea on 02 November 2022, after an impromptu
hearing, the redeeming fact is that the petitioner has neither been penalized
for wasting the court’s time nor hauled up for contempt. May I say that Indira
Banerjee judgment in Prashant Bhushan case has survived this one time? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The petition was listed
post haste on 02 November and dismissed by a 3 member bench, headed by the
outgoing Chief Justice himself, with the observation that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the entire petition was "misconceived. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we should be thankful that the apex
court did not repeat the faux paus as in the case of a former Chief Justice of
India accused of molesting a woman, I find there are reasons to go a little
deeper into the matter than swallow, hook, line and sinker, whatever the
reasons for the dismissal, as given by the court. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the allegations, in
the 764 pages writ, which is available at</span> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W0ZMyPAHFlDNpjgkbZQFcjHrkblsP0Fz/view">FINAL
WRIT FOR UPLOAD.pdf - Google Drive</a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> , is as
follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For hearing a case where he is
disqualified because of two reasons:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(a) His son Adv. Abhinav Chandrachud
appeared for the one of accused before High Court for the same connected FIRs.
[Writ Petition (Cri) No. 3199/ 2021 order dated 20.09.2021]<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(b) Because in the impugned order before
him Adv. Nilesh Ojha appeared as a counsel who, on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>earlier occasions also in 2018 acted as a
counsel for complainant when a complaint is filed against Justice D. Y.
Chandrachud and his son Adv. Abhinav Chandrachud [Case No. PRSEC/ E/2018/21401]<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This allegation is simple
to understand and validate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We are aware of Bar
Council rules that forbid relations of judges from appearing before them. But
like Prashant Bhushan’s definition of corruption, today the definition of relation
also has a wide connotation. Here, let me quote from a report ‘Judge Dread’,
published on 08 November 2004 at </span><a href="http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Judge-Dread/225624"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Judge-Dread/225624</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"It is true that the solution
suggested is unusual, but unusual situations which pervert the judicial system
require unusual and unorthodox remedies." -Eminent jurist H.M.Seervai in
his book, Constitutional Law of India<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This was the very quote that Binod Kumar
Roy, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, used to justify his
five-page administrative directive restricting relatives of certain<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>judges from appearing before them. The Bar
Council rule is clear that lawyers can't appear before their own kin. Roy's
directive identified a dozen judges whose relatives are advocates (see All in
the Family) and forbade them from appearing before any of these 12. This
ensured that a judge cannot help even a fellow judge's kin.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Within a month of this directive, the SC
collegium recommended his transfer to the Patna High Court.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is ironic that the axe is falling not
on the transgressor but on the one who cracked the whip against
transgression," states a memorandum signed by 1,001 lawyers of the high
court. It was sent to the President this week, urging him to send the file
regarding Justice Roy's transfer back to the collegium for reconsideration.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The first time differences between him
and the judges came out into the open was last December when 19 judges refused
in writing to do administrative work, including inspection of subordinate
courts in the districts allotted to them. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When Justice Roy issued notices to the
two judges, it united all the others against him and led to an unprecedented
strike on April 19 this year.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Given the developments in
communication technology and the prevalence of the Global Village concept, one
can very well imagine the (ir)relevance of geographical boundaries, even in the
context of the court complexes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Does anyone recollect the
scam involving the relations of the then CJI K G Balakrishnan? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As per a report at </span><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/sc-moved-for-balakrishnan-s-removal-as-nhrc-chief-113080201258_1.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/sc-moved-for-balakrishnan-s-removal-as-nhrc-chief-113080201258_1.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (‘SC moved for Balakrishnan's removal as NHRC chief’,
August 2, 2013) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NGO Common Cause has
sought direction to the government that it should make a reference to the apex
court under Section 5(2) of the Protection of Human Rights Act for holding an
inquiry against Justice Balakrishnan for his alleged acts of misbehaviour
during his tenure as CJI.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The NGO, in its PIL, alleged that during the tenure of
Justice Balakrishnan, his close relatives including his daughters and
sons-in-laws acquired assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A later report, at </span><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/former-cji-k-g-balakrishnans-relatives-hid-crores-of-income-reveals-i-t-probe/articleshow/57162253.cms"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/former-cji-k-g-balakrishnans-relatives-hid-crores-of-income-reveals-i-t-probe/articleshow/57162253.cms</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (‘Former CJI K G Balakrishnan’s relatives hid crores
of income, reveals I-T probe’, Feb 15, 2017) states: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhushan, appearing for NGO Common Cause, said 21 properties were bought
by Balakrishnan's relatives whose source of income was limited. He also
produced sales deeds of the properties. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Although the Centre contended that the I-T department
had given a clean chit to Balakrishnan and his family members for allegedly
amassing disproportionate and benami assets, it admitted that some of the
properties were undervalued by them but they had now paid taxes as per market
value.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Centre's contention was opposed by advocate
Prashant Bhushan who told a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra that the
"shocking revelations" must be probed by an independent agency. AG
Mukul Rohatgi had earlier told the SC that the I-T wing had conducted a probe
but it failed to find any evidence of DAs against them.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Income as per ROI of his son-in-law P V Sreenijan in
2009-10 was Rs 26.61 lakh but the assessed income was found to be around Rs
1.64 crore. Similarly, his income was shown as Rs 47.47 lakh in 2010-11, but
was assessed at Rs 2.11 crore. He had to pay Rs 1.02 crore as tax and interest.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In case of his other son-in-law M J Benny, the report
says his income as per ROI was Rs 28.94 lakh in 2010-11, but assessed income
was Rs 1.79 crore and he had paid Rs 97.73 lakh as interest and tax.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The report says income of his daughter K B Sony was Rs
38.69 lakh as per ROI but was assessed at Rs 1.67 crore and she had paid Rs
38.74 lakh as interest and tax in 2010-11.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Why this case became
relevant here is due to the fact that even if the figures of RoI and assessment
are studied cursorily, it would show how relevant was Prashant Bhushan’s demand
of a probe by an independent agency. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Veteran journalist Kajal
Basu, writing on ‘The cost of criminalising criticism’ ( <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2022/aug/10/the-cost-of-criminalising-criticism-2485883.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2022/aug/10/the-cost-of-criminalising-criticism-2485883.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) concludes by stating <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Until trust is re-established through transparently dependable
judgements, there is no point in shutting out or even criminalising criticism
(personal-political though it may be)—criticism that, as in the best
democracies, can only aid in the improvement of judgements and judges alike.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For decades now, in the US, for instance, the
extrajudicial preferences of judges have been openly debated. Their judgements
are almost invariably put through the media mill, and what contributed to the
judgements lit up in neon.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the UK, judicial accountability is a media free
for-all—admittedly, mostly, but not solely, in the contumacious
tabloids—unfettered by protestations, such as in India, from judges (because it
is sweepingly accepted that there exists substantial political interference at
the trials stage).<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Tamil Nadu a You Tuber,
Savukku Shankar, is facing trial for contempt of court and he has maintained
that he stood by his statement that the entire judiciary is riddled with
corruption. (</span><a href="https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/madras-high-court-youtuber-savukku-shankar-stands-by-his-statement-in-court-contempt-case-208080"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/madras-high-court-youtuber-savukku-shankar-stands-by-his-statement-in-court-contempt-case-208080</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) A reader commented: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Savukku is right judiciary is highly corrupt but I would like to remind
him that politicians, bureaucracy, business, media are equally or more corrupt
than the judiciary.</i> My only question is: How can politicians, bureaucracy,
business, media be more corrupt when they can all be hauled up before the
judiciary? And you can't haul up judges before anybody!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>04 Nov 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-72361572085595286052022-11-21T14:33:00.000-08:002022-11-21T14:33:10.544-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-22<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me begin this critique
by quoting from a report of 23 Sep, 2022 - ‘Kerala High Court initiates suo
motu case against PFI bandh in Kerala’ (</span><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/kerala-high-court-initiates-suo-motu-case-against-pfi-bandh-in-kerala-23247140"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/kerala-high-court-initiates-suo-motu-case-against-pfi-bandh-in-kerala-23247140</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> : <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Kerala High Court on Friday initiated a
suo motu case against Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders who called for a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">strike</b> in the state against the arrest
of its members by the National Investigation Agency.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Notably, as per a Kerala HC order on
January 7, 2019, nobody can call for a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bandh</b>
in the state without prior notice of seven days.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">According to the police, stone-pelting
incidents were reported at various places in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Two police officers were attacked
earlier today by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hartal</b> supporters
at Pallimukku in the Kollam district.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first issue that comes to mind is the preposterousness of somebody deciding
that a bandh can be enforced on the public at large with 7 days notice. Where
is the rationale, forget about sense of justice, in someone bloodying your nose
with 7 days notice? Isn’t it the most fundamental principle of jurisprudence
that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your liberty ends where my nose
begins</i>? The right to protest is certainly a safety valve for aggrieved
persons and almost a fundamental right in a democracy. But how can that extend
to violating somebody else’s equally fundamental right not to protest? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have mentioned in an earlier part of this series how the same court had
declared bandhs illegal long back and the apex court had upheld that decision.
Thereafter, the same means of protest has continued to be perpetrated by
calling it hartal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My
effort to get copies of the two court orders, to find out if it was the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">term</b> bandh that was held illegal or the
activities that went with it, was also thwarted by the Public Information
Officer of the High Court who denied it claiming that it was part of judicial
proceedings and it was exempted from disclosure as per the High Court Rules on
the RTI Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
the extract of the report above, exposes the confusion prevailing about the
brazen violation of the fundamental right of the majority of citizens that
follows a call for hartal, aka bandhs. That it disrupts normal lives and causes
untold misery to the general public goes without saying. What about destruction
of property, public as well as private? And when police personnel are injured
in the violence unleashed by the mobs, the plight of helpless individuals can
well be imagined. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There
was another report that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has filed
for damages to their buses to the tune of Rs 5 crores. But the poor police
personnel? Will they be able to seek compensation too? Or is it just a part of
their job description? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
brings me to another preposterous decision by the apex court- of registering
FIRs in cases of civilian deaths in counter insurgency areas. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jay
Bhattacharjee, working in the areas of Corporate Law and Finance, has written
about this in his widely read book, Resurgent Bharat and Other Issues- An
anthology of Essays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the essay ‘Our
armed forces severely handicapped when fighting terror’, on the decision of the
apex court in criminal writ petition 129/2012, he has written that the SC
virtually made our armed forces run a one legged race and compelled our
military to fight the enemy with one hand tied behind its back. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
me take a detour here to place some relevant facts on record. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is what K R Naryanan, former President, had written, long before he occupied
that highest office of the nation, in an article Fragile Chimera, published in
the Illustrated Weekly of India (6-12/09/1987):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A historian once remarked- few men are
so disinterested as to prefer to live in discomfort under a government that
they hold to be right rather than in comfort under one which they hold to be
wrong. In politics and administration it is not enough to be right. It is
imperative that the goods are delivered to the people, there is law and order
and a general sense of comfort and above all a common sense of unity in the
country and society.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We
all know that the majority of the people want to live a comfortable, peaceful
and happy life. Taking to violent means of protest is the last step that any
ordinary human being would think of. But to reach that level he must have face
gross disappointments with all the means available for redressal of his
grievances, the ultimate being the judiciary. So, insurgencies are a sign of
the total failure of the government as a whole but specifically of the
judiciary, ultimately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is at this
stage that the government depends on its sword arm for succor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
military, obviously, lives on the ethos: do or die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are fed on the diet that there are no runners
up in war. Though politically it may not be correct to refer to counter-insurgency
operations as war, the fact is it is worse than war for the soldiers. In war,
at least there is a known enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
counter insurgency operations the enemy is not distinctly identified. There
have been many cases reported of soldiers who, while leaving buildings/ areas
after cordon and search operations, have been shot in their back by women whom
they had refused to identify as insurgents or collaborators of insurgents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is no denying that there are bound to be mistakes when troops operate in
insurgency affected areas, with their own lives on the line. And that is why
the Armed Force Special Powers Act is invoked when army is launched in such
operations. This, and only this, is the armour that protects from witch hunting
later. And it is this armour that was rendered useless by the apex court bench
of Madan Lokur and U U Lalit in Jul 2016. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As
far as mistakes are concerned, given the army’s obsession with its image, more
often than not, even minor mistakes are taken seriously and those involved
punished in exemplary manner. Case in point: the Sukhna land scam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Lt General, then Military Secretary, was
dismissed from service for showing undue interest in transferring land near a
military establishment to a private party to establish an educational
institution. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Again,
just for the records, the babus, playing around with files, have a law that is
invoked quite often and without much ado- obstructing a public servant in the
discharge of his functions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Section
186 of the Indian Penal Code reads as: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whoever voluntarily obstructs any
public servant in the discharge of his public functions, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may
extend to five hundred rupees, or with both</span>.</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And we have the preposterous, undemocratic Contempt of Court
Act, at the disposal of our judges, who have opposing parties presenting some
facts, some laws and some case laws leaving the judge with all the freedom to
decide in favour of any one of them, again without much ado. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This brings me to the report ‘Retired CJIs, SC judges to get
lifetime domestic help, chauffeur’ at </span><a href="https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/retired-cjis-sc-judges-to-get-lifetime-domestic-help-chauffeur"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/retired-cjis-sc-judges-to-get-lifetime-domestic-help-chauffeur</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. As per this report:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A Chief Justice of India will now get a
domestic help, a chauffeur, and a secretarial assistant for lifetime from the
day he or she demits office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A retired CJI will also be entitled to a
security cover round-the-clock at their residence along with a 24X7 personal
security guard for five years from the date of retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If a retired CJI or a retired judge of the top
court is already provided a 'higher grade' security on the basis of threat
perception, 'the higher grade security already provided shall continue'<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The benefits of the amended rules will now be
extended to all living former CJIs and retired Supreme Court judges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"The post-retirement benefits under this
rule shall be admissible to the retired Chief Justice (of India) or the retired
Judge (of SC) if no such facilities are availed from any High Court or from any
other government body where the retired Chief Justice or a retired Judge has
taken up any assignment after retirement,"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just look at the wanton abuse of authority or can it be
dismissed as mere placating? Though in this case it cannot be directly blamed
on the judges, there was a report, dated 07 August 2021 titled ‘Chief Justice
of India N V Ramana seeks special force for protecting judges’ (</span><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/chief-justice-of-india-n-v-ramana-seeks-special-force-for-protecting-judges/articleshow/85119242.cms"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/chief-justice-of-india-n-v-ramana-seeks-special-force-for-protecting-judges/articleshow/85119242.cms</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">). But one should certainly acknowledge the
glaring unfairness of soldiers deployed in counter insurgency areas being
subjected to prosecution when those sitting in judgment in air conditioned
rooms, are being provided security cover not only while in service but also after
retirement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Coming back to Jay Bhattacharjee, he has written: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Without apologizing for mixing metaphors,
this writer would say that the judges poured vinegar on raw wounds and threw
the ball back to the Union Government’s court, saying that the latter should
take steps to protect the legitimate concerns of soldiers and this was not the
job of the court.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meanwhile there has been an interesting development. The 2009
criminal contempt of case against Adv Prashant Bhushan has been dismissed. The
case involved Prashant Bhushan alleging that 8 Chief Justices of India were
corrupt, in an interview with Tehelka and which was published by Tehelka. The
editor was also facing contempt charges. 12 years after initiation of
proceeding by a three member bench, it was dismissed on 30 Aug 2022 by another
three member judge. The reason as reported at </span><a href="https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-closes-2009-contempt-case-against-prashant-bhushan-tarun-tejpal-207860"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-closes-2009-contempt-case-against-prashant-bhushan-tarun-tejpal-207860</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> is : "In view of the
explanation/apologies made by the contemnors, we don't deem it necessary to
continue matter". Senior Advocate Kamini Jaiswal appearing for Bhushan
submitted that he has given an explanation for his statement. Senior Advocate
Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tarun Tejpal, the editor of Tehelka Magazine,
submitted that he has apologized. As per the Hindu (</span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-drops-contempt-case-against-prashant-bhushan-for-corruption-remarks-in-tehelka/article65828997.ece"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-drops-contempt-case-against-prashant-bhushan-for-corruption-remarks-in-tehelka/article65828997.ece</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> it had
brought to the fore several cardinal issues, including the right to criticise
the judiciary in a public forum and whether a person who expressed an bonafide
opinion about judicial corruption was obliged to prove it or whether it was
enough to show that he bonafide had held that opinion.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just for the records, the copy of the order could not be
accessed at </span><a href="https://main.sci.gov.in/judgments"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://main.sci.gov.in/judgments</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P M Ravindran/ </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>29 Sep 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-1661781439008383152022-09-25T03:53:00.003-07:002022-09-25T03:53:58.418-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-21<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The edifice of our justice
delivery system in India is built on two major fault lines in our Constitution-
the absence of accountability of our judges and the preposterous, undemocratic
contempt of court provisions. Not that these are the only two fault lines in
our Constitution. The more you try to understand it, the more you will realize
that these fault lines are like the potholes on our roads, one has to really
look for the road amidst the potholes over which one has to navigate, even as a
pedestrian, leave alone driving a vehicle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am sure we are all given
to believe that we are a democracy and a constitutional democracy at that. The
Preamble of the Constitution unambiguously proclaims that We, the People, do
adopt, enact and give unto ourselves this Constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The other day, N V Ramana,
the then Chief Justice of India, while speaking at a private reception in the
United States of America, had pompously announced that the judiciary is
accountable only to the Constitution of India. To me it sounded just an
inanity, with even the person saying it not knowing what he meant. Because,
given that we are a democracy and have given to ourselves this Constitution, there
cannot be any doubt on who should be accountable to whom. But he did not state
the obvious. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One is reminded of what
Winston Churchill said about the western understanding of the Soviet Union - </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.loc.gov/item/2016683579/#:~:text=The%20caption%20is%20a%20statement,actions%20during%20the%20Cold%20War."><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">a</span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">
riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. And this is the attribute on
which our judiciary seems to thrive, when the fact is that for rule of law to
survive, the law should not only be easily understood by those affected, its
interpretation should be such that justice is not only done but seen to be
done. </span><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, who should the judiciary be accountable to? We, the
People; no doubt. But, is it? Definitely not. Worse, it is the one organ that
treats the people, approaching them for the constitutionally mandated services
due from them, in the shabbiest manner possible. Ask any litigant how many
times he had presented himself in a court and had to return after completely
wasting his precious time there, day after day after day. Not to mention the
fees paid to the advocate every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other day, D Y Chandrachud, judge of our apex court had
reportedly said “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We spent so much of our
time reading these files and then advocates come and tell us they need
adjournment in the case. This is unfair</i>" (‘No more tareekh-pe-tareekh;
need to curtail adjournments: Justice Chandrachud’, at </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/no-more-tareekh-pe-tareekh-need-to-curtail-adjournments-justice-chandrachud-1998429-2022-09-09"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/no-more-tareekh-pe-tareekh-need-to-curtail-adjournments-justice-chandrachud-1998429-2022-09-09</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">). He is due
to be the next Chief Justice of India and hope he succeeds in walking his talk.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are some facts brought on record by none other than the
Attorney General of India (‘With over 42 lakh cases pending, Attorney General
asks judges for possible solutions to cut down pendency’ at </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/attorney-general-k-k-venugopal-judges-solutions-pendency-chief-justices-high-court-nv-ramana-1943614-2022-04-29"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/attorney-general-k-k-venugopal-judges-solutions-pendency-chief-justices-high-court-nv-ramana-1943614-2022-04-29</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">75 per cent
of undertrials are in custody and most of whom are poor, and who can’t afford
means.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A large
number of cases which are pending are more than 30 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are
24,000 judge posts in the trial courts and the pendency is 42 lakh cases with
5000 posts vacant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another report ‘Cases stagnate in SC as Constitution Bench
hearings remain pending for decades’ (</span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/cases-pending-supreme-court-constitution-benches-1913234-2022-02-15"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/cases-pending-supreme-court-constitution-benches-1913234-2022-02-15</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) states
that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">At least 35 cases are pending before
the various Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court, many of which would have
serious consequences for the legal system of the country, according to a report
published by Legal research group Vidhi Center for Legal Policy. These include
issues involving the interpretation of tax laws, powers of the court to
consider matters relating to religion, reservation policy etc.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All the
pending cases also have hundreds of connected matters, which means that the
final decision in several hundred cases depends on the decision of the
Constitution Bench.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The oldest
case before a Constitution Bench is the case of Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra
Community v. State of Maharashtra which has been pending since February 28,
1986 (13,135 days) before a five-judge bench. The case also has one tagged
matter that has been pending for over 31 years.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A report in Hindustan Times (‘After 30-year battle, Supreme
Court grants Faridkot Maharaja’s properties to daughters’ at </span><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-30-year-battle-supreme-court-grants-faridkot-maharaja-s-properties-to-daughters-101662574246439.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-30-year-battle-supreme-court-grants-faridkot-maharaja-s-properties-to-daughters-101662574246439.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) informed
its readers on 08 September 2022 that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Punjab and Haryana high court’s order
awarding the majority share of the estate of the erstwhile maharaja of Faridkot,
Sir Harinder Singh Brar, estimated to be worth ₹20,000 crore, to his daughters
–Amrit Kaur and the late Deepinder Kaur – and dissolved the Maharawal Khewaji
Trust, which was looking after the properties.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amrit Kaur had initiated the judicial process by filing a
civil suit in a district court in 1992. It had ruled in her favor in 2013. This
decision was upheld by the High Court in 2020 and has now been upheld by the
apex court. Deepinder Kaur had, meanwhile, passed away in 2018. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now just compare this with a decision of a consumer ‘court’
reported at </span><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/arrange-seva-darshan-or-pay-rs-45-lakh-compensation-to-devotee-consumer-court-tells-tirupati-tirumala-devasthanam/articleshow/93971746.cms"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/arrange-seva-darshan-or-pay-rs-45-lakh-compensation-to-devotee-consumer-court-tells-tirupati-tirumala-devasthanam/articleshow/93971746.cms</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on 03 September 2022 (‘Arrange seva darshan
or pay Rs 45 lakh compensation to devotee, consumer court tells Tirupati
Tirumala Devasthanam’) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As per this report a devotee had booked a Seva at Tirupati
temple 16 years back by paying Rs 12,250/- in June 2006. The slot allotted to
him was in 2020 and due to the pandemic the temple was closed and the Seva
could not be held. He was offered a refund or another VIP darshan. However the
devotee approached the consumer ‘court’ which ordered the TTD to give a fresh
date for the Seva within a year or pay a compensation of Rs 45 lakhs for
deficiency in service and mental agony. It also ordered TTD refund the Rs
12,250/- paid along with an annual interest of 6%. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the refund of the amount paid with interest is the
norm, the order asking for a fresh date to be given within one year or the Rs
45 lakh compensation is ridiculous and preposterous. Given the delay between
booking and allotment of slot, it is reasonable to presume that the Seva would
have been booked at least till 2035 by now and there is no way that TTD could
have found a slot before that for allotting to this devotee. Further, where
does the case for deficiency in service arise when the temple had been closed
on government orders during a pandemic? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have quoted this case only to ask one question: how much
would our courts be required to pay as compensation for deficiency in service
and mental agony of the litigants? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last week of August saw change of guard in our apex
court. CJI N V Ramana relinquished office handing over the baton to U U Lalit
who will carry it for just 74 days. Even while I was wondering whether this
appointment of a CJI for 74 days was in public interest or personal interest,
my attention was brought to a report ‘Judiciary does not find adequate
reflection in media: Outgoing CJI NV Ramana’ on 26 August 2022 at </span><a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/india/judiciary-does-not-find-adequate-reflection-in-media-outgoing-cji-nv-ramana-article-93803612"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.timesnownews.com/india/judiciary-does-not-find-adequate-reflection-in-media-outgoing-cji-nv-ramana-article-93803612</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the claim of the outgoing CJI about judiciary not
finding adequate reflection in media shall be dealt with subsequently, the more
important information in this report was the framework<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the work he intends to do by the new CJI.
The report quotes the CJI as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Let me
place some parts I intend to do in my next innings of 74 days: 3 areas - 1)
We'll strive hard to make the listing as simple, clear and transparent as
possible, 2) You'll have a clear-cut regime where any urgent matters can freely
be mentioned before respective courts, 3) Listing of matters before the
Constitution Benches and matters which are specially referred to Benches of
three judges...<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We will strive hard to
say that yes we will always have at least one Constitution Bench functioning
all throughout the year</b>,"</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last one about having a Constitution bench functioning
throughout the year merits mention not only from the point of pending cases
before constitution benches mentioned earlier, but also the fact that during
Ramana’s tenure of 16 months the highest constitutional court had not set up
even a single constitutional bench. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In ‘Assessing CJI NV Ramana’s legacy through three key
numbers: 0, 163 and 71,411’ at </span><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/cji-n-v-ramana-supreme-court-of-india-8113487/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/cji-n-v-ramana-supreme-court-of-india-8113487/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Alok
Prasanna Kumar wrote: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Zero is the number
of Constitution Benches set up to hear substantial questions of interpretation
of the Constitution or the law. Appeal in the hijab case has been kept pending
for 163 days. 71,411 is the number of cases pending before the Supreme Court as
of August 14, 2022.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On 29 August 2022, I was glad to read (‘Supreme Court
constitutes two constitution benches to hear 8 cases tomorrow’ at </span><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-constitutes-two-constitution-benches-hear-8-cases-tomorrow"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-constitutes-two-constitution-benches-hear-8-cases-tomorrow</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) that the
new CJI had constituted 2 constitution benches of five judges each and
distributed 8 cases between them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I
was disappointed to note that the information about the dates from which these
cases have been pending in the apex court was not reported, the shock came from
one of the cases being taken up:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Plea regarding whether the criteria for
selection can be altered by the authorities concerned in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">middle or</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">after</b> the process of selection has started.</i> Really? Is it a
matter to be decided by a constitution bench of the apex court? If you are not
shocked, please read the case description again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Coming to the observation of N V Ramana that about judiciary
not finding adequate reflection in media, you have seen how many reports have
been quoted in this critique itself. And it is just a fraction of the reports
that have appeared in the media in the last couple of weeks. And here are some
more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a report published on 9 Sep, 2022 (</span><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/just-because-some-big-lawyers-come-and-argue-supreme-court-comes-down-on-madras-high-court-in-sp-velumani-case"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/just-because-some-big-lawyers-come-and-argue-supreme-court-comes-down-on-madras-high-court-in-sp-velumani-case</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">) Judge Ajay
Rastogi had remarked:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What kind of orders are being passed? We
certainly have a lot to say. No application of mind, just because some big
lawyers come and argue...Procedures followed speaks a lot about the High Court</i>".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another report dated 4 Sep, 2022 at </span><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/cji-uu-lalit-addressed-me-sir-bombay-high-court-chief-justice-dipankar-dcji-uu-lalit-atta"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/cji-uu-lalit-addressed-me-sir-bombay-high-court-chief-justice-dipankar-dcji-uu-lalit-atta</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> informed
its readers that, at an event in Nagpur, CJI Lalit had said that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">there are three important attributes to be a
successful lawyer: know the facts, know the law and more important than first
two, know the judge. </i>I had heard a different version long back: good
lawyers know the law, successful lawyers know the judge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A report ‘CJI recalls lawyers’ contribution in drafting
Constitution, freedom struggle, says their percentage in Parliament declining’
on 4 September, 2022 at https://theprint.in/india/cji-recalls-lawyers-contribution-in-drafting-constitution-freedom-struggle-says-their-percentage-in-parliament-declining/1116163/
states: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“All the talent is at the top
level, while, unfortunately, in the mid and lower levels, talented youngsters
and lawyers are not coming. We must have a bottom-heavy pyramid of the judicial
structure,”</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the CJI asserted.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Our country has
seen and benefitted from legal talents, right from its freedom struggle. A
lawyer normally has been exposed to the correct way of thinking on how to find
solutions for social problems or constitutional issues. He is better equipped
than others to deal with situations facing society,” the CJI said.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will just quote Dr Ambedkar and Seth Damodar Swarup to
prove the hollowness of the latter claim. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On 2nd September 1953, by making a statement in the Rajya
Sabha (Parliament) Dr Ambedkar stated that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“People
always keep on saying to me, so you are the maker of the Constitution. My
answer is I was a hack. What I was asked to, I did much against my will. I am
quite prepared to say that I shall be the first person to burn it. It does not
suit anybody.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On 19 November 1949, Seth Damodar Swarup stated in the
Constituent Assembly itself, that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'this
Constitution may be the biggest and bulkiest constitution in the world, may
even be the most detailed one, it may be heaven for the lawyers, and may even
be the Magna Carta for the capitalists of India, but so far as the poor and the
tens of millions of toiling, starving and naked masses of India are concerned,
there is nothing in it for them. For them it is a bulky volume, nothing more
than waste paper.'</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is another report: ‘False charges by litigants after
adverse order tend to demoralise judges: SC’ at </span><a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/false-charges-by-litigants-after-adverse-order-tend-to-demoralise-judges-sc-430475"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/false-charges-by-litigants-after-adverse-order-tend-to-demoralise-judges-sc-430475</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Since the
title of the report itself is self explanatory, let me place my comment on
record: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For long our judges have taken refuge in the fact that one
party to a case will always be aggrieved by the decision of the courts. So, the
touchstone of jurisprudence-justice should not only be done but seen to be
done-was given the by, blatantly and with impunity. But like another proverb
goes-you cannot fool all the people all time- judges are now being criticized
even by non-litigants who get to read about court proceedings and decisions
from mainstream media as well as citizen reporters, through social media. This
obviously cannot be appreciated by our judges. But unless the judges walk the
talk there cannot be any reprieve. Even lawyers appear to have lost confidence
in our courts, going by the way they have been taking to streets and protesting
like political parties. There have been no dearth of judges criticizing the
system either.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also, judges may have their own logic and reasons but so do
the citizens while judging judges. Judging is an innate habit of every human
being and not a proprietary quality given to judges only. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us for a moment keep aside the cases of litigants
affected by adverse verdicts. Take the case of ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan
who was falsely implicated in an espionage case, involving women, and who
suffered badly in many ways- physical and mental torture, loss of job,
reputation etc. Even after his acquittal by the apex court, he had been given
only a pittance of compensation. Worse, the perpetrators are yet to be punished
too, if ever they will be punished.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fast forward to a former judge of the apex court who sued a
news channel for Rs 100 crores for defamation for displaying his photo while
reporting another judge involved in a scam. It was a genuine mistake as anybody
conversant with digital libraries will understand. No loss of job, no torture,
nothing. While millions may have watched the news report one doesn't know how
many would have linked the name used in the report with the photo displayed.
But still a compensation of Rs 100 Crores for defamation?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To conclude, let me quote some judges: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Corruption
in the judiciary is a big problem. Nothing can be worse for the legal
system,"</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mr. Venkatachala (then Lokayukta) said at a function
organised by the Federation of Bar Associations in Karnataka to felicitate him.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Former Chief Justice of India, Y. K.
Sabharwal: "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The justice delivery
system has reached its nadir"<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Already
citizens are frustrated with the justice delivery system and only less than 10%
of the litigants who have disputes are approaching the court</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,"
Justice Kirubakaran (of Madras High Court) observed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Supreme Court judges in India,
Justices S. B. Sinha and Markandeya Katju, are of the opinion that "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> … everywhere, we have corruption. Nothing
is free from corruption. Everybody wants to loot this country. The only
solution for this menace is to hang some people in the public so that it acts
as a deterrent on others</i>." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Judges B. N. Agarwal and G. S
Singhvi have expressed the same sentiments, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"for
the bureaucracy in the country to work without corruption, these bureaucrats
need to be flogged</i>."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Thus,
corruption in judiciary is the greatest enemy to the Constitution and judiciary
must also initiate drastic measures in order to control corruption in various
forms,”</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Justice Subramaniam added.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“In
this connection we wish to say that the reputation of an institution is damaged
and its image sullied when some of its members pass shocking orders and behave
in a totally unacceptable manner.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha
Misra<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P M
Ravindran</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">/
</span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12 Sep 2022<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-69732440928730215252022-09-25T03:52:00.002-07:002022-09-25T03:52:59.777-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-20<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">There was a report at </span><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/we-are-answerable-to-the-constitution-and-constitution-alone-cji/articleshowprint/92615487.cms?val=3728"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/we-are-answerable-to-the-constitution-and-constitution-alone-cji/articleshowprint/92615487.cms?val=3728</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> (We are
answerable to the Constitution and Constitution alone: CJI; Jul
2, 2022)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It really was shocking for
two reasons: the first, of course, was denigrating the democratically elected
government in foreign soil because the CJI was speaking at a felicitation organized
by the Association of Indian Americans in San Francisco; and two, the stupidity
evident in the assertion ‘We are answerable to the Constitution and
Constitution alone’. And for the Chief Justice of India to expose his ignorance
like this is unpardonable. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is what he had said,
as per the report:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-></span>
W<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">ith the change in government, policies do
change, however no sensible government would alter the policies to slow down
the growth of its own territory. Unfortunately, we do not come across such
sensibility and maturity in India too often, whenever there is a change in
government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">->
We still haven't learnt to appreciate wholly the roles and responsibilities
assigned by the Constitution to each of the institutions. The party in power
believes that every governmental action is entitled to judicial endorsement,
and the Opposition expects the judiciary to advance their political positions
and causes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is the vigorously promoted ignorance among
the general public which is coming to the aid of such forces whose only aim is to
run down the only independent organ, .i.e. the judiciary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">->
Principle of inclusivity is universal. It needs to be honored everywhere in the
world, including in India.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
the following questions arise:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What did the CJI
mean by altering polices to slow down the growth of its own territory? Growth
of territory has only one implication- aggression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there anyway one can interpret what he has
said to mean growth of the people of the country? I have heard of Dr Rajendra
Prasad, first President of India, having made an observation that a country is
not its land, its hills or rivers or its deserts and forests, but its people. When
the fact is so simple why did the CJI opt for such a term that has a totally
different meaning the way he has used it? Can it be attributed to lack of
knowledge of English and dismissed?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hearing the CJI
taking about sensibility and maturity of the people in government was preposterous.
He is heading an institution where judges have been availing unwarranted
holidays oblivious to the cases piling up every day, and flouting even the laws
that limit adjournments leading to citizens languishing in jails as under
trials for periods longer than the periods for which they would have been
sentenced if convicted and some getting acquitted after decades of such incarceration
(when even those convicted of murder get a maximum of 14 years, unless, of
course, the victim is a judge!). Isn’t it a case of charcoal calling the cheese
black?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Does every party
in power believe that every governmental action needs judicial endorsement? I
was, and still am, under the impression that it is the judiciary that has been
claiming that every act of the government is subject to judicial review. And we
have seen how the judiciary had usurped the power of the Executive to appoint
judges (coincidentally, when there were weak coalition governments at the
Centre) and constituted an unconstitutional collegium of judges to appoint
them. The nepotism ushered in thereafter is now the talk of the town, with even
judicial pundits demanding a change. Even a constitutionally enacted National
Judicial Appointments Commission Act was trashed by these very judges, with at least
one of them dissenting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And here comes
one of the biggest bloomers- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It is the
vigorously promoted ignorance among the general public…. </i>Coming from the
head of an organ that has been in the forefront of subverting even the Right to
Information Act, I can only ask: what cheeks! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Right to
Information Act was enacted with the explicit purpose of promoting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">transparency and accountability in the
working of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">every public authority</b></i>
but the judiciary has, through the rules promulgated by the Chief Justice(s),
officially kept its judicial functions out of purview of this law. Worse, it
introduced a fee of Rs 500/- as application fee (when it is only Rs 10/- for
every other public authority) and Rs 5/- per page of photostatted information
(against Rs 2/- by other public authorities). And there was even a fee for
appeal. Though these have been changed thereafter, it is still to comply with
the mandated proactive disclosure of certain information specified in Section
4(1)(b) of the Act. I leave it to the readers to access the information, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pertaining to judges</b>, that are
disclosed against Section 4(1)(b)(x) of the Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For ease of understanding this is reproduced
here: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the monthly remuneration received
by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as
provided in its regulations</i>. It is pertinent to state here that this
information pertaining the remaining officers and employees (What is the
difference between them? Aren’t the officers employees?) is available at the
web site of the apex court in a reasonable format, though not exactly as is
expected. But even that is not the case with some high courts. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And, what should
one make out of …<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">such forces</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> whose only
aim is to run down the only independent organ, .i.e. the judiciary? </i>Can any
institution of governance (and there should not be any doubt that the judiciary
is very much an institution of governance with specific tasks assigned to it by
We, the People, through a written Constitution) be absolutely independent, the
way N V Ramana has made it out to be? Doesn’t he know the meaning and import of
the term democracy? In any case, the National Commission to review the
Constitution (a judiciary-headed, judiciary-heavy body), in its report
submitted in 2002, had unambiguously stated that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the highest office in a democracy
is that of the citizen.</i></b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>pontification about inclusivity I shall
repeat just one question, posed earlier by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, when he was
the President of this country: why is it that when all the scams reported in
the media are of the order of crores of rupees, all the under trials in the
jails are from the poor and marginalized sections of the society?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We recently had the horror
of two judges of the Supreme Court throwing a petitioner to the wolves and
making off the record comments that can be seen as only insane. Nupur Sharma,
then a spokesperson for the ruling party at the Centre, was provoked, on a talk
show, by a Muslim participant, to retorting with quotes from the holy books of
Islam. Another Muslim, a journalist at that, edited the video and spread it on
social media with a false assertion that she had spoken blasphemously. It was
enough to flare up communal passions and many threats, including on Nupur’s life,
were issued both from within the country and without. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were many First Information Reports
filed all over India too against the petitioner and the petitioner’s only plea
was to combine all of them and transfer them to a court in Delhi, where the
first case had been filed. When the law itself is clear that an accused cannot
be punished for the same offence more than once, it was a reasonable
requirement and with precedences galore, it should have been disposed off
within 15 minutes. But that was not to be. Not only was the petition dismissed
but the comments made by the judges had literally, to my mind, dug the last
nails on the coffin of judicial reliability and credibility. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile, in the case of Zubair,
the Muslim journalist who caused the communal flare up which resulted even in a
few murders in different parts of the country and had different cases in
different parts of the country, was given the benefit of getting all the cases
clubbed and transferred to Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly, I haven’t
come across any report against the one who had provoked Nupur by talking
blasphemously about Lord Shiva and other Hindu gods. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Radha Rajan, a political
thinker and author, writing on ‘High Court and Supreme Court ‘jallikattu’ the
PCA Act’ (</span><a href="http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=2195"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=2195</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">; 21 Feb 2012) has stated that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'...for judges of the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court, the PCA
Act is a dog is a monkey is a bear is an elephant; intriguingly, a dog is also
not a dog on another day.'</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Whenever we talk of
judiciary in India it is invariably about delays, tariq pe tariq (adjournments,
ad infinitum) arbitrariness, lack of transparency and, accountability, pending
piles of cases, summer, winter and festival holidays, uncle judges, bench
hunting, docket hunting,. And the judges have only one blasphemously illogical
judge to population ratio to blame for all these shortcomings/evils prevailing
in the system. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is my experience that
every facet of judicial functions needs to be revisited. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To begin at the beginning,
one need to ask when judges are supposed to know the law and the litigants the
facts, why should there be advocates, as middle men, in our courts? As renowned
constitutional expert Fali S Nariman stated in his book ‘India’s legal system:
Can it be saved?’: For more years than I can imagine we lawyers have been using
our lawyering skills not in a profession but in a game, in which the more
skilful (which tends to become also the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>more costly), will invariably win. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
requirement of a level playing field is ab initio violated. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Ban on advocates in courts
would also reduce the need for avoidable adjournments. HD Shourie, writing in
the New Indian Express on 04 December 2004, had stated: 'Lawyers are accused of
employing delaying methods, but no lawyer can succeed if the court refuses an
adjournment.'<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Law qualified citizens
need not fear unemployment because they should be given licenses to act as
arbitrators/mediators, which should be the first level of resolution of any
dispute that are not serious offences needing professional investigation.
Escalation should follow a system generally followed in the medical field. The
intricacies need to be worked out by a composite team of experts in the fields
of law, management, computer technology and Artificial Intelligence. But it
should definitely involve grading the arbitrators/mediators based on
client/consumer experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Next, once the charges
have been framed the trial should commence with least delay and should continue
on a day today basis. This has the advantage of the evidences being presented
and countered when they are fresh and also the judge can focus on the case much
better to arrive at better conclusions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Only one level of appeal
should be provided and the highest court of the land should only deal with
constitutional issues and inter-state issues. It is quite disheartening to see
rich people approaching even the apex court for bail just because they can
afford to pay the preposterous fees charged by lawyers practicing there. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While all essential
services provided by the Executive organ is free or comes with nominal cost, it
is again frustrating that one cannot approach courts without money. Even
approaching a consumer court has proved to be a costly affair, mainly, of
course, due to involvement of advocates. In fact when the Consumer Protection
Act was sought to be amended mandating the respondent to engage an advocate
only if the complainant has engaged one, there was such a hue and cry from the
Bar that it was dropped like a plate of hot potato. Isn’t it obnoxious that
when open heart surgeries can be done in this country for a couple of lakhs of
rupees, advocates can charge in lakhs for a simple conference or attending a
hearing? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have seen Public
Relations Officers in the offices of the Motor Vehicle Department and even in
police stations to freely guide citizens on the procedures followed there. Most
of the forms are available even on their websites. Why can’t the judiciary have
a team of law qualified persons to man a cell in court complexes for guiding
litigants free of cost? And have formats for various types of petitions
available for downloading from their websites? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Kerala Government had,
a few years back, uploaded a series of formats for land registration documents
which citizens can download freely, fill up and register their transaction at
rates prescribed by the government and totally avoid document writers who had
been exploiting the public by charging for their services in terms of
percentage of the value of the land being registered (not any different from
the fees charged by advocates). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The need to cut out the
foreboding environment in court rooms cannot be overemphasized. The judges need
to behave like human beings and not like someone out there dispensing favors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Chief Justice of US
Supreme Court, John Marshall, had once said: "Power of Judiciary lies not
in deciding cases, nor in Imposing sentences nor in punishing for contempt, but
in the trust, faith and confidence of the common man". <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Our judiciary has a long
way to go to earn the trust, faith and confidence of the masses. The judiciary
may claim that the mountain of pending cases is a testimony to the faith of the
common man in the judiciary. Nothing could be far from the truth. In an
institutionalized system of justice delivery the common man has no other
options. In fact the failure of the judiciary is being exploited by the other
organs to shirk work, harass the citizens and drive them to taking law into
their own hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To conclude this part, let
me quote Aravind Kumar, Jurist and lawyer from a report ('Needed high speed
legal redressal') in the Pioneer of 01 August 2006: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Justice is an intrinsic human need. We suffer much privation but we
cannot suffer being wronged. Absence of justice, we must not forget, is one of
the causes of crime.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/
raviforjustice@gmail.com<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>23 Aug 2022<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-27530595592627065012022-09-25T03:51:00.000-07:002022-09-25T03:51:20.082-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-19<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Every time I deal with
Indian officials I become so depressed that I almost need therapy.’ wrote
Tavleen Singh in ‘India’s bureaucratic albatross’ (Posted online: Sunday , Feb
21, 2010 at </span><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/582409/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/582409/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I do not know what she
would have written had she ever visited a court in our country. To my mind, it
can only be worse. One visit to the court, whether as applicant (like me
seeking a court of ward’s permission to avail a housing loan by mortgaging a
piece of ancestral land in the name of my children, which I had to withdraw
after 4 years) or a petitioner or a respondent (as millions would vouch for)
our courts evoke only negative emotions like disgust, frustration, anger etc,
either one at a time or in combination, including all of them together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">No institution has been
treating litigants as shabbily as our courts. Summoning someone, even under threat
of arrest, and then adjourning the matter without progressing it one step
further, is a criminal trait peculiar to our judiciary though we are used to
referring to it disgustedly as tariq pe tariq. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The National Commission to
Review the Working of the Constitution, which had submitted its report in 2002,
has asserted that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'the crucial failure is
the innate resistance in governments and governmental processes to the
fundamental article of democracy, viz. that<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
all power and all authority flows from the people and that all public
institutions are meant solely to serve the public interest. </b>The assurance
of the dignity of the individual enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution
has remained unredeemed; From this fundamental breach of the constitutional
faith flow almost all our present ills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The first and the foremost need is to place
the citizens of this country at center-stage and demonstrate this
prioritization in all manifestation of governance'</b>.</i> To be sure, we need
to acknowledge that the judiciary is very much part of this governmental
processes. And, from my experience and view, it is the worst. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have written earlier of
how our judiciary is a failure when viewed from all the fundamental principles of
jurisprudence, viz justice delayed is justice denied, justice should not only
be done but seen to be done and capital punishment should be given in the
rarest of rarest cases. All the 18 parts of this series have been posted to the
Chief Justice of India, between 10 Sep 2021 and 28 Apr 2022, at his email id (</span><a href="mailto:cji.office@sci.nic.in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">cji.office@sci.nic.in</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) available on the apex court’s website. I have even
quoted senior advocates of our courts to trash the only reason-judge to
population ratio- touted by our judges for the mounting pendency. The
unconstitutional Collegium, nepotism and favoritism, the undemocratic and
widely (mis)used contempt of court laws, miscarriages of justice even after the
preposterously inordinate delays have all been analyzed from a law abiding
ordinary citizen’s point of view. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The current Chief Justice
of India, Mr N V Ramana, is due to retire on 26 August 2022. On 16 Aug 2022
there was report in the Hindustan Times (Rise in pendency in top court due to
Covid-19 restrictions: CJI Ramana; </span><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rise-in-pendency-in-top-court-due-to-covid-19-restrictions-cji-ramana-101660585339010.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rise-in-pendency-in-top-court-due-to-covid-19-restrictions-cji-ramana-101660585339010.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) where in he has tried to blame the rise in pendency
on Covid restrictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a futile
effort to wash the sense guilt in public. Of course Covid did create fear of
the unknown. But then health workers (who were directly affected and subject to
the worst form of threat) were working on overdrive and without even any
additional compensation. So with the police. The Executive orders were clear-
all essential service will continue to work. While the health workers and
police worked overtime most other government services were delivered with 25
percent to 50 percent employees working regularly but in shifts. As was the
wont with the Executive, here also the discretion of providing their services was
left to judiciary. And the judiciary, forgetting the mountain of backlog and
the criticism that it had been inviting from the public, did what they are good
at- set up ‘vacation’ like bench(es) and went home. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The question has always
rattled me- was the judiciary affected by Covid as much as the Executive organ
of the Constitution? The answer has been a definite no. The interaction, both
in terms of volume and proximity, by those manning executive positions in
government, with the public is any day much, much more than in the case of
judge/advocate-litigant interactions. While, even during normal times, there is
the need for judiciary to work like the police, round the clock, there was
nothing stopping the judiciary from working regularly even during the Covid
times. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact it was a golden
opportunity to streamline the docket management to practical levels. What we
find during normal times is preposterous. The list of cases for the day is too
long and almost 90 percent of the cases listed (at least in the lower courts)
are adjourned during the mustering itself. The loss of court’s time and
harassment the litigants suffer can easily be imagined by any rational human
being. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The other day there was a
message being circulated through social media by a litigant, a senior citizen,
about to be an octogenarian, with much physical debility, whose fault was he
had turned a whistle blower and exposed serious corruption in a high profile
organization in which he had worked towards the end of his service. The salient
points are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt;">-> 15<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> years have elapsed since the FIR, charge sheet and
complaint were filed u/s 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-> 14 years back a petition was filed in a high
court to quash the FIR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; tab-stops: 4.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-</span> > <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Arguments
in this case were closed and judgment reserved five years back<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-</span>
> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">After 18 months, the case was listed again
for clarification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then hearings
are being held on technical matters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And this is not an
isolated case. I know the plight of another citizen who has been litigating for
the pension he is entitled to. He had quit service after 18 years, with a clean
record, but has been denied not only pension but even gratuity like terminal
benefits only on the ground that he had resigned. His case had been tossed
between the Central Administrative Tribunal and the High Court a few times and
the final arguments were concluded in the high court five years back. The
advocate who had been representing him had then only handed over the case file
to him and asked him to wait for the judgment. And he is still waiting.
Meanwhile the judge has moved to the apex court without delivering the judgment
and without any qualms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the advice of
the advocate he had written to the registrar of the high court but not got any
response either. The litigant is at a loss as to how to pursue the matter
further.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another report of the same
day states ‘Supreme Court bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, AS Bopanna sits
till 6:40 pm’ (</span><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-bench-justices-dy-chandrachud-as-bopanna-sits-till-640-pm"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-bench-justices-dy-chandrachud-as-bopanna-sits-till-640-pm</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) Possibly remembering the old quip ‘when a dog bites
a man it is no news, but when a man bites a dog it becomes news’, Chandrachud
was prompt to assert, as per the report, that ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">when judges sit beyond usual court hours to hear cases, it eats into
their time in chambers normally spent for research and writing judgments, and
not into their family time.</i>’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While I am inclined to
question the extent, if not the veracity of this claim of time spent on
research and writing judgments,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will restrict
now just stating that I will believe this claim only when it is supported by
data or at least on the usual time a judge reaches the court complex and leaves
it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It definitely has to be data that
has been compiled and which can be verified by citizens themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We have heard of how a
trial court, in the defamation case filed by a former supreme court judge,
ordered Rs 100 crores to be paid by a video news channel. The gist of the case
was that while reporting about a scam involving a judge the channel telecast
the photo of the petitioner. The channel, on realizing the mistake, offered
apologies but the judge felt that it was not sincere. And so the case was
filed. Both, the high court and apex court, refused to consider the appeals unless
a certain percentage of the amount, a hefty amount, was deposited by the
channel. Nothing has been heard of the final outcome though it is almost a
decade since the first report appeared in the media. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now here is a case where a
lower court judge died in an accident, alleged to be a murder. The report at </span><a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dhanbad-judge-murder-court-says-culprits-must-remain-in-jail-till-end-of-life-2976352"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dhanbad-judge-murder-court-says-culprits-must-remain-in-jail-till-end-of-life-2976352</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> does not state anywhere that there was any motive for
murder, if it was one. The auto driver and another person have been convicted
under Sec 302 (</span>Whoever commits murder shall be punished with death or
imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine) <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and 201 (</span>Causing disappearance of evidence of
offence, or giving false information to screen offender) <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of the Indian Penal Code. Both have been sentenced to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rigorous
imprisonment for life without any remission and commutation till the last
breath. </i></b>It is pertinent to note that there was no conspiracy that was
alleged or proved or punished for. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In any case murder cases
are not uncommon in our country and unless punished with hanging till death, it
is usually life imprisonment and even if life imprisonment is awarded in
multiple charges in the same case they are allowed to be run concurrently. That
is the maximum punishment that a convict will undergo is 14 years of
imprisonment, including the time spent in jail prior to the punishment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember the case of a
school teacher in northern Kerala who was murdered in broad daylight in a class
room, in front of his primary school students. The trial court had sentenced
six of the accused to death. The High Court had upheld the verdict. Years
later, the apex court acquitted all except one and even in his case the death
sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Meanwhile the convicts had spent
almost the same time in jail and only the one whose sentence was commuted had
to spent a few years more as a mere prisoner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Incidentally Section 194
of the IPC provide for punishment for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Giving
or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital
offence.</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have not come across any report of any prosecution
under this section. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, cases have come to
light even where innocents have been executed in this country, where we are
told that not only capital punishment is awarded in rarest of rare cases but
that even if a 100 criminals go unpunished not one innocent shall be punished. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Relevant extracts of a
report (</span><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/19-years-on-supreme-court-frees-man-jailed-as-minor/articleshow/93530867.cms"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/19-years-on-supreme-court-frees-man-jailed-as-minor/articleshow/93530867.cms</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> ) dated 13 Aug 2022 are reproduced here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">After spending almost <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">19 years in jail, that too after being declared a juvenile nine years
ago</b>, the Supreme Court Friday granted a prison inmate relief and ordered
his release forthwith on bail saying he could not be kept in detention any
further.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Taking note of the Juvenile Justice Board order declaring
him juvenile way back in 2014, a bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and V
Ramasubramanian said <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a juvenile cannot
be detained in custody beyond three years</b> as per the provisions of the
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, which was in
force at the material time when the incident took place, and granted him bail.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The life convict had to pass through a very difficult
phase with 19 years in jail. He had to spend seven years in the shadow of death
as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">he was awarded the death sentence in
2005 but it was commuted to life imprisonment in 2012 by the President</b>. He
was convicted by a trial court and awarded death sentence in the 2003 murder case.
The lower court order was upheld by Allahabad HC and finally the Supreme Court.
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Being illiterate and not aware about
law, he did not raise the defence of juvenility and neither did his lawyer at
any stage of court proceedings.<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">His
juvenility came to light when the Allahabad HC directed Juvenile Justice Boards
to examine prisoners in jails in UP, while hearing a PIL</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course many important
information is missing from the report like what was the age of the convict
when he committed the crime, what was his motive, did he commit the crime alone
etc etc. Still there are a number of public servants involved in getting/awarding
him the capital punishment. And one thing should be clear: almost all legally
binding documents begin with details including the age of the parties involved.
For example, XYZ, son/daughter of ABC, age…., residing at….. So, one can see
how many public servants have defaulted. But<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">is anybody being held
responsible and punished? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And here is an equally
bizarre instance, reported by Bar and Bench (</span><a href="https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/bombay-high-court-expresses-displeasure-at-lawyers-attempt-to-change-judicial-order-by-going-to-judges-personal-secretary"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/bombay-high-court-expresses-displeasure-at-lawyers-attempt-to-change-judicial-order-by-going-to-judges-personal-secretary</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Siddhi Real Estate
Developers v. State of Maharashtra & Anr, the Mumbai High Court had refused
to entertain the request of the petitioner <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to
allow deposit of 50% of the total demand raised. </i>The petitioner’s lawyer
then approached the personal secretary of one of the judges and persuaded
him/her to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">include in the order a
direction for a 50% deposit.</i> The matter was brought to the notice of the
judges and the matter was heard in open court the next day. The bench of two
judges, even while observing that it was a sharp (whatever that means legally)
practice, chose just to remind the lawyer that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he was first and foremost an officer of the court </i>but refrained
from taking any stricter action.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am reminded of a high
profile case in Delhi where lawyers of the opposing parties colluded to subvert
the due process of law and when caught they were just barred from appearing in
the court for six months. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me conclude for now
with a quip: those who can smile while things go wrong have already thought of
whom to blame it on. In the case of our judges they can blame the
investigators, prosecutors, the executive, the legislatures and everybody else
except own responsibility for their own failures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran / </span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">raviforjustice@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>18 August 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-55054697598429311552022-05-09T06:50:00.003-07:002022-05-09T06:50:52.654-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-18<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This series was triggered
by two questionable court orders-one, by the Gauhati High Court, </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dated
15/03/2018 in WP(C) 4224/2016, </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and two,
the apex court order, </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">08/07/2019,
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">upholding the same in </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">SLP (Civil) Diary Number 18133/2019</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. What better way to dovetail the break in the main
thread due to current events and get back to the main thread, than by updating
on the status of implementation of those orders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let us quickly
recapitulate what has been narrated in detail in Judicial Perfidies 1. The issue
before the Gauhati High Court was raised by one of its former Acting chief
Justices, whose date of birth was </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">30/07/1936,
retired on </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">29-07-1998 on </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
eve of his attaining the age of 62 years </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(1936+62=
1998),</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">demanded
enhanced pension, due to pensioners on attaining the age of 80, with effect
from 30/07/2015 when by the logic of his retirement age itself, he would have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">attained</b> 80 years only on 30/07/2016
(1936+80= 2016). His claim was that he had <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">entered</b>
80 years of age on 30/07/2015. The High Court accepted his argument and ordered
the government to pay him enhanced pension. The apex court dismissed the
Special Leave Petition filed by the Central Government simply stating that they
did not want to interfere with the orders of the High Court. It became law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What the courts did not
reckon with are the following facts:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
scheme of enhanced pension was introduced in 2006 by the 6<sup>th</sup> Central
Pay Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It
applied to all central government pensioners, as much as to the judges of our
high courts and apex court.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Thousands
of central government pensioners and hundreds of high court/supreme court
judges would have attained 80 years of age and got the enhanced pension between
01 Jan 2006 and 2015 and none of them had raised such a ludicrous claim for
obvious reasons. So this verdict becomes applicable to all of them as well as
to all those <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">entering</i></b> 80 years of age on their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">attaining</i></b> the age of 79
years itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
the same logic of entering and attaining an age, should extend to the
retirement age also and hence employees who have to retire on attaining
60/62/65 years of age will now have to retire on entering those ages one year
in advance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And, as was expected, a
central government employees union wrote, on 26 August 2021, to the Central
Government to extend this to all pensioners and circulated that letter on
social media. That was when this instance of a special dispensation came into
public domain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">An application, dated 02
Sep 2021, under the Right to Information Act was delivered to the Ministry of
Law and Justice on 06 September 2021, seeking the following information:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. Have the orders been complied with? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2. If enhanced pension has been granted to the
petitioner with effect from 30/07/2015, along with interest due, provide copies
of the relevant file notes and the order granting the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
The date on which payment as per para 2.2 has been made and the arrears paid.
The arrears and interest paid should be shown separately.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">4.
Has the relief been granted to similarly placed pensioners?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">5.
If the relief has been granted to similarly placed pensioners, provide copies
of the relevant file notes and the order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">6.
If the order has not been complied with, provide copies of the Contempt of
Court petition filed, if any, by the decree holder, the counter filed, the case
number and its present status.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The reply, dated 30
September 2021 but posted only on 05 October 2021, by the Public Information
Officer (PIO) provided the following information:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that the sanction was issued by the
Accountant General Assam and hence the application was forwarded to that public
authority<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Department of Justice does not sanction
additional quantum of pension to retired judges.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-No contempt petition has been filed<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
the PIO was required to send copies of the application or its relevant extracts
to concerned public authorities for providing information not held with the
public authority to whom the application was addressed. This was to be done
within 5 working days of receipt of the application and the same had to be
intimated to the applicant. This was not done. It had been done only on 5
October along with the copy of the reply provided to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also,
as per Section 21 of The High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service)
Act, 1954, it is the President of India who is the competent authority to grant
extraordinary pension to a judge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Further,
as per information disclosed under Sec 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, under Allocation
of Business Rules, 1961, it is the function of the Department of Justice to
deal with the appointment, resignation and removal, etc. of Chief Justice and
Judges of High Courts in States; their salaries, rights in respect of leave of
absence (including leave allowances), pensions and travelling allowances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Though
these matters were raised in the first appeal under the RTI Act, submitted on
13 Oct 2021, there was no response from the appellate authority and the second
appeal, filed on 31 December 2021 is pending with the Central Information
Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Subsequently,
a letter, dated 10 January 2022, was received from the PIO of Principal Accountant
General (A&E) Assam, informing the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-The
Enhanced Pension Authority has been issued to PAO, CPAO, New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-The
information sought at para 2 of the application is exempt as per Sec 8(1)(j) of
the RTI Act<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Date
of payment is not known to the office of the Principal Accountant General
(A&E) Assam<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-No
relief has been granted to similarly placed pensioners<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-A
contempt of court petition had been filed and bears the number 635/2020. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
first appeal highlighting the deficiencies/defects in the above reply was filed
on 08 March 2022 and there has been no response till date. Some of these are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- Sec
8(1)(j) of the RTI Act exempts only those personal information which has no
relationship to any public activity or interest. In this case both the court
order and its compliance have public interest to the extent that it affects all
pensioners of the central government and its consequent effect on the public
exchequer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-In
the matter of information not known/held with the public authority, the PIO
should have forwarded the application or relevant part of the application, to
the one holding such information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Since
the Contempt petition is of 2020, the date of compliance of the order is
material and it has not been provided even though specifically sought. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">It is also surprising that the
PIO of Department of Justice had informed that no contempt of court case has
been filed, though the Ministry of Law and Justice was one of the respondents
along with <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Principal Accountant General
(A&E) Assam in the original case decided by Assam High Court. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It
should also be noted that most of the information has not been provided by the
two PIOs. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly, I could get
a copy of Bill No 144/2021 to amend the High Court Judges (Salaries and
Conditions of Service) Act, 1954 and the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and
Conditions of Service) Act, 1958 where by an explanation was inserted as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For the removal of doubts, it is hereby
clarified that any entitlement for additional quantum of pension or family
pension shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, from the first day
of the month in which the pensioner or family pensioner completes the age specified
in the first column of the scale.".<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now the ages specified in
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">first column of the scale </i>are as
under:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 9.35pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From eighty years to less than eighty
five years <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 9.35pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From eight five years to less than
ninety years <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 9.35pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From ninety years to less than ninety
five years, and <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 9.35pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From ninety five years to less than
hundred years.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here,
the question is whether this clarification was actually required or not.
Because, given that you celebrate your first birthday when you are one year old,
you will celebrate your 80<sup>th</sup> birthday when you are 80 years old or
80 years of age. So you add 80 to the year of your birth in your date of birth to
get the date when you are 80 years of age. The illustration has already been
given at the beginning of this part of the critique. And this happens to be the
date on which you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">enter</b> 80 years of
age, because there after you continue to be 80 plus one day, two days, three
days…till 80 plus 365 days when you will be 81 years of age. So you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">complete</b> 80 years of age only on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">attaining</b> 81 years of age or on your 81<sup>st</sup>
birthday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyhow,
this looks like an effort to seek a simplistic solution to deny the benefit to
similarly placed pensioners. But whether it will suffice to deny the benefit
granted to an ex Chief Justice of a High Court by the same High Court, and
upheld by the apex court, remains to be seen. For that we will have to await the
disposal of the pending contempt of court case, which legally need not be
concluded in any specific time frame. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile
here is an extract from a humorous piece written by a former member, Avay
Shukla, of the Indian Administrative Service and has been in circulation on
social media.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the early eighties I was posted as a
joint secretary in the finance department at Shimla. My duties involved
approving claims for medical reimbursement. Those days contact lenses were
deemed to be a cosmetic procedure and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>their expenses were not reimbursable. One day I received a claim from a
High Court judge who had contact lenses fixed. I promptly took the file to the
finance secretary. The secretary looked at me with a cunning grin and said:
“Approve it!”. I was aghast, just as Moses must have been when he saw the
Israelites worshipping the golden calf.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“But the rules, sir ...” I blurted. And
then the finance secretary explained: “Avay, you must understand the rules
which govern rules. The most important rule in government is the rule of
precedents. A precedent, once set, is sacrosanct, notwithstanding all other
rules. Once you allow something for one person you cannot deny it to others. So
let this judge have his bloody contact lenses—after all, how can a lowly
finance secretary refuse a mighty High Court judge? And hereinafter all of us
can also have contact lenses!” And that’s how contact lenses are now
reimbursable. We now have more IAS officers adorned with the lenses than
starlets in Bollywood.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
another one from a blog at </span><a href="http://indiamydreamland.blogspot.com/2010/12/indian-judiciary-dream-unfulfilled.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://indiamydreamland.blogspot.com/2010/12/indian-judiciary-dream-unfulfilled.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A budding lawyer working with his lawyer
dad, exclaimed to his father. “Dad, Dad you must congratulate me on the first
major success of my career, because today I have finally settled your 28 years
old case, pending since, even before my birth”. The shocked father rebuked his
happy son saying, you are a fool. This is the case which helped me, to bring
you up from your childhood, and made you a lawyer. This case would have now
helped me, to get you suitably married too. In my view you still need to learn
a lot, to truly acquire the wisdom, intelligence and the system of functioning
of a lawyer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To
conclude this part, the notings in File No A1-3141/2012 of the Kerala High Court
on the subject of Post-retiral benefits to Honorable Judges-Government
Orders-reg is attached. No comments are being added, except that this is the
only information I have got from a court under the Right to Information Act.
The ones that had been stonewalled shall be dealt with separately.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M
Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/280422<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-54993679361355929462022-05-09T06:46:00.003-07:002022-05-09T06:49:36.940-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-17<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I had concluded the last
part, Judicial Perfidies 16, with a tweet of a view of judge D Y Chandrachud
and a reply tweet by another tweeter. It was like Chandrachud saying ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The army might be important in its own right
but the Constitutional court is equally supreme’</i> and the reply was ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Army is supreme for the simple reason
Supreme Court can sit on a case for decades and life goes on as usual but army
can’t postpone its response to aggression by the enemy. If it does there will be
no country and no Supreme Court.</i>’ Can the truism in that logic be countered
in any manner? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is another equally
non debatable logic in another quote. This is what T.R.Ramaswami, had written: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'Let not someone say that the IAS and IPS
exams are tougher and hence the quality of the officers better. An exam at the
age of 24 has to be tougher than one at the age of 16. The taxpaying citizen is
not interested in your essay/note writing capabilities or whether you know
Cleopatra's grandfather. As a citizen I always see the army being called to
hold the pants of the civil services and the police and never the other way
round. That's enough proof as to who is really more capable.</i>'(The complete
is available at </span><a href="http://exairwarriorsgroup.blogspot.com/2010/04/read-this.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://exairwarriorsgroup.blogspot.com/2010/04/read-this.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Before I go on to analyze
the One Rank, One Pension conundrum, let us first understand what it means.
Rank is primarily a military term. So One Rank, One Pension basically implies
the same pension for those retiring in a particular rank, irrespective of the
date of retirement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If it is that simple, then
where is the problem? The problem is because of the limited career progression
available to the men in uniform compared to their counterparts in the civil
administration and the early retirement forced on soldiers due to their tasking
which requires a young profile, especially at the lower levels of the
hierarchy. While most of the troops have been retiring in the rank in which
they join after serving for 15 to 25 years (this appears to have been mitigated
to some extent through a Minimum Assured Career Progression offered lately and
referred to in the recent OROP verdict of the apex court), the incongruity is
glaring at the officer’s level in comparison with their civilian counterparts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going back to Ramaswami, this is what he has
observed:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The 1981 IPS batch have become 3-star
generals, the 1987 are 2-star and the 1994 1-star.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the army the corresponding years are
1972, 1975, 1979. ie a differential of 10-15 years. While the differential is
more with the IAS, the variance with the IPS is all the more glaring because
both are uniformed services and the grades are “visible” on the shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He
continues…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the IAS normally everyone reaches
Director and in the IPS it is DIG. In the army, given the aforementioned rank
and grade rigidities and pyramidical structure, the mode rank cannot exceed
Colonel. Thus a Colonel’s gross career earnings (not salary scales alone) must
be at par with that of a Director. But remember that a Colonel retires at 54,
but every babu from peon to Secretary at 60 regardless of performance. Further,
it takes 18-20 years to become a Colonel whereas in that time an IAS officer
reaches the next higher grade of Joint Secretary, which is considered equal to
a Major General. These aspects and others – like postings in non-family
stations – must be addressed while fixing the overall pay scales of Colonel and
below. Thereafter a Brigadier will be made equal to a Joint Secretary, a
Major-General to an Additional Secretary and a Lt. General to a Secretary. The
Army Commanders deserve a new rank -Colonel General – and should be above a
Secretary but below Cabinet Secretary. The equalization takes place at the
level of Cabinet Secretary and Army Chief.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If this is financially a problem I have
another solution. Without increasing the armed forces’ scales, reduce the
scales of the IAS and IPS till they too have 20% shortage.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Apart from this is a
bizarre system, called Non Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU), invented by
the babus, in their pursuit of self aggrandizement as a whole class. As per
this system any member of their service will get the same pay and perks as the
first one who gets promoted in their batch, irrespective of whatever job the
rest are doing. To illustrate, if a member of the IAS of 1990 becomes Cabinet
Secretary in 2020, all his batch mates would get the pay and perks of the
Cabinet Secretary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now every batch
mate of a cabinet secretary will get not only the pay and perks of the Cabinet
Secretary, they will also get the same pension of the cabinet secretary. And it
is not a scale but a consolidated amount; so no minimum, maximum or average. Since
a Cabinet Secretary will have tenure of about two years it implies that every
member of almost alternate batches of the IAS will be getting the pension of a
Cabinet Secretary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This same benefit had been
extended to the members of IPS with a two year delay. That is, when all the
members of the IAS batch of 2020 gets a promotion, then all the members of the
IPS batch of 2018 will get the same pay and perks. Even then all the other
civil services were denied this initially but got it with a delay of 10 years.
As of now, only the armed forces officers are denied this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A report, dated 08 March
2021, at </span><a href="https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/columnists/exorcising-the-orop-conundrum.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/columnists/exorcising-the-orop-conundrum.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> informs us that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even
while this Government opposes OROP for its military veterans, it lost little
time in ensuring that all Members of Parliament receive pensions calculated in
much the same manner that military veterans have been demanding. In 2018, it
amended Clause 8A of ‘The Salary Allowances and Pension of Members Act, 1954’,
to provide for an increase in the authorised pension every five years on the
basis of the Cost Inflation Index, which clearly links pensions for all former
members to what is received by the incumbent.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact this principle had
been implemented in a different form for the MPs earlier too. Paragraph 5 of
The Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill,
2010 is reproduced below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Besides Pension the ex MPs are entitled to Rail/Steamer travel and medical facilities as mentioned in enclosed pamphlet on Facilities to Members/ex-Members of Parliament. As per latest debit claim raised by the M/o Railways, the bill amounting to Rs 2,645/- Crores was settled in respect of ex-MP during the January 2013 March 2013 quarter.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>(Annexure to Lok Sabha Secretariat letter number 1(556)/IC/13 dated 31/05/2013</b></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">‘(1) With effect from the 18th day of
May, 2009, there shall be paid a pension of twenty thousand rupees per mensem
to every person who has served <b>for any
period</b> as a Member of the Provisional Parliament or either House of
Parliament:</span></i></div></div></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Provided that where a person has served
as a Member of the Provisional Parliament or either House of Parliament <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">for a period exceeding five years, there
shall be paid to him an additional pension of fifteen hundred rupees per mensem
<u>for every year served in excess of five years.<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Incidentally, this pension
is peanuts compared to another expenditure, on rail travel, incurred on our
former law makers. Here is a screen shot of a letter dated 31/05/2013 of the
Lok Sabha Secretariat (obtained under the Right to Information Act in 2013):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="Pensioner MPs rail expenditure-Jan-Mar 2013.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 95.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 471pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Pensioner MPs rail expenditure-Jan-Mar 2013" src="file:///C:\Users\Ravindran\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And,
the number of pensioner MPs/widows of pensioner MPs? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3857</b>. That works out to an average of Rs 68, 57, 661 per quarter
per MP or almost <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 23 lakhs per month
per ex MP</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Pioneer report also
informs us that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in 2014, when the Supreme
Court was passing directions to the Government to correct the anomalies in the
pensions of High Court Justices, then Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam
directed that “one rank one pension must be the norm in respect of a constitutional
office”, a benefit which Justices of the Supreme Court already enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The facts and figures regarding
the pension of our judges in the high courts and Supreme Court are not
available. In fact, even the pay details required to be published proactively
by the public authorities, under the Right to Information Act, has not been
published by the Supreme Court, though such details are available for the other
employees of the court from the Secretary General down to the Chamber Attendant.(Last
accessed 09 April 2022)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet another report, dated
29 August 2015, that gives a comprehensive picture of the OROP conundrum is
available at </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/soldiers-pride-nations-security-darshan-pandher/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/soldiers-pride-nations-security-darshan-pandher/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. The author, Veteran Lt Gen PG Kamath has narrated
the history and the gist is extracted below as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It was post 1971 and the nation was
euphoric. Our countrymen were lauding the Indian Armed Forces for a spectacular
victory that had changed the geography of the sub-continent. The nation was
savouring the victory and more than 97,368 prisoners were in our Prisoners of
War Camps. It was the second largest surrender in the Military History.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Unknown to the services a band of
bureaucrats were conspiring as to how to cut the Armed Forces to size.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Firstly, they abolished a separate Pay
Commission for the Armed Forces and formulated an equivalence between the Armed
Forces and Civilians. It was here that the Pay Commission struck its vilest
blow when they considered that ‘a trained infantry soldier with three years of
service is below a skilled labour. He is the one who bears the brunt of more
than 90% of casualty in all wars and yet he was considered the lowest strata to
base their comparison. Rest of the soldiers were equated based on this
preposterous formulae?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Next step was to reduce the percentage
of pension for the Armed Forces. The OROP that was effective till 1972, was
annulled after the third pay commission. A soldier then served only for 15
years and went on pension at the ages ranging from 33 years to 36 years of age.
In view of this, his pension was 70% of his basic pay. The civilian
counterparts were getting only 30% of their basic pay as pension. The wretched
Third Pay Commission did not consider the additional 25 years of service his
civilian counterpart served and raised their pension to 50% and reduced a
soldiers pension from 70% to 50% in order to achieve the so-called parity.
Further the government put mandatory 33 years of service for full pension. They
further, as a largesse, made a seemingly generous gesture to the Armed Forces
by pegging the mandatory service for full pension (50%) to 25 years. Thus the
soldier in effect got only 30% of pay after 15 years of service, as
extrapolated from full pension of 50% of pay with 25 years of service. Thus the
Government ingeniously cut a soldiers pension from 70% to 30% of pay at the
same time enhancing the civilian pension from 30% to 50%. Look at the perfidy;
how can possibly a Government run down her own Armed Forces? It is indeed a
remarkable feat from a nation that was a slave nation for over two centuries,
yet disregards her Armed Forces who ensure her hard earned freedom?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Our Defence Ministry were hand in glove
with the proposals. There was not a whimper of protest to set right the
injustice. The soldiers had to pay heavily for having won the war for the
country. Their travails were not over; more was yet to come!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One would wonder why the soldiers did
not protest against the brash injustice perpetrated on them? It would be
difficult to believe, as those were the times the officers in particular were
told that politics and pay were not to be discussed. They were naïve and had
full faith in the government that in the long run no injustice would be done to
them. The disarming naivety of our officers appear incomprehensible now; but it
was true then. Hence the entire master stroke of cutting the armed forces to
size by impoverishing them was done with so much of dexterity, it took us
couple of decades to realise its negative impact.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They did not even spare
the first Field Marshal of independent India, the architect of one of the most
glorious victories in military history, while liberating Bangladesh in 1971,
and the who re- ignited the national pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A PTI report from April 2007 (that is a good 34 years after he was
elevated to the rank of Field Marshal) states that an official statement of the
defence ministry said that FM Manekshaw and Marshal of IAF Arjan Singh would be
entitled to “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">full salary and allowances
equivalent to that for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">serving chiefs</b>
of the two services</i>.” Really? So what about the Field Marshal and Marshal
of the Air Force being above the service chiefs? Oh, the same subterfuge in
creating an office of the Chief of Defence Staff and keeping it in the same
rank as that of service chiefs? No, this time it has gone one step further, the
CDS is also the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and in that
position equal only to the Defence Secretary who is lower in status than the
service chiefs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What Ramaswami appears to
have missed are two facts: one, while the army has always responded positively
and effectively in holding the pants of the civil services and police, the
latter has never delivered on the services due to the former, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">as is due to them as with every citizen of
this nation, and the raison d’etre of their very employment</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The next thing is that he
has distinguished between civil services and the police. Apparently, by civil
services he means only the Indian Administrative Service. This may be
unwittingly or maybe being very much aware of the differences that really
exist, though legally both are civil services and are recruited through a
common civil services exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The
bizarre case of NFFU has been described in some detail earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember having tweeted
to the Prime Minister once that given the principle of equal pay for equal work,
the Sepoy in the Indian Army should get more pay and perks than the Cabinet
Secretary. This was on realization that, after the Right to Information Act
came into force, the best of the babus of the IAS can pass of for satisfactory
clerks, the rest are mere file pushers who cannot even push the files in the
right direction. Exceptions, granted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, coming to the current
judgment, dated 16 March 2022, in </span>Writ Petition (Civil) No. 419 of 2016<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">, the court appears to have reinvented its decisions
in two earlier cases- D S Nakra and S P S Vains. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In D S Nakra it had been
held that payment of pension constitutes a compensation for the service
rendered in the past and as a measure of social welfare for providing
socio-economic justice to those who have rendered service to the State and that
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">there was no justification for
arbitrarily selecting the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">criteria for
eligibility</b> for the grant of benefits</i> under the scheme based on the
date of retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In SPS Vain, the Court had
held that pre and post 1996 retired Major Generals must be treated at par to
remove an anomaly in the pension of pre-1996 retired Major generals. The principle
in that case was about the removal of anomaly between the ranks of Major
General and Brigadier which had arisen due to the implementation of the fifth
and the sixth Central Pay Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the current case, the
court has held that the decision in Nakra <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cannot
be</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>enlarged</u></b> to cover
within it all the claims made by the pension retirees since <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the <u>purpose</u>
of computation</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> of the pension is
different.</i> Now, what is this purpose, only the judges would know. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also, the court held that
it was not feasible to undertake an automatic revision. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Though the government had accepted the principle of uniformity, it was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not unreasonable to define periodicity for
ensuring uniformity</b>.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The court also appears to
have swallowed hook, line and sinker the argument of the government in working
out OROP based on the Assured Career Progression Scheme (later Modified Assured
Career Progression Scheme) for Junior Commissioned Officers/Other Ranks. This
scheme assures upgradation of pay to the next higher rank at 8/16/24 years of
service. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One absurd illustration,
as seen in Para 35 of the Order, is reproduced below:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In other words, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sepoy with three years of service and a Sepoy who has acquired eight
years of service thereby qualifying for MACP are not equated even after OROP</b>
purposes <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">since they did not both have
the same length of service from the past rank of Naib Subedar</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The absurdity in the first
part, comparing a Sepoy with 3 years of service to a Sepoy with 8 years of
service should be obvious. Given that the minimum pensionable service of a
Sepoy was 15 years, what would have been reasonable was comparison of a Sepoy who
had retired with 15 years of service before introduction of MACP and after
introduction of MACP. Further, given that MACP is simply an incentive to serve
longer, at least upto 24 years, with no criteria of any additional qualifications
or competence for availing the benefit, it only stands to reason that those who
had retired with the prescribed service should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ipso facto</i>, be eligible for the benefit, irrespective of the dates
of their retirement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also, one is left
wondering how a Naib Subedar could be the past rank of a Sepoy. From the order
itself it is clear that it is this is the rank to which a Havildar gets
upgraded to after 24 years of service under MACP.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And what does the
following comparison and the figures, in the same paragraph of the order, mean?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">According to the Union Government<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, if non MACP personnel are <u>grouped</u>
with MACP personnel</b> for the payment of OROP, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the total financial outflow from 2014</b> would be in the range of Rs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">42,776.38 crores</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If non MACP persons were required to be <u>matched</u> with MACP</b>,
the financial implication for the period from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 July 2014 to 31 December 2015</b> would stand at Rs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">13,731.03 crores.<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But there is more clarity
in the financial implications as brought out in this statement, reproduced from
the same paragraph:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As noted earlier, it has been stated
that when OROP is implemented, the annual financial implication was in the
amount of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 7,123.38 crores</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If non MACP personnel had to be matched</b>
with MACP personnel, this figure would stand increased to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 9,411.71 crores</b>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">These figures highlight
two facts:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">there is a difference</b> in the pension
of those who retired prior to introduction of MACP and those who retired with
MACP benefits. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Two,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the cost of extending the benefit of
MACP to all is meager</b> (viewed in the context of government expenses) at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 2288.33 crores</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Just recollect the rail travel expenses of Rs
2645 crores for 3857 ex-MPs for a quarter!) However, this amount would, no
doubt, have immensely benefitted a very large number of veteran soldiers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
here are some reports that had appeared in the media, since the case was filed
in 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One
Rank, One Pension: Is the bureaucracy back to the same old game of delay dilute
and deny? (</span><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/In-search-of-propriety/one-rank-one-pension-is-the-bureaucracy-back-to-the-same-old-game-of-delay-dilute-and-deny/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/In-search-of-propriety/one-rank-one-pension-is-the-bureaucracy-back-to-the-same-old-game-of-delay-dilute-and-deny/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One Rank One Pension: A Typical Example
of Bureaucratic Apathy. OROP is not an anecdote of strive and struggle, but
reverence in the form of justice which the protectors of our nation rightfully
deserve.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(</span> <a href="https://blog.ipleaders.in/one-rank-one-pension-a-typical-example-of-bureaucratic-apathy/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://blog.ipleaders.in/one-rank-one-pension-a-typical-example-of-bureaucratic-apathy/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) Just for the record this blogger is Yash Jain, a
third-year student of Institute of Law, Nirma University in 2019 when this blog
was published.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
top court had said that whatever it will decide, it will be on the conceptual
ground and not on figures. It said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When
you revise after five years, the arrears of five years are not taken into
account. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The hardships of ex-servicemen
can be obviated to a certain extent if the period is reduced from five years to
a lesser period</b></i>”. (</span><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/sc-upholds-govts-decision-on-one-rank-one-pension/articleshow/90255785.cms?from=mdr"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/sc-upholds-govts-decision-on-one-rank-one-pension/articleshow/90255785.cms?from=mdr</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The apex court said that the policy
decision of the Centre of OROP is not arbitrary and it is not for the court to
go into the policy matters of the government.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> And, o<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">n February 16, the top
court had said that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Centre's hyperbole
on the OROP policy presented a much "rosier picture" than what is
actually given to the pensioners of the Armed forces</b>. </i>(</span><a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/mar/16/one-rank-one-pension-is-policy-decision-suffers-from-no-constitutional-infirmity-supreme-court-2430729.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/mar/16/one-rank-one-pension-is-policy-decision-suffers-from-no-constitutional-infirmity-supreme-court-2430729.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am reminded of a wise
quip: we do not get justice in our courts, what we get from our courts is
called justice. The question is how long will the citizens be able to accept
this situation?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/250422</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-35659198603804786892022-05-09T06:32:00.001-07:002022-05-09T06:32:20.954-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-16<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The thread of current
events that interrupted the original thread of these critiques has to continue
since such have been the questionable court verdicts these past weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Judicial Perfidies 15
while discussing Indira Gandi’s election cases I had illustrated how the apex
court had held that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The basis of the findings on which the High Court held against the
successful candidate <u>is removed by Act 40 of 1975 retrospectively</u>. <u>Were
the law as it is under the amendments introduced by that Act</u>, the High
Court could not have held that the election is vitiated by the two particular
corrupt practices.</i></b> We all know that the culpability of an offender is
to be decided by the law as it stands at the time of the alleged commission of
the offence and not by a subsequent amendment made with retrospective effect.
So can there be anything more reprehensible that the logic used by the judges
to exonerate the appellant who had been convicted for election malpractices,
that should have been condemned as one of the most abhorable crimes in a
democracy? And it is the same court that invented unheard of meanings to the
very commonly used term <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">consult</i></b> to usurp the constitutional
power of the Executive to appoint judges of the high courts and the apex court.
It also dumped a law, duly enacted by the competent constitutional authorities,
to constitute a National Judicial Appointments Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the same critique I had
also described the hijab controversy and the litigation that followed it as
frivolous. Since it had been analyzed in detail there, the only purpose of
mentioning it here is to state that the same case was again presented before
the same court leading to the Chief Justice exploding in the court and
promising to defrock the advocate. The video had gone viral in social media. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But related to this is
another case where an ex-head of a Wakf Board had approached the apex court to
remove 26 verses from the Koran claiming them to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unconstitutional, non-effective and non- functional on the ground that
these promote extremism and terrorism and pose a serious threat to the
sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country </i>(</span><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/quran-unconstitutional-pil-wasim-rizvi-case-judicial-review-7249760/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/quran-unconstitutional-pil-wasim-rizvi-case-judicial-review-7249760/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">). The claim that it should be religious scholars and
not judicial courts that can do it does look logical. But then, the question
arises did the apex court follow this principle in its Sabarimala verdict? It
is a definite NO. It quoted constitutional provisions of gender equality, and
wrongly at that, as will be discussed subsequently, to allow women of all ages
to enter the temple. And shockingly, it did not merely dismiss the petition
calling it frivolous but also penalized the petitioner with a cost of Rs
50,000/-. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the uninformed, here is the gist of the
arguments of the petitioner, presented to the court through his advocate R K
Raizada (</span><a href="https://www.siasat.com/plea-against-holy-quran-sc-dismisses-wasim-rizvis-plea-to-waive-cost-of-rs-50k-as-withdrawn-2160145/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.siasat.com/plea-against-holy-quran-sc-dismisses-wasim-rizvis-plea-to-waive-cost-of-rs-50k-as-withdrawn-2160145/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“My submission is that these preachings
advocate violence against non-believers. Children are kept at captivity at
madrasas at a tender age. Students are not to be indoctrinated. These
preachings cannot be in the market place of ideas. I have written to the
Central Government for action, but nothing has happened… Central Govt and
Madrasa Boards may be called upon to ensure what steps are taken to avoid
literal teaching of verses advocating violence”, Raizada submitted.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In this global village
that the world has become, thanks to technology, we are aware how the beheading
of one teacher in France by a religious fundamentalist led to sweeping reforms
in the field of education and public conduct of all citizens irrespective of
their religious affiliations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Are our courts blind or
indifferent to media reports? There is no need to believe that either. In a
recent petition filed by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation against excess
charges levied by petroleum product sellers, the apex court, no less, had made
some comments on an unrelated subject- the pension provided to the personal
staff of ministers in Kerala. Incidentally, the subject of this case had
already been decided by the same court in 2017 against the petitioners and it
had been reported that all state road transport corporations had started buying
their fuel from public retail outlets. But not Kerala SRTC. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reports suggest that this petition was a ploy
by KSRTC to justify its losses on this account. To my mind, this was a right
case that should have been dismissed with costs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another case that was
dismissed, through questionable logic, by the apex court was regarding the K
Rail project of the Kerala Government. The appeal was against a division bench
order of the Kerala High Court that had stayed a single judge order staying the
survey of land and social impact assessment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As per a report, dated 28
Mrch 2022, at </span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-silver-line-project-supreme-court-refuses-to-stay-land-survey/article65267454.ece"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-silver-line-project-supreme-court-refuses-to-stay-land-survey/article65267454.ece</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">, a bench of judges M R Shah<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>B V Nagarathna did not interfere with the decision
of the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court which had set aside the January
20 and February 7 interim orders of a single–judge Bench. The Kerala Division
Bench had held that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the State government
was vested with adequate powers to conduct the survey and mark the properties with
boundary stones emblazoned with the “K-Rail” logo for conducting the social
impact assessment study under the provisions of the Kerala Survey and
Boundaries Act, 1961.</i></span> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The top court noted that the survey was being
conducted only as a preparatory exercise for holding a social impact assessment
study which would not have any prejudice to the petitioners.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now here are some facts
culled from different reports that have appeared in the media in the recent
past, including a leaked Executive Summary of the Detailed Project Report (DPR):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
appeal filed by residents and property owners in the Thrissur, Kozhikode and
Kottayam districts,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Silver Line project requires around 1,383 hectares, of which 1,198 hectares are
owned by private parties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is
a proposed 529.45-kilometre rail line<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to
be built at a cost of Rs 63,941 crores and expected to be completed by 2025, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is
conceived as a stand-alone rail corridor on a standard gauge and can run at a
maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour (kmph), with an average speed of 132
kmph.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
DPR also estimates a “realistic scenario” where there would be a daily
ridership of 79,934 in 2025, which would increase to 1,58,946 by 2052.
Incidentally, one of the major railway projects in India, between two of the
most populated commercial capitals Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the ridership estimate
for 2023 is just 36,000.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It
even recommends increasing the fare of the existing train services.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
project’s construction is done through large embankments (raised platforms for railway
lines) that are as high as eight meters above the Highest Flood Line. This will
eventually act as a massive wall that will disrupt the geography, landscape,
and most threateningly, the hydrology of the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Contradicting
their official report, Ajith Kumar, the Managing Director of K-Rail, told the
Mathrubhumi Weekly that construction materials for the K-Rail project would be
sourced from other states.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Conducting
a boundary survey and fixing stone markers on private properties, that too
under a State law like the 1961 Act, were alien to the concept of undertaking a
social impact assessment study under the Central statute, The Right to Fair
Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Citizens
are unable to transact on their property and as such the procedure adopted by
the respondents is violative of the requirements of Section 11 (4) of the LARR
Act 2013,” their petition argued.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
project, which is a collaborative one with the Centre, had not yet received the
approval or sanction from the Union Government.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">‘Metro
Man, E Sreedharan, estimates that this project would require an expenditure of
at least Rs 1,10,000 crore. He has gone on record to term the project
“ill-conceived, badly planned and very badly handled.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
NITI Aayog had also raised concerns that the project cost would go up to Rs
1,26,000 crore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Railway Board and the Union had categorically asserted before the High Court
that it was “advisable that the proceedings of land acquisition for this
project shall be stopped at this stage, as even feasibility of the present
alignment has not been agreed by the Ministry of Railways”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Ultimately,
refusing the right to critical information that affects the public is always an
indicator of misdeeds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That much for published
media reports. Now, we all know what it takes to get a bank loan for
constructing a house or for education. So let us take a look at the performance
of the Government of Kerala and its competence to complete this project.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Firstly,
the per capita debt of a Keralite is reported to be near Rs 1 lakh, one of the
highest in the country. Also the State is reportedly surviving on borrowings of
more than Rs 100 Cr per day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sabari
Rail, to link Angamaly, already on the rail map, to Erumeli, a pilgrim center
enroute to Sabarimala, was sanctioned by the Railway Board in 1998. To cut the
politics and other details out, today the 111 km project in on a limb after the
first 7 kms, between Angamaly and Kalady, had been completed years back. The
land acquisition has not been completed and the initial project cost pegged at
Rs 550 Cr has been revised to Rs 2815.62 Cr in 2021. 900 landowners are unable
to sell their land or use it for any financial dealings. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On
August 4, 2007 about 300 landless families occupied over 145 hectares of land,
reportedly illegally held by a plantation, Harrison Malayalam Limited, demanding
five acres for farming and ₹50,000 in cash towards initial farming expenses to
each of the families. They pitched tents on the occupied land, tapped latex
from the rubber trees at the estate and later turned to agriculture to eke out
a living. While the High Court ordered their eviction without bloodshed, the
government failed when the male protestors climbed on trees with noose around
their neck and threatened to commit mass suicide. The women followed with
kerosene cans in their hands. On 27 September 2006, the Chief Minister of
Kerala, V.S. Achuthanandan, had given a written assurance that the government
would allot land to a sizeable number of landless families by 31 December 2006.
However, this promise was not honored. 1,495 eligible landless people at
Chengara were allotted 831.03 acres of land across 10 districts. But, only 78
families got habitable land and others returned to Chengara alleging that the
land was too rocky to start farming. Even now (the report at is dated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">23 September 2021 </b>and is available at<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/sep/23/laha-gopalan-champion-departs-midway-of-chengara-mission-2362473.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/sep/23/laha-gopalan-champion-departs-midway-of-chengara-mission-2362473.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">), 587 families live in Chengara estate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2008, 316 families were evicted from 7 villages in Ernakulam for developing the
Vallarppadom Container Terminal in Kochi. Their rehabilitation is not completed
still. Quite a few families who have allotted alternate land have not been able
to use the unusable land. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Thomas
Pulickal, a 72-year-old farmer from Kottiyoor of Kannur district, who lost his
land and house after acquisition by the government for an elephant corridor
project in 2012, said, “I gave one acre of land and a really good house. Then,
the market value was Rs 10,000 per cent, and the government offered Rs 1,208
per cent, which is around one tenth of market price. I got only Rs 6 lakh.
Though a lower court ordered for more compensation a few years ago, the
government has appealed against that order in a higher court.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Two
tunnels, each less than one kilometer, on the National Highway between Palakkad
and Thrissur, had been under construction for over 15 years. Due to this, the
existing road had never been regularly maintained during this period, leading
to even bus operators suspending services for prolonged periods and the
consequent harassment suffered by commuters on this route. There have been many
vehicles that had serious breakdowns, leading to even more serious accidents
and traffic jams throughout this period.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
survey had revealed that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is the
worst managed State Road Transport Corporation in the whole country. There are
many video reports of most of its buses, including the AC, low floor buses
provided by the Centre, under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, being
garaged. An application under the RTI Act, seeking information, which should
have been on the fingertips of the Chairman cum Managing Director, was
stonewalled. It is considered one of the two white elephants in the State, the
other being Kerala State Electricity Board. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Recent
reports inform us that even the Beverages Corporation, the government operated,
monopolistic vendors of Indian Made Foreign Liquors in the State, is in the red
when it is an open secret that the government and the Kerala economy is
surviving on sale of lottery tickets, liquor and foreign remittances. The
reason is said to be manipulation of accounts and funds to keep the State
surviving on overdraft. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
the scams that follow every government activity where big money of the tax
payers is involved. In this case there are two: one, Ernakulam District
Congress Committee President has actually dissected one of the K Rail branded
survey stones to come up with the allegation that it actually costs only Rs
431.75 to make one of the stones, weight for weight, dimensions for dimensions
and material for material and labor cost and it should cost only Rs 2 Cr for
installing 20000 stones (obviously it includes transportation to the site and
the labor cost for planting the stone). But the government is allegedly paying
Rs 5500/- per stone. Thus there is a loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 9
Cr only in this element of cost of the project. He has concluded the video
message by just requesting the public to be aware of this and imagine the
extent of corruption that can happen in the estimated project cost of Rs 67,000
Cr. Does this revive memories of the CWG scam involving hiring of chairs at
more than their cost price?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
other allegation that has come up is in the context of the alignment of the
project itself. As was bound to happen, there are many allegation of the
alignment being changed to suit influential people, including one minister of
the current government led by the CPM. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So the question remains,
if it is the authority of the government and the ‘misplaced’ grievance of the
petitioners are the only relevant factors to be considered do we need courts,
with such powers and the onerous responsibility to ensure the right to dignified
life of the citizens, to sit in judgment?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This
also reminds one of the ludicrous state of affairs, when Mayavati, the
then<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,
had many sculpted elephant parks set up in different parts of the state at the
exchequers cost. When questioned in court, the verdict was that since the
cabinet had approved it, there was no need for judicial intervention. Later,
during the elections the Election Commission had all those sculptures covered
with tarpaulin or such material as the elephant was the election symbol of the
ruling party. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This series interruptus
cannot be complete without mentioning one more questionable verdict of the apex
court in recent times. On One Rank, One Pension demand of the veterans of the
armed forces. It has to perforce wait for the next time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile enjoy this tweet…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg__8B73iHUhz-lHSSxrqFuUw39-oJ3gJGztv3qStEbyvw2BlYM0iWkT_lukMJ6_9RYTDHB9Tuw02ZE1Sas-vNNUUrHMmHFtfBH7CA0sLyUR1Y26bWDSyajVeOf-KaPb-aBfmwOEZbcBLkQzFt8CishZjQwe-DAvn7MlQzHMKKlGY45o6gCxUDRs7bJXg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="479" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg__8B73iHUhz-lHSSxrqFuUw39-oJ3gJGztv3qStEbyvw2BlYM0iWkT_lukMJ6_9RYTDHB9Tuw02ZE1Sas-vNNUUrHMmHFtfBH7CA0sLyUR1Y26bWDSyajVeOf-KaPb-aBfmwOEZbcBLkQzFt8CishZjQwe-DAvn7MlQzHMKKlGY45o6gCxUDRs7bJXg=w313-h417" width="313" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="Jud imp-chandrachud comments on army n response.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 303pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 228pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="Jud imp-chandrachud comments on army n response" src="file:///C:\Users\Ravindran\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">P M
Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/190422<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-45630758920018755242022-05-09T06:29:00.003-07:002022-05-09T06:29:55.090-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-15<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The break, necessitated by
the thread getting entangled with current events, continues…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Recently 4 citizens of
this country have been provided additional security by the government. Three of
them are judges of Karnataka High Court and the last one a film director, Vivek
Ranjan Agnihotri, who brought the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus and their exodus
that followed, on celluloid. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The three judges are the
ones, including the Chief Justice, of the Karnataka High Court who upheld a
Government of Karnataka order on uniforms in educational institutions. Based on
these orders some institutions had banned the wearing of hijab, a head covering
generally used by Muslim girls and women, in class rooms. This had led to
threats on the life of the judges from some fundamentalist organizations. While
the security of these judges were promptly stepped up, a leader of Thauheed
Jamaat had also been arrested for the threat. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That apart, the question
that bothers one is the day to day hearing conducted over a month, given the
frivolous nature of the petition. The issues decided by the court, as per a
report in India Today, dated 16 March 2022 (</span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/karnataka-hijab-controversy-high-court-1926036-2022-03-16"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/karnataka-hijab-controversy-high-court-1926036-2022-03-16</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether wearing a hijab is
an essential part of religious practice in Islam? And, is it protected under
Article 25 (</span>Right to Freedom of Religion) <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of
the Constitution?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether prescribing a
uniform by school administration is legal or does it violate the fundamental
rights of the petitioners as guaranteed under Articles 19 (</span>Right to
Freedom) <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">and 21(</span>Right to life and
personal liberty)<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether the government order
of February 5 that led to ban on wearing hijab on the campus was incompetent,
arbitrary and issued 'without application of mind'? And, would it amount to
violation of the fundamental rights of equality before law (Article 14) and
protection against discrimination on the ground of religion (Article 15)?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether the principal,
teachers and the panel members responsible for banning hijab in classrooms
committed a wrong against the students by implementing the school uniform rule?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The court concluded that
hijab was not an essential part of religious practice in Islam, prescribing
uniform was only a reasonable restriction permitted under articles 19 and 21,
there was no case made to invalidate the government order or to initiate
disciplinary action against the authorities who enforced the order. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Are these frivolous
issues? To my mind, yes. Let us look at the issue from an ordinary citizen’s
perspective and logic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If it was an essential
religious practice shouldn’t we be seeing all Muslim girls and women in hijab
or burkha? Is that how it is around us? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How many Muslim women have
we seen acting in our films? Have they ever been seen, even in real life,
wearing a hijab or a burkha? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How many of us have seen
any photograph of women Prime Ministers of Muslim countries like Pakistan and
Bangladesh in hijab or burkha? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Are all Muslim women in
our police and among judges and advocates seen in hijab or burkha always? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact there are enough
photographs of muslim women, even in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, without hijab
or burkha, appearing in the print and visual media to nail the claim that it is
an essential religious practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Arif Mohamed Khan,
currently Governor of Kerala, is on record having said that hijab was not an
essential religious mandate in Islam. In fact, he has gone to the extent of
saying ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m opposed to minority
commissions, rather strengthen the human rights panel that can take care of
everybody</i>’ (</span><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/idea-exchange/idea-exchange-arif-mohammad-khan-governor-of-kerala-7818356/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://indianexpress.com/article/idea-exchange/idea-exchange-arif-mohammad-khan-governor-of-kerala-7818356/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">, 14 Mar 2022)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also Dr Fazal Gafoor, President
of the Muslim Educational Society, that manages 150 educational institutions,
including medical, engineering and other professional colleges, is on record
that burkhas and veils are banned in classes in all their institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also, Pillars of Islam,
listed at </span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pillars-of-Islam"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pillars-of-Islam</span></a>,<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> are as follows: shahadah, the Muslim profession of
faith; salat, or prayer, performed in a prescribed manner five times each day;
zakat, the alms tax levied to benefit the poor and the needy; sawm, fasting
during the month of Ramadan; and hajj, the major pilgrimage to Mecca, if
financial and physical conditions permit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Next, is the issue of personal
liberty. This is a virtual minefield, especially when considered in the context
of uniforms. After all it is not only Muslims girls who can have such liberty.
In any case, once hijab is acknowledged as not being part of any religious
mandate, there was absolutely no need to take up this issue separately. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The other issues-
competence of the government to issue such orders and initiation of
disciplinary proceedings against those who enforced the government’s orders are,
on the face of it, simply a mockery of judicial proceedings. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyhow, the verdict has
been challenged in the apex court almost immediately after it was announced. And
the court has reportedly observed that there was no need to consider it
urgently.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Incidentally, ever since
the controversy, if it should be called one, erupted in Udupi, Karnataka, there
have been many reports in the media of similar issues being dealt with by the
courts earlier. Here are some of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Fathema Hussain Sayed v
Bharat Education Society, decided by the Bombay High Court in 2002, in the
context of wearing hijab to a girls’ school, was since it was an all girls’
school this issue was irrelevant; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Madras high court in Sir
M. Venkata Subba Rao Matriculation Higher Secondary School <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Staff Association</b> v Sir M. Venkata Subba Rao Matriculation Higher
Secondary School, decided, in 2004, in favor of the school management which had
imposed a dress code for teachers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The same court in Kamalam v
Dr. M.G.R. Medical University decided in favour of a medical intern, in 2009,
who had questioned the College Management which had prescribed saree as dress
code for interns; and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Fathima Thasneem v
State of Kerala, decided by the Kerala High Court in 2018, in the context of
wearing hijab to a Christian managed institution, had held that the (minority)
institutional right prevailed over the personal right; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In his book, Landmark
Judgments that Changed India, former judge of the Supreme Court Ashok K Ganguly
has discussed the controversy over the Parliament's right to amend the
Constitution and the Supreme Courts power to review those amendments. In doing
so he writes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this controversy emerged
prominently in at least six judgments</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Sri
Shankari Prasad Singh Deo v Union of India and State of Bihar (AIR 1951, SC
458)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Sajjan
Singh V State of Rajasthan (AIR 1965 SC 845)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-IC
Golaknath and others v State of Punjab and another (1967 SC 1643)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Kesavananda
Bharati Sripadagalvaru and others v State of Kerala and another (1973 4 SCC
225)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Indira
Nehru Gandhi v Sri Raj Narain and another (1975 Supp SCC 1) and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-Minerva
Mills Ltd and others v Union of India and others (AIR 1980 SC 1789)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Shankari Prasad, it was
unanimously held that in the context of Article 13 'law' would not mean
amendment to the Constitution made in exercise of constituent powers. This
upheld the 1st amendment to the Constitution in 1951 whereby the 9th Schedule
was introduced in the Constitution to keep the laws listed therein beyond
judicial scrutiny. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Sajjan Singh, Chief
Justice Gajendragadkar had held that the dictionary meaning of amend cannot be
relied on for construing the word amend in Article 368. It was held that the
power to amend in the context of Article 368 was a very wide power and cannot
be controlled by the literal dictionary meaning. And the author has observed as
follows: while making such sweeping observations the learned chief justice did
not support it with any discernable kind of reasoning except by relying on the
reasons in Shankari Prasad which upheld the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
This he had claimed was far from being cogent. In this case, which upheld the
17<sup>th </sup>amendment of the Constitution, judges Hidayathulla and
Mudholkar had reservations on the idea of amending the fundamental rights and
it led to the introduction of the concept of a basic structure of the
Constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Both the above decisions
came under scrutiny in IC Golaknath and others v State of Punjab and another.
Here, in a six to five majority decision it was held that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Parliament will not have any power to amend any provision of Part III
of the Constitution or to ‘take away or abridge fundamental rights, enshrined
therein</i>. The author asserts: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thus,
Golaknath started the great war, as opposed to the earlier skirmishes in Sajjan
Singh, between Parliamentary and judicial supremacy</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Kesavananda Bharati
case was filed in 1970 under Article 32 of the Constitution. Even as it was
pending there were three amendments of the Constitution. The 24<sup>th </sup>amendment,
in 1971, was explicitly to get over the judgment in Golaknath. This case was
heard by a 13 member bench from November 1972 to April 1973, when the apex
court had only 15 judges. It was decided with 10 of them holding that the
Golaknath case was wrongly decided. Six of the thirteen judges, even while
upholding the amending powers under the 24<sup>th</sup> amendment, held that
the amending power could not be utilized to emasculate the basic structure of
the Constitution, which, inter alia, included the fundamental rights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have always wondered
what is this basic feature of the Constitution, that has been touted by the
judiciary for quite some time now. In the context of Kesavananda Bharati
judgment, Ganguly, quoting judges Shelat and Grover, has listed it as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The supremacy of the Constitution;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The republican and democratic form of
government and the sovereignty of the country;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The secular (</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">my observation: the term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">secular</i> was introduced in the Preamble in 1976, by the Constitution
42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">) and
federal character of the Constitution;<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The demarcation of power between the
legislature, the executive and the judiciary;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The dignity of the individual secured by
the various freedoms and basic rights in Part III and the mandate to build a
welfare state contained in Part IV; and,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The unity and integrity of the nation<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And, there is a rider
too…that the basic features could never be exhaustively indicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As per Ganguly, the issue
of basic structure came up again in the Indira Nehru Gandhi v Sri Raj Narain
and another, case. This is the infamous case where Indira Gandhi had appealed
against her conviction by the Allahabad High Court in the election case. V R
Krishna Iyer, a doyen among jurists, was sitting during vacation and had stayed
the high court verdict till the appeal was finally disposed of. But before the
appeal could be heard, Emergency was declared, Election laws were amended and
within a span of five days the 39<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act was
passed which was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">virtually directed
towards the disposal of the pending appeal by holding that the election of the
appellant is declared valid as per the amendment. </i>Quixotically, the apex
court invalidated the amendment that introduced Article 329A, but nevertheless
set aside the Allahabad High Court judgment too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The author, while dwelling
a lot on individual judgments and the nuanced stands taken by the judges on the
amending power issue had not dealt with in detail about the reasons setting
aside the high court judgment. But one sentence that got my special attention
is an observation made by one of the judges to the effect that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the classification of the Prime Minister or
the Speaker for excluding any challenge to their election under the impugned
amendment did not satisfy the Doctrine of Reasonable Classification and
amounted to favoured treatment and that may outrage the sense of justice of
common men which sustains a democracy. </i>Indeed, it did and continues to do
so, that is outrage the sense of justice of common men.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But, still looking for the
exact reasons I looked for the copy of the judgment at the website of the apex
court and failed. But luckily I got one from </span><a href="https://indiankanoon.org/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://indiankanoon.org/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. And this is what I got to read at paragraph 694 of
the order having 696 paragraphs:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">These Acts effectively put an end to the
two appeals before us for they answer the totality of the objections which were
raised by Shri Raj Narian against the election of Smt. Indira Gandhi. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The basis of the findings on which the High
Court held against the successful candidate <u>is removed by Act 40 of 1975
retrospectively</u>. <u>Were the law as it is under the amendments introduced
by that Act</u>, the High Court could not have held that the election is
vitiated by the two particular corrupt practices.</b></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And weren’t we under the
impression that the law that applies is as on the date of the commission of the
alleged offence?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Minerva Mills case is
another one where the apex court held the 42<sup>nd</sup> amendment of the
Constitution invalid as it overrode the basic structure doctrine but the
nationalization of the Mill was upheld because the Nationalisation Act had been
included in the 9<sup>th</sup> schedule of the Constitution, which barred
judicial review. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Just for the record, it
was in April 1976 that the apex court gave its now infamous verdict in the ADM
Jabalpur case. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM_Jabalpur_v._Shivkant_Shukla"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM_Jabalpur_v._Shivkant_Shukla</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> informs us that: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This judgment received a lot of
criticism since it reduced the importance attached to Fundamental Rights under
the Indian Constitution. Going against the previous decision of High Courts,
the bench which included P. N. Bhagwati concluded in favour of the then Indira
Gandhi government while only Justice Hans Raj Khanna was opposed to it.
Bhagwati openly praised Indira Gandhi during the Emergency period, later
criticized her when Janata Party-led government was formed and again backed
Gandhi when she got re-elected to form government in 1980. Bhagwati was
criticized for these change of stands, favouring the ruling government, which
were deemed as to have been taken to better his career prospects. Bhagwati,
later, in 2011, agreed with popular opinion that this judgement was</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> short-sighted and "apologised".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">An article ‘The darkest
hour: ADM Jabalpur was a test for SC. Only the dissenter passed it’, dated 29
Auguest 2019, at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-adm-jabalpur-the-darkest-hour-5945825/">https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-adm-jabalpur-the-darkest-hour-5945825/</a>
informs us as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">YV Chandrachud was among the four SC
judges who sat on the five-judge Habeas Corpus bench for 37 working days from
December 1975 to February 1976, and ruled that personal liberties in India were
not to be necessarily upheld in the face of the executive after declaring
Emergency. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On Independence Day 2019, his son, D Y
Chandrachud, now judge of the same apex court, after annulling the above
judgment, made a revealing personal statement: “I know he (former Chief Justice
YV Chandrachud) believed through his life that ADM Jabalpur was wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember an advocate
friend telling me that one of the first lessons taught in their law classes is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">argue the law when facts are against you,
argue the facts when law is against you and yell like hell, if both the law and
facts are against you</i>. Of course, I can imagine what yelling can result in
a real court room though some can be seen on silver screens. But what is
important here is how it applies to bench. Cannot be any different, can it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We all know that there are
two parties to any case before a judge. Both have some facts, some laws and
some case laws to present and it is left to the judge’s discretion as to which
facts, laws and case laws to accept. And, no prizes for guessing how this
discretion can be exercised.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/040422</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-48447148261063456192022-04-01T04:06:00.003-07:002022-04-01T04:06:54.701-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-14<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Take a break. The thread
of this series just got entangled with some current events. No doubt, the
judiciary is the topic of discussion here too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On 20 March 2022 a celebrity
artist, Dr Neena Prasad, conveyed her agony, through a facebook post, on how
her dance program at a book release function, the previous day, had been
interrupted and had to be abandoned midway on the orders of a District Judge
staying close to the venue. The venue was a Government Lower Primary School,
where such programs, and even noisier ones, had been organized frequently in
the past. Many judges had occupied the official quarters nearby and some had even
gone on to be judges of higher courts too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Legally speaking, the
organizers had all the necessary permissions, including the use of loud
speakers, to have the program till 9:30 pm, well ahead of the deadline
permitted for use of loudspeakers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She had posed a very
pertinent question too: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">should artists
perform based on the unjust and unacceptable personal whims of judges and
bureaucrats?</b> Poor lady, I must say, how far removed is she from the
realities of everyday life in India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A few more pertinent
questions that arise are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Was it an
official order issued by the District Judge that was enforced with such alacrity?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Did the District
Judge follow the procedure which any citizen has to follow to pursue a
complaint of nuisance due to sound of loud speakers?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Did the police
follow the procedure they are required to follow on receipt of such a complaint,
given that it was they who had sanctioned the use of loudspeakers for the
program?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Did the police
ever warn the organizers that the sound level was more than what was permitted?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Malayalees all over the
world came to know of this atrocious incident through online media on 22 March
2022 (</span><a href="https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/03/22/police-stop-dance-performance-noise-complaint-palakkad-neena-prasad.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/03/22/police-stop-dance-performance-noise-complaint-palakkad-neena-prasad.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">). By evening, of the same day, English media too
posted reports of the incident at their online sites (</span><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/judge-draws-flak-for-stopping-mohiniyattam-show/article65246666.ece"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/judge-draws-flak-for-stopping-mohiniyattam-show/article65246666.ece</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> and </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/row-in-kerala-as-police-stops-traditional-dance-after-judge-takes-offence-to-loud-music-1928550-2022-03-23"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/row-in-kerala-as-police-stops-traditional-dance-after-judge-takes-offence-to-loud-music-1928550-2022-03-23</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A silver lining in the
whole despicable episode was the condemnation of the interference by the judge
by not only fellow artists and political leaders but also by the members of the
bar. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A report of 25 March 2022
at </span><a href="https://youtu.be/4HslmDRm8xk"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://youtu.be/4HslmDRm8xk</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> informed its viewers that the judge had explained
that it was not he who had objected to the program but his staff. But even the
reporter could not help expressing how it lacked credibility. The question also
arises as to who were this ‘staff’ working in the residence of the judge at 8
o’clock in the night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly, this judge
is the brother of a retired high court judge, who had been going around
delivering provocative speeches against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The
video of one of his speeches, in Malayalam, can be seen at </span><a href="https://youtu.be/80rIASpi-Oc"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://youtu.be/80rIASpi-Oc</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. I had, on 06 Jul 2021, sent an e mail to the Chief
Justice of the Kerala High Court bringing it to his notice. For those who do
not the language here are the main points he had made:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At 2.20 minutes he can be heard saying,
in the context of a question on whether the anti CAA agitation would end if the
apex court gave a ruling on it, that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">this
is not a matter to be decided by the court but it is an emotional subject and
the protest should continue till the Act is withdrawn. </b></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(My note: doesn’t it sound familiar? Remember Shaheen
Bagh, the Farmers’ Protest? And now, some comments after the Hijab verdict of
the Karnataka High Court?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At 5.30 minutes he says that the aim of
the Bill (sic) is to give a false assurance to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains,
Parsi and Christians that the government is with them and to give muslims, an
unwanted class (according to him), that they are nobody. In effect, to create
polarisation based on religion.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At 11.30 he says that the inner line
permit is being used to divide the country by the current Union Government, (My
observation: the inner line permit has been in existence long before the BJP
had come to power in the Centre).<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At 15.00 he blatantly lies that the
government has said that they will decide who amongst those who claim to be
citizens are actual citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is not an aberration. Another report, dated 11 February 2022, again in
Malayalam, of this former high court judge speaking at a function organized by
Indian Muslims in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is available at </span><a href="https://youtu.be/buz3tYHa1q0"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://youtu.be/buz3tYHa1q0</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. The topic was ‘The role of Koran in Legal System’.
He can be seen explaining the concept of </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto;">taqiyyah</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">
and how and why to use it to mislead non-Muslims in societies where Muslims are
minorities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Before I narrate one of my
experiences there is a need to recapitulate a bit of related history. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Kerala High Court had
rightly banned bandhs long back as it infringed on the rights of the public to
move freely and carry on with their lives without being held to ransom by the
protestors. The apex court had also upheld this order and it had become the law
of the land. However, the perpetrators continued with the same bandh by simply
referring to it as hartal. The courts have remained mere spectators. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Some reports in the media
indicate there have been on an average 300 hartals per year in Kerala, mostly
localized but enough at the state level. Going by experience, even mere strike
at the national level gets enforced effectively only in Kerala. There was one
last year even when the nation was reeling under Covid. There was one,
panimudakku (or boycotting work) on 28-29 March 2022.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in the rest of India it did not adversely
affect normal life, in Kerala there were plenty of instances of violence by the
protesters and evidences are available in the video clips posted by citizens on
social media. Of course, we need not discuss the validity of the court orders
as we have seen how the apex court dealt with the anti CAA protests and
farmers’ agitation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But in Kerala, the High
Court, while doing nothing against the violation of their orders holding bandhs
illegal, went one more step ahead and held that holding meetings on road sides or
processions on roads was also illegal. Thankfully, the court had also ordered
that places should be earmarked for protestors to vent their grievances
publicly, which has not been complied with till date. On this, a politician
commented that the judge was a dimwit and got 6 months in prison for contempt
of court. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However, what has been
implemented is a procedure to seek permission to hold meetings and use
loudspeakers. But how it has been implemented is even more questionable. One
has to submit an application with a prescribed fee to the local police
authorities almost a fortnight in advance. Mostly no response will be received
and the organizers can go ahead with their program without much ado. If
anything goes wrong the organizers will be hauled up for not taking due
permission. And here is where my experience begins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Anti Corruption Movement
Kerala had a young and dynamic secretary, who had submitted an application, well
in time, for holding an event in a public place (not road side) after paying
the prescribed fee, for using mikes, in the treasury. 5 days before the event
he went to collect the sanction letter. He was informed that the application
was missing and advised to submit a fresh one. He took me along to pay the
prescribed fee in the treasury and submitted the application afresh. On the day
of the scheduled event he went to the police office to collect the sanction
letter. He was told that the file was with the Deputy Superintendent and that
since the officer wasn’t available in the office, he could go ahead with the
program. Left with no alternative he went about organizing the event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I was an invitee as a
speaker. Presence of two police officers raised my hackles. I walked up to them
and enquired if there was any problem. I was told that since the organizer had earlier
created a scene in a function attended by the then Chief Minister, the youth of
the party were agitated and there was a need to ensure nothing untoward
happened. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As soon as the function
was over, two police personnel in mufti walked over to the secretary and asked
him if he had permission to use mike. He explained the situation. As if
preplanned, they then took the mike set to the police station, followed by the
mike set provider and the secretary. Another participant and I followed them.
After making us wait, the mike set was released by evening and all of us left
for our homes. Months later it was only when the secretary received summons
from the court, for all three of us, that we realized that the episode was not
over. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The court case carried on
for about 4 years before we were acquitted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile I pursued the
issue of sanction with the police authorities under the Right to Information
Act. The copy of the file noting I received shocked me. The application had
been rejected on the ground that the applicant was an accused in another case
(of protesting at the venue of the function attended by the Chief Minister).
Interestingly, the same civil society organization had been given permission
earlier when the applicant had been another functionary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another report that
attracted my attention recently was a post on Facebook. It said : <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">31 years later, killed Kashmiri Pandit’s
family moves court against Bitta Karate. The family of Satish Tickoo, believed
to be one of the first Kashmiri Pandits murdered by separatist Farooq Ahmad Dar
alias Bitta Karate, moved Srinagar court for status report on FIRs registered
against Karate. The court criticized J&K government for its inaction in
last 31 years. In a 1991 interview, Karate admitted to killing several Kashmiri
Pandits. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A quick search on Google
revealed a few more reports. The one at </span><a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/sc-rejects-plea-to-probe-genocide-of-kashmiri-pandits-in-valley-in-1989-90-117072400316_1.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/sc-rejects-plea-to-probe-genocide-of-kashmiri-pandits-in-valley-in-1989-90-117072400316_1.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> was titled ‘SC rejects plea to probe genocide of
Kashmiri Pandits in Valley in 1989-90’. The reason reported was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that almost 27 years have passed and it will
be very difficult to gather evidences in cases of murder, arson and looting
which had led to mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley</i>. The court
did not miss the opportunity to castigate the petitioner organization ‘Roots of
Kashmir’ in so many words: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You
(petitioner) sat over it for last 27 years.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Possibly, encouraged by
the success of the movie Kashmir Files, Roots of Kashmir has filed a curative
petition in the apex court, as per the report at </span><a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/kashmiri-pandit-organisation-moves-supreme-court-seeking-probe-into-1990-massacres-380373"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/kashmiri-pandit-organisation-moves-supreme-court-seeking-probe-into-1990-massacres-380373</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a Public
Interest Litigation has been filed by ‘We the Citizens’, as per the report at </span><a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/pil-in-sc-seeks-sit-to-identify-those-responsible-for-genocide-of-hindus-sikhs-in-j-k-381286"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/pil-in-sc-seeks-sit-to-identify-those-responsible-for-genocide-of-hindus-sikhs-in-j-k-381286</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly, the
dismissal of the original plea of Roots of Kashmir on 27 April 2017 due to
presumed difficulty in gathering evidence had forced the petitioner to quote a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Delhi High Court</b> order of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2018</b> in the matter of Sajjan Kumar,
convicted in a case related to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1984</b>
Sikh genocide in the national capital. The court had said: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s important to assure those countless victims waiting patiently that
despite the challenges, truth will prevail and justice will be done...<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of these report also
informed the readers that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the case
against Yasin Malik for alleged gruesome murder of four officers of Indian Air
Force on January 25, 1990 is still pending before a CBI court.</b> Other
pertinent information culled from these reports is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">215 first information reports (FIRs) had
been lodged relating to the murder of over 700</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Kashmiri Pandits and none of the cases have reached a
logical conclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hundreds of FIRs on murders of Kashmiri
Pandits during 1989-90, 1997 and 1998, are lying</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> un-investigated by J&K Police even after expiry
of 26 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Need to transfer all such FIRs
pertaining to murders of Kashmiri Pandits, from J&K to some</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other state,
preferably Delhi, so that the witnesses, reluctant to approach police or courts
in view of their safety concerns, can freely and fearlessly depose before probe
agencies and courts.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me conclude this part
by quoting what I had written, in 2002, in an article titled ‘Democracy?… East
Is East And West Is West!’:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rule of Law not Rule of Judges.</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The mainstay of any civilized society, leave alone a democracy, is the
rule of the law. For any law to be effective it should, first of all, be
simple, clear and unambiguous. The affected people should understand it and
imbibe it in letter and spirit. The need to go to courts to get interpretations
for each and every clause certainly doesn’t speak well of the competence of our
legislators. And worse, when the judiciary interprets the same law to mean
different, sometimes even contradictory, things under different contexts, the
public can only get confused and confounded, as they are now. In this context
it would be worth recalling that confusion had prevailed even in recognising
the preamble of our Constitution as an integral part of it! In 1961, the
Supreme Court had observed that ‘the preamble is not part of the Constitution’,
but in 1973, it held that ‘the preamble of the Constitution was part of the
Constitution and the observations to the contrary in Berubari Union case were
not correct’! Our present Union Minister for Disinvestment, Mr Arun Shourie,
has done yeomen service in compiling a number of intriguing cases in a book
titled ‘Courts and their judgments’. At the function held to release the book
he also made a tongue-in-cheek suggestion: that there should be a group of
scholars reviewing all sensitive rulings of the higher courts so that the
judges were also careful that their judgments were subjects to scrutiny!</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/310322<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-74615932994216040332022-04-01T04:05:00.001-07:002022-04-01T04:05:54.636-07:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-13<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Those who have followed
this series should not be having any doubt that our judiciary is a failure from
the three fundamental principles of jurisprudence, viz:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Justice
delayed is justice denied,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Justice
should not only be done but seen to be done and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Capital
punishment should be given in the rarest of rare cases.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There are many reasons for
such failures, as claimed by those who try to defend them. These have been
covered in the earlier parts, like the brazenly illogical judge to population
ratio as a cause for delay. It has been countered with the factual judge to
docket ratio. Then there are the unwarranted holidays, short working hours and
the most ubiquitous and legally untenable adjournments, ad infinitum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have with me the calendar
of holidays announced by the apex court for the year 2022. There are only 230
working days. There is a summer vacation from 22 May to 10 July, Dushera
holidays from 02-09 October, Diwali holidays from 23-30 October and Christmas
vacation from 18-31 December. I know that even in America there are offices
that do not have a holiday even for Christmas. These summer and winter (read
Christmas) vacations are a vestige of colonial times when the judges used to
retire to hill stations in summer and head home to England for Christmas. Of
course, the Dushera and Diwali holidays must be our addition post independence.
But can you think of any other public offices having such long vacations? Come
to think of it, when police works 24X7, shouldn’t our judiciary be also
available 24X7? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Lokpal, which had just
been constituted in 2019, too has only 207 working days, 146 holidays and 12
restricted holidays. Of the 146 holidays, 12-25 June is summer vacation, 25-30
September is Puja (?) holidays, 01-05 October is Dushera holidays, 22-30
October is Diwali holidays and 24-31 December is Christmas holidays. Interestingly,
this is applicable only for the Chairperson and members of the Lokpal. Just for
the record, they have nothing published in terms of disclosures under Section
4(1)(b) of the RTI Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There was this interesting
case of a President of the Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
having declared holidays for the Commission in line with the holidays declared
by the Kerala High Court. A consumer organization, Consumer Vigilance Centre,
took up the matter with the High Court and this President, a former judge of
the same high court, submitted a false affidavit that he had not made any such
declaration. Unfortunately records proved otherwise. And the judge who decided
the case just noted in his verdict that this former judge had misled the court
and closed it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Where justice is not seen
being done, the failure is invariably attributed to the failures of the
investigating officers and/or advocates in presenting the facts correctly and
completely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here, I am reminded of a
quip which goes like this: anybody can make a right decision, given enough
facts; a reasonable man can make a right decision given sufficient facts and it
requires a genius to make a right decision in perfect ignorance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We should presume that
reasonable men are appointed as our judges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Field Marshal Manekshaw had
said the same thing is the context of army officers. That is, anybody can make
a decision and statistically he has a 50 percent chances of being right. The
process of selection improves the chances of him being right by another 50
percent. His training increases it by another fifty percent. The dedication and
competence of the troops he commands will take care of the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Unfortunately, what we see
in the judiciary are preposterous assertions like: 'courts have jurisdiction to
decide right or to decide wrong and even though they decide wrong, the decrees
rendered by them cannot be treated as nullities' (Ittavira Vs Varkey (A 1964 SC
907) and 'there can be no interference in revision merely because the decision
is erroneous in law or in fact where there is no error pertaining to
jurisdiction' Misrilal Vs Sadasiviah (A 1965 SC 553).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incidentally, these were case laws quoted by the
respondents, represented by a law firm with adequate clout in judicial circles,
in a consumer case that I had pursued from a district forum to the national
commission more than a decade and a half back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, the Consumer Protection Act had been enacted in 1986 only. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s not all. Even in
the interpretation of the provisions of this law, there have been
inconsistencies created, purely due to lop sided logic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jancy Joseph vs Union of India (1999 (1)
KLT 422), the question of applicability of Section 56 of the Civil Procedure
Code (CPC), 1908, while ordering arrests under the provisions of Section 27 of
the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 1986 was considered by the Kerala High Court.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Section 56 of the CPC
states that, 'the court shall not order arrest or detention in the civil prison
of a woman in execution of a decree for payment of money; regarding recovery of
money from others, arrest can be ordered if it is found that the person
concerned have means to pay'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The judge had ruled that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'I quash Ext P5 in so far as it holds that
woman can be arrested for recovery of money under Sec 27 of the (Consumer
Protection) Act and that means of judgement debtor need not be considered when
the power under S 27 is exercised for recovery of money</i>'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of course, between 1908
and 1986 we had given to ourselves a Constitution that promised justice,
liberty and equality, irrespective of caste, creed, religions, sex, place of
birth etc. But granting that the CPC, 1908 is still being followed, the
question that can be validly raised is the judge’s discretion to aggravate the
discrimination on grounds of sex by asserting that the means of the judgment
debtor need not be considered when power under S 27 of the CPA is exercised. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Given that, as per CPA,
every decision, favorable to the complainant consumer would involve recovery of
money, whether in terms of refund of costs and/or compensation, this judgment
actually exempted half the population of the country- women- from the penal
provisions of the law. In other words, women could cheat with impunity and get
away with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can state this with
authority as I became a victim when a woman, with her husband in tow, acted as
an agent of a non-existent firm that undertook to develop a lawn in front of my
house and defaulted. (I wasted more than Rs 25,000/-, pursuing this complaint
for almost a decade beginning 2000, in the district consumer forum/state
consumer commission, for refund of Rs 14000/-)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The injustice did not stop
there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In Mary Chacko vs Jancy
Joseph (2005 (3) KLT 925), a division bench headed by the then Chief Justice of
Kerala considered the issue of the applicability of the same Sec 56 of CPC
while enforcing the orders under Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial
Institutions Act 1993 and ordered that women CAN be arrested because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'there is a clear basis for treating the
public dues different from the purely private</i>'. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now this raises a genuine
doubt whether the Constitution of India, by which all these luminaries swear
by, mention anywhere that justice can be denied to individual citizens? As I
see it, or as any man in his senses would see it, it is a big NO! Doesn't it
suggest that our judges should read the Preamble to the Constitution every time
they opened a case file? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As well as the Gandhi
Talisman (</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman]
whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going
to be of any use to him [her]</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto;">) </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">for added effect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A report at </span><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delay-in-communication-of-bail-orders-affects-liberty-needs-redressal-at-war-footing-sc-judge-2597974"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delay-in-communication-of-bail-orders-affects-liberty-needs-redressal-at-war-footing-sc-judge-2597974</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (Delay In Communicating Bail Order Serious Flaw:
Justice DY Chandrachud; November 03, 2021). This was in the context of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar
Shahrukh Khan, spending an extra day inside the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai,
despite securing bail from the Bombay High Court in the drugs-on-cruise case</i>.
Chandrachud had termed the delay in communicating bail orders to prison
authorities as a "very serious deficiency" and stressed the need to
address it on "war footing" as it touches the "human
liberty" of every under-trial prisoner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And, there was this report
at </span><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/can-less-heinous-offence-cases-be-dropped-asks-sc/articleshow/89463808.cms"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/can-less-heinous-offence-cases-be-dropped-asks-sc/articleshow/89463808.cms</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (Can less heinous offence cases be dropped, asks SC; Feb
10, 2022) where the apex court<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">decided to examine whether the pending
criminal cases, involving less heinous offences, and in which the accused have
already spent substantial part of the sentence, be dropped by the prosecuting
agency to ease the burden on the courts for expeditious disposal of serious
cases involving heinous offences and also to prevent accused from languishing
in jail and to reduce overcrowding in jail. </i>Forget about the gross
injustice in holding somebody as an under trial in judicial custody for such
prolonged periods, what about the horror of living forever under a cloud of
doubt for the person acquitted and the equally disconcerting state of the
aggrieved that he had not been given justice? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Equally important is the
question: can the law makers, including the judiciary, give exemption to the
police from investigating criminal cases, involving less heinous offences? Of
course, the issues of defining less heinous offences and substantial part of the
sentence will have to be addressed too. Yes, these are not as simple as they
appear. Even in the Right to Information Act the term <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">substantial</i> appearing in the definition of a public authority has
led to many questionable decisions by the adjudicating authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile, Anil Gidwani,
63 year old alumni of IIT Mumbai and a software engineer had to fast for 37
days before he could get an order from Mumbai High Court in the following
terms:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The alleged
contemnor in person submits that he is seeking only a tentative date for fixing
the matter for hearing and completion of the contempt proceedings. He has
humbly submitted that he is not expecting any time limit for fixation of the
date.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hence, as far
as possible, the contempt proceeding shall commence after six months and be
completed, as far as possible, within three months. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Stand over to
01/09/2022.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Only time will tell to
what extent this commitment will be honored. The qualifier ‘as far as possible’
(used twice in the same sentence), notwithstanding, even the term completed
cannot be taken to mean what it usually means. To presume that the proceedings
will end with a verdict will be delusional. I do not know if the courts have
data on cases where verdicts are pending long after the final arguments are
over. But I do know that this delay can be more than even five years and the
judge might have even gone on transfer or retired, leaving the parties high and
dry. The agony of the aggrieved can well be imagined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is an extract from a
report ‘India’s huge backlog of court cases is a disgrace – but Covid-19 has
provided solutions’ (</span><a href="https://scroll.in/article/998458/indias-huge-backlog-of-court-cases-is-a-disgrace-but-covid-19-has-provided-solutions"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://scroll.in/article/998458/indias-huge-backlog-of-court-cases-is-a-disgrace-but-covid-19-has-provided-solutions</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">; Jun 28, 2021):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The E-Committee of the Supreme Court has
been in existence since 2005. It has made two outstanding recommendations which
are not being followed:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1) E-filing in all courts: The committee
has made detailed standard operating procedures on how petitions, affidavits, payment
of fees can all be done electronically without lawyers or litigants having to
travel to the courts. This has been implemented in small ways and often in
absolutely perverse and wasteful ways. Many High Courts have insisted that the
petitions must be filed by email and then the paper copies must be submitted.
To make this more wasteful and interesting, the paper copies are scanned and
the “digitised” images are not used anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A lot of travel and expense would be
saved for lawyers and litigants. It would also save a lot of space in the
courts and make them cleaner and smart. A rough calculation indicates that the
courts of India require about 12,500 tonnes of paper that requires the
destruction of about 3 lakh trees.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2) Virtual hearings: Virtual hearings
have been held by courts for about two decades in a few cases. But this has
been done as an exception. The Covid-19 crisis led to the demand to conduct
virtual hearings. Whereas some courts did hold some hearings selectively, the
disposals fell dramatically, since many judges worked for less than 50% of the
time even on virtual hearings and some did not work at all.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Again, just for the
record, when the pandemic struck in March 2020, directives were issued for
lockdown and which all services will be affected fully or partly. We saw that
essential services were exempted. The health workers and police were stretched
to the maximum. While some minimal additions were provided to the health staff,
the police had to do with the existing staff. The electricity, water,
telephone, media and such services were also provided without serious problems.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When it came to courts,
the call was taken by the judiciary itself. I am not aware whether the decision
was taken considering it to be an essential service or not. But as per another
report (</span><a href="https://scroll.in/article/971860/covid-impact-cases-disposed-by-high-courts-drop-by-half-district-courts-by-70"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://scroll.in/article/971860/covid-impact-cases-disposed-by-high-courts-drop-by-half-district-courts-by-70</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">; Sep 04, 2020) cases disposed of by High Courts dropped
by half and district courts by 70%. The Supreme Court’s website showed only the
number of pending cases. On March 1, the Supreme Court had 60,469 cases
pending. On July 1, the latest data available, the figure stood at 60,444.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/230322<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-76428749145911623412022-03-10T13:48:00.003-08:002022-03-10T13:48:44.536-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-12<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I had concluded Judicial
Perfidies-11 with a billion rupee question: will the reasons for the Mumbai
High Court reversing the judgment of the trial court and the reasons for the
dismissal of the next two appeals be investigated and the responsibility
fixed? Also, will those responsible for
the miscarriage of justice be punished, even if they are dead, for the sake of
record and acting as a deterrent for the future?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From the data provided
through tweets it is amply clear that Sopan Narsinga Gaikwad is a victim of a
fraud perpetrated by the seller of the property. The only extenuating
circumstance could be that the seller had informed Sopan of the mortgage and
Sopan had accepted that liability too. But it had to be on record. Also, with
the title deed of the mortgaged property being with the lending bank how was
the sale deed registered? So the only task before the trial court judge was to
verify these documents. Since he had given a verdict in favour of Sopan we
should presume that the judge had gone through the process of validating all
these. So that leaves the high court judges who reversed the verdict and
dismissed the appeals in the dock. Also in the dock should be the advocate
whose failure led to the last appeal being dismissed for delayed filing and
default in appearance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I doubt if these failures
will ever be investigated. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Our judges have the means
to blame everybody from the petitioner, to the investigating officer (where
involved) and the prosecution to the witnesses, for the verdicts going awry.
But a simple look at the Right to Information Act case of Subhash Agarwal in
the matter of disclosure of judges’ assets will reveal that the judges can also
be at fault. (This shall be discussed in more detail subsequently.) And this is
in keeping with the truism in the quip<i>
power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Palki Sharma in her report
quotes the Bhopal Gas tragedy too. In the tragedy that struck in 1984, 5 lakhs
people were affected, 15000 killed and only 7 were convicted with maximum 2
years punishment. Many of the victims are yet to get their full
compensation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So, she rightly asks: Is
the legal logjam defeating the very purpose of the judiciary?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She has listed the
following data too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of the 44 million cases pending in
courts, 73000 in apex court itself. 8 lakhs are pending for more than a decade,
1 lakh for more than 20 years, 2000 cases for more than 50 years. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There are 23 new cases being filed every
minute.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">76 pc of the prisoners are undertrials,
and as of 2020, 1271 are eligible for release having completed 50% of the
maximum period for which they could have been punished, if convicted.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While 0.08 pc of GDP is being spent on
the courts, the loss to economy due to judicial delays is 0.5 pc of GDP, ie
about Rs 50,000 cr per annum.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">11 Finance Commission had recommended
1734 Fast Track Courts. But the performance of those established, leave much to
be desired. Delhi FTC takes 122 days for disposing a case against 133 days for
regular courts. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of the 29000 cases resolved in 2019, 81
pc were on trial for at least 10 years. It was insulting human dignity.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A study by Vidhi Centre
for Legal Policy conducted in Delhi HC found that in 91 pc cases delayed over 2
years, adjournments were sought and granted. She calls it luxurious litigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However, when it comes to
solutions suggested, she has gone bookish. Fill vacancies and appoint more
judges, use technology to streamline process to end bench fixing, use virtual
courts, Alternate Disputes Redressal, central tribunals to be last resort et
all are nothing but armchair solutions as we shall see from the facts listed in
the following paragraphs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The issue of judge to
population or docket ratio has been discussed in detail before. Filling
vacancies is a just need but then when the authorization itself keeps
increasing there are bound to be vacancies. But beyond authorization and
vacancies there is one factor that has never been considered or taken up for
discussion. That is the throughput of judges or in other words, the efficiency
of judges. While unwarranted holidays, short working hours etc continue to
limit the output, the illegal adjournments (yes, illegal, when they are beyond
the limits prescribed by the Civil and Criminal Procedure Codes) and consequent
delays should be attributed only to the incompetence of the judges. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When the pandemic struck
the Government of India announced a lock down but exempted all essential
services. So we had our electricity, water, newspapers, TV, grocery stores and
vegetables, without any or minimal disruption. The courts, as usual, were left
to decide for themselves. And what did they do? Locked down and worked with
emergency benches. Of course, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Using technology and
ending bench fixing though apparently independent are also inter-related.
Technology will certainly speed up the administrative aspects of the judicial
process. And by doing away with human intervention it can bring an end (?) to
bench fixing (or, uncle judge syndrome as it is known in legal circles) as well
as docket hunting (as was highlighted indirectly by the four senior most judges
of the apex court when they held a controversial press conference to cast
aspersions, without substantiating any, on the then Chief Justice of India) and
corruption too. As per a report in Hindustan Times of 03 May 2014 (</span><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/every-third-hc-judge-is-uncle/story-emvLdM8SlnlknyCQ4A7uLM.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/every-third-hc-judge-is-uncle/story-emvLdM8SlnlknyCQ4A7uLM.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <i>every third
high court judge is uncle.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Regarding virtual courts,
the demand has been quite old. I had read a report of a court in Mysore hearing
a witness, based abroad, through video conferencing more than a decade back.
But it took a pandemic to make it the primary means to process cases. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alternate disputes
redressal is again not a new subject. There are a plethora of institutions from
ombudsmen (for local self governing bodies, banks, insurance) through
commissions like human rights, women’s, child rights, minorities, consumer
disputes and information (both at the state and national levels), police
complaints authorities at state and district levels and even Lokayuktas and
Lokpal. Anybody who has ever approached any of these quasi judicial authorities
can vouch for the totally wayward manner in which they function, merely
burdening the tax payer and mostly acting as rehabilitation centers for retired
public servants. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There was this report of a
Chairman of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, a former judge of the
High Court, holding regular sittings on the 1<sup>st</sup> of every Malayalam
month at Guruvayur, a pilgrimage centre famous for the Lord Krishna
(Guruvayurappan) Temple in Thrissur, Kerala. It was as if that was the centre
for most of the human rights violations in the State. This was while most of
the district headquarters were totally out of the list of locations for camp sittings
of the Commission. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Since I shall be dealing
with the consumer fora/commissions and information commissions in detail later,
let me just cite the example of the Lokpal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Lokpal and Lokayuktas
Act became law in 2013. The Lokpal provides for a chairman, who has been a
judge of the Supreme Court, four judicial members who have been either judges
of the apex court or a chief justice of a high court and four non-judicial
members. The Lokpal was finally constituted in 2019 with full quorum and as of 07
Mar 2022, there are vacancies of two judicial members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A report in The Print (‘Complaint
not in right format? No problem, Lokpal will scrutinise it to spot genuine
grievances’ dated 07 March 2022 at </span><a href="https://theprint.in/india/governance/complaint-not-in-right-format-no-problem-lokpal-will-scrutinise-it-to-spot-genuine-grievances/858567/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://theprint.in/india/governance/complaint-not-in-right-format-no-problem-lokpal-will-scrutinise-it-to-spot-genuine-grievances/858567/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) attracted attention for more than one reason. Firstly this format is a big thing in our
judicial scheme of things. A further reading of the report revealed showed a
table having the following data:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Year</span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <u>Total
Complaints received</u> <u>Complaints
in right format<o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2019-20 <span> </span><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>1427 45<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2020-21 <span> </span><span> <span> </span> <span> </span></span>2355 110<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2021-22 <span> </span><span> <span> </span> <span> </span></span>4244 128<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Live
complaints as on 31 Jan 2022 - 36<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Complaints
in which probe ordered - 03<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So
what happened to the complaints not in the right format?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
what of the rest of the complaints in the right format which are neither live
nor being probed?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is the data on the
disposal of complaints, as per the Annual Report for 2019-20:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheGresOzr1UChlFAHUdN0Qn1r0-Jrk3gwoNF3vH_WXIhT5vS_sHrkSlE-AKsqoIKK3utKet28HUXPOzHddT3jb16x1stQc7Qo2ExFBS9uLERhHmF9c77d_tvt29eSOaFj9pxTR753OOfGMfQ-6AnRRzUNttmLe7QL3EU2M8jTXDsdP7MZyCWjkftWgaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="645" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheGresOzr1UChlFAHUdN0Qn1r0-Jrk3gwoNF3vH_WXIhT5vS_sHrkSlE-AKsqoIKK3utKet28HUXPOzHddT3jb16x1stQc7Qo2ExFBS9uLERhHmF9c77d_tvt29eSOaFj9pxTR753OOfGMfQ-6AnRRzUNttmLe7QL3EU2M8jTXDsdP7MZyCWjkftWgaA=w403-h312" width="403" /></a></div> <v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="lokpal-ar-2019-20-disposal of complaints.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 237.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 307.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="lokpal-ar-2019-20-disposal of complaints" src="file:///C:\Users\Ravindran\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
following facts are noteworthy:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*Annual Report of 2020-21 was not available at their
website </span><a href="https://lokpal.gov.in/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://lokpal.gov.in/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*Disclosures under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act is
not available at their website<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*The copies of the orders are not available at their
website and most importantly, the number of complaints which have been decided
in favour of complainants and the action taken against the defaulters, that is,
for example, cases being prosecuted in Special court(s), are not available even
in their Annual Report. (Is there any reason why all courts and quasi judicial
organizations should not use the same format as used by the Supreme Court for
its website? Not that the apex court website meets all the requirements of
transparency and accountability but still for the purpose of standardization
and user friendliness it is still a good idea to begin with.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;">*Budget
allocation and Expenditure during 2019-20 has been as follows:<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;">Budget
Estimate Rs 101,29,00,000</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;">Revised
Estimate Rs 18,01,00,000</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;">Actual Expenditure Rs
16,40,73,000</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt;">*Sanctioned
Strength- 144; In position- 84. A proposal for sanction of 447 posts has
already been sent to the Government. <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is also this blog on ‘How the Indian judiciary can get out of the
tareekh-pe-tareekh mode’ by popular author Chetan Bhagat at </span><a href="http://www.chetanbhagat.com/columns/how-the-indian-judiciary-can-get-out-of-the-tareekh-pe-tareekh-mode/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.chetanbhagat.com/columns/how-the-indian-judiciary-can-get-out-of-the-tareekh-pe-tareekh-mode/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. He writes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">‘…there is one huge bottleneck that
prevents India’s economy from thrusting full steam ahead. This is our justice
system and hence the need for judicial reforms</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.’ He is unduly optimistic when he asserts ‘<i>If we could vaccinate a billion people, surely,
we can also make our courts faster?</i>’ His suggestions unfortunately are,
again, bookish- more budgetary allocation, more court buildings and virtual
courts, hiring more people, a separate paperwork and administrative assistance
entity, and re-imagine the paperwork filing and hearing system. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My comments were:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">More
budgetary allocation, more court buildings, hiring more people etc are facile
requirements, more in line with the judge to population ratio touted by judges
and their apologists when what matters is the judge to docket ratio. In a
presentation on ‘Justice delayed in India’, made by Adv K T S Tulsi on 24
August 2004 at the Supreme Court Bar Association, here are the statistics he
had presented:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Cases
filed in One Year (1999):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">India
13.6 Million, USA 93.81 Million (689%
more cases with less than 25% population)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Docket’s
per Judge:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">India 987
USA 3235 (327% more compared to
Indian judges)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He has also asserted in no
uncertain terms that the primary causes of delay are: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Not the law<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Not the procedure<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Not the paucity of judges<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Sheer question of (mis)management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I would declare anybody
touting the judge to population ratio unfit to be a judicial officer on account
of lack of reasoning ability, a primary requirement towards logical deductions
and fair judgments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Ok,
there is shortage of infrastructure at the lower court level, but what about
the high courts and the apex court? Why are cases pending there? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hiring more people? I had,
on many occasions, after the Right to Information Act came into force, looked
up the apex court website to check their compliance with the basic information
all public authorities are required to disclose suo moto. These are listed
under Section 4(1)(b) of the Act. Sub sections 4(1)(b)(ix) and (x) pertain to a
directory of its officers and employees and the monthly remuneration received
by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as
provided in its regulations respectively. I use this as a barometer for the
transparency in the public authority itself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At the apex court website
I could find the directory of 2053 officers/employees from the Secretary
General to the Canteen Attendant. The judges were not in this list, though
there are 32, including the Chief Justice, as per the details available
elsewhere. That makes it 64 officers/employees per judge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The remuneration of these
employees have been provided in terms of pay scale of their grades/classes.
Again, the judges were missing from this table too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The more interesting
revelation from the directory, accessed on 25 Feb 2022 with data updated on 19
Jan 2022, is the classes of employees and their distribution. The major
clusters are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Registrars
(all grades) - 109; Branch Officer/Court Masters- 140<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Court
Assistants - 843; Personal Assistants - 122<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Court
Attendants - 484; Chamber Attendants - 117<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Usherers - 46; Chauffeurs - 88, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jamadars
(Farash/Safaiwala) - 30; Restorers - 68<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I leave it to the readers
to guesstimate which are the categories of officers/employees that are needed
to be increased further, to enhance the disposal rate of cases pending with the
apex court. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As had been brought out
earlier, the issue with throughput is not related to budgetary allocation. It
is related to optimizing use of available resources and efficiency of the
judges. Judges need to know thoroughly the laws they are dealing with and the
facts presented, either by the party in person or his representative. And that
is all that is required to decide a case on its merits. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This series began with the
case of a retired high court judge, demanding and getting enhanced pension, due
to a pension on attaining the age of 80 years, when he had only attained 79
years of age (80<sup>th</sup> birth day or 79<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary). The
court failed to ask the pertinent question: how can a man who attained 62 years
of age on the eve of his 63<sup>nd</sup> birthday while retiring, attain 80
years of age on his 80<sup>th</sup> birthday to claim enhanced pension?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
doyen among judges, V R Krishna Iyer had stated that <i>for more disposals…and inexpensive justice, the purposeful therapy is
not judicial numbers but intelligent selection, result oriented technology and
summary procedure. One capable judge with sound philosophy is a better
instrument of justice than a dozen mediocre, indolent ignoramuses who will
merely add to the adipose of the system. </i>He had also suggested a powerful
Performance Commission to investigate the delinquencies of judges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M
Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/100322<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p> </p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-4500786724386521052022-03-10T13:45:00.000-08:002022-03-10T13:45:26.212-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-11<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At the cost of harping,
let me repeat one fact that I am totally convinced about: our judiciary is not
merely the most failed organ of our Constitution it is an absolutely failed
organ. And this has led to the other organs also failing the citizens blatantly
and with impunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In an earlier part of this
series I had compared the three organs-legislature/Parliament, Executive and
judiciary- from first principles to establish that our judiciary is the best
example of the truism that power corrupts and absolute power corrupt
absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here I shall expose why I
consider it to be an absolutely failed organ too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is an online
petition at</span> <a href="https://www.change.org/p/a-citizen-s-plea-to-the-indian-judiciary-expedite-court-hearings-deliver-justiceontime"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.change.org/p/a-citizen-s-plea-to-the-indian-judiciary-expedite-court-hearings-deliver-justiceontime</span></a>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">which had the support of 12,431 citizens as at 7:23
PM on 01 Mar 2022 IST. This petition was initiated by a US based friend of a
senior citizen, Anil Gidwani, 63 years old, who is on a fast unto death at Azad
Maidan, Mumbai, since 26 January 2022. That is, he is completing 35 days as I
write this. His demand, as per the online petition is that his judicial
hearings be expedited. Gidwani has property cases pending in court for over 23
years and, during the course of these 23 years, he has also invited two
contempt of court cases. These cases are pending for the last four years and he
is demanding that these should be disposed of in a time bound manner. Not
today, not tomorrow but just in a time bound manner, including a tentative date
by which the verdicts would be given. Now, may I ask: is that too much for a
litigant to expect? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have already exposed the
falsehood of the claim of the judiciary that it is the shortage of the judges
that is leading to delays. Senior Advocate K T S Tulsi had explicitly stated,
way back in 2004, that it is not the law, not the procedure, not the paucity of
judges but sheer mismanagement that has led to cases piling up and the
consequent delays. Let me elaborate this further.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We are all familiar with
the expression tariq pe tariq or endless adjournments in our courts.<strong><span style="background: #F6F4F6; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><strong><span style="background: #F6F4F6; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are two observations
made by H D Shourie ('How long before justice comes?' The New Indian Express of
04 Dec 2004):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">'It is not possible for a judge to
seriously hear and decide more than two or three cases a day....no judge should
have more than 30 matters listed before him/her on a given day.' <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And, 'Lawyers are accused of employing
delaying methods, but no lawyer can succeed if the court refuses an
adjournment.'<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, even the figure 30 is
disputable, given the fact that if only two or three cases can be heard in a
day, it should not be more than 4 or 5 cases that should be listed. Of course
this will vary depending on the nature of the case but then there is no
gainsaying that even with these differences a certain number can be decided as
a thumb rule to be adopted so that not only the time of the court but the time
of the litigants are also not wasted. And when I say time of the court, I mean
just the productive time of the court because the time of the judge in the
court is not to be considered wasted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Anil Gidwani has led the
way in quantifying the cost of his time wasted in courts due to tariq per
tariq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had imposed a fine of Rs
2,20,000 for 22 adjournments due to various reasons, such as board
mismanagement, papers not supplied to Advocate General or the respondent,
judges absent, judges get up early, paucity of time etc. Now there may be
dispute as far as the amount of Rs 10,000/- per adjournment is concerned. But
here I need to list two facts/case laws. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One, even the Consumer
Protection Act, 1986, as amended had provided for compensating the opposite
party if any adjournment was demanded by one party and granted by the
Forum/Commission. (It is a different matter that even this specific mandate is
not complied with by the consumer courts, as they are popularly referred to,
because I had got only Rs 750/- after 3 such adjournments and persistent
demands, when the prescribed amount was Rs 500/- per adjournment.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The next is that, in the
matter of paying compensation to the victims of the air crash at Mangalore in
2010, the carrier was initially directed to pay a flat rate to each victim. But
the courts had, irrationally and unfairly, linked it to the income levels of
the victims. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reiterate, irrationally
and unfairly, because, all the victims had paid the same fare and the fare had
not been linked to the income levels of the passengers. It, of course, implies
different compensation for different classes of passengers but not different
compensation for the same class of passengers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I can vouch, from personal
experience, that in the lower courts, around 100 cases are listed and almost half
the limited time of the court is spend in mustering when cases are called out,
attendance of the litigants/advocates are confirmed and simply adjourned. And
that too by months, as if the litigants have nothing to do except attend the
court, once they have a case in a court. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">These over-spaced
adjournments do have a serious adverse effect on the quality of the hearings
themselves, which nobody seems to recognize or at least pretend not to
recognize. It is the coherence of arguments and understanding. You may ask all
those who are stuck with some or the other serials telecast by our TV channels,
whether they would like to have them telecast every day, once in a week or once
in a month. I know of people fidgeting when there is break during just the
weekends. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now what are the rules
governing adjournments?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The procedure and traits
of an adjournment is given under Rule 1 of Order XVII of the Civil Procedure
Code. Some of the relevant clauses are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Court may grant time and adjourn
hearing, for reasons to be recorded in writing, provided that no such
adjournment shall be granted more than three times to a party;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The court shall make such orders as to
costs occasioned by the adjournment or such higher costs as the court deems
fit;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The hearing shall be continued from
day-to-day;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">No adjournment shall be granted at the
request of a party, except where the circumstances are beyond the control of
that party;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The fact that the pleader of a party is
engaged in another Court, shall not be a ground for adjournment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Similarly, the power to
postpone or adjourn proceedings as per Criminal Procedure Code is given in
Section 309. They are more or less the same as in Rule 1 of Order XVII of the
CPC. However, for ease of understanding, they are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-the proceedings shall be continued from day-to-day until all the
witnesses in attendance have been examined, unless the Court finds the
adjournment of the same beyond the following day to be necessary for reasons to
be recorded;<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-when witnesses are in attendance, no adjournment or postponement shall
be granted, without examining them, except for special reasons to be recorded
in writing;<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-no adjournment shall be granted at the request of a party, except
where the circumstances are beyond the control of that party;<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-the fact that the pleader of a party is engaged in another Court,
shall not be a ground for adjournment</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And as per Anil Gidwani,
the two contempt cases against him are the results of:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One,
</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">during the hearing of a
partition suit (2017) </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">the judge did not give him a chance to argue his case
in a Notice of Motions, and began dictating the order. When he objected, the judge
threatened to call the police. It was countered with: “go ahead”. He did, and
also filed contempt against him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Two, </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">on the final day of execution proceedings in an eviction suit (2018), the
defendant tenant, who had never appeared in the matter, again failed to appear.
The judge </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">rescheduled the matter to the
afternoon session and the defendant suddenly appeared and obtained a stay. The
next date, Anil told the judge that he hoped that there will not be any need to
reschedule the matter. The judge got angry and he filed contempt.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, how many reports have
we read of judges talking from roof tops on the fundamental right to freedom of
expression? And what do these two contempt cases say of the fundamental right
of a citizen to express himself in a court while seeking justice? And let us not
make any mistakes about this, the court procedures, at the least, should
facilitate the litigants to bring their facts on record and protect their
rights guaranteed by the laws. It is not for nothing that the laws mandate that
all witnesses should be heard in the presence of the accused. Again, from
personal experience, I can vouch for the fact that even this is ensured by the
courts only in a superficial manner where the accused/defendants are kept at
the farthest end of the court while the witnesses are heard by the judge at
closer quarters. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The judges may claim that
unruly behavior cannot be permitted in the courts and decorum has to be
maintained. This obviously is not disputable. In fact, based on ground
realities, it should be recognized that it applies more to judges than to
litigants because whether petitioner or defendant, they are in the unenviable
position of almost begging for the right decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this context, it is pertinent to recollect
that Booker Prize winning author Arundhati Roy was punished for contempt of
court on the ground that the language used in her affidavit submitted in court
was not proper. This is what Roy had written on 02 Mar 2002 at </span><a href="http://www.narmada.org/sc.contempt/aroy.stmt.mar7.2002.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.narmada.org/sc.contempt/aroy.stmt.mar7.2002.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I stand by what I have said in my
Affidavit and I have served the sentence which the Supreme Court imposed on me.
Anybody who thinks that the punishment for my supposed 'crime' was a symbolic
one day in prison and a fine of two thousand rupees, is wrong. The punishment
began over a year ago when notice was issued to me to appear personally in
Court over a ludicrous charge which the Supreme Court itself held should never
have been entertained. In India, everybody knows that as far as the legal
system is concerned, the process is part of the punishment.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Shortly thereafter a high
court judge, S M Daud, had reportedly denounced her punishment (‘Arundhati's
conviction was wrong: HC judge’, PTI Mar 24, 2002; </span><a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-03-24/india/27131899_1_arundhati-roy-hc-judge-conviction"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-03-24/india/27131899_1_arundhati-roy-hc-judge-conviction</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">). The relevant paragraph of the report reads:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Mangalore: Noted writer Arundhati Roy,
who was convicted by the Supreme Court for contempt of court, has got support
from an unexpected quarter with a high court judge saying the conviction was
"wrong". "Arundhati Roy was wrongly convicted," Justice S M
Daud, a judge of the Bombay High Court, said. The courts should accept the
criticism by the citizens, he told reporters here on Saturday. The highest
court should also be open to scrutiny by the public, he said, adding that the
courts can either refute it or justifies their actions. He also suggested that
the courts should cut down the vacation periods and working hours should be
increased to expedite the clearance of the pending cases. Roy was recently
convicted by the Supreme Court on charges of contempt of court and sentenced to
a one-day "symbolic imprisonment" and slapped Rs 2000 fine for
criticising the courts.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Quite a sane judge, a rare
breed, I must say. He not only acknowledged one basic fact of democracy but
also slammed the judiciary for its hypocrisy in the matter of availing long holidays
and short working hours when cases are piling by the day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a video that has
been widely circulated on social media. It is about a judge, Kazim Ali, in
Pakistan explaining how he cut out the delays. The essence of what he said is
this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When he reached
Gujranwala, there were murder cases pending for more than 10 years. He met the
advocates in the Bar Room and requested them for co operation to dispose of the
cases. He told them that once the trial in a case had commenced he would give
adjournment only under three conditions-one, if the judge dies, two, if the
advocate dies and three, if the accused dies. The result was within 12 months
600 murder cases were disposed of. Similarly he held a meeting with the police
officials also and explained what he expected of them. Like Senior Advocate K T
S Tulsi had asserted, this judge can also be seen asserting that the primary
causes for the backlog and delays are not the law, not the procedure, not the
paucity of the judges but is a sheer question of mismanagement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another interesting video
report I viewed recently on judiciary was at </span><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-3-in-4-people-in-indias-jails-are-under-trials-454641"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-3-in-4-people-in-indias-jails-are-under-trials-454641</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. (Gravitas Plus: 3 in 4 people in India’s jails are
under-trials, Feb 19, 2022, 08:05 PM(IST) by Palki Sharma)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the sample cases
she mentioned was that of Sopan Narsinga Gaikwad, a 108 year old man who died
after waiting in vain for justice for 50 years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the read the report at </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/108-year-old-maharashtra-man-dies-just-before-sc-admits-land-dispute-plea-1831108-2021-07-22"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/108-year-old-maharashtra-man-dies-just-before-sc-admits-land-dispute-plea-1831108-2021-07-22</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> and </span><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-oap-court-case-1968-b1888627.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-oap-court-case-1968-b1888627.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> but both the reports misses the crunch issues which
had been tweeted by Maheshwer Peri on 22 Jul 2021 at </span><a href="https://twitter.com/maheshperi/status/1418077171617202179"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://twitter.com/maheshperi/status/1418077171617202179</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are the tweets
(emphasis added):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the story of Sopan Narsinga
Gaikwad<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1968: Sopan, aged 55 years, hailing from
rural Maharashtra, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">purchased a plot of
land through a registered sale deed</b>. Soon he came to know that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it was already mortgaged to a bank in lieu
of a loan taken by the original owner</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1969: The bank issues a notice to him on
default of loan by original owner. Sopan approaches the courts to enforce his
rights. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1982 (14 years after purchase): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A trial court issues a decree in his favour</b>.
Original owner moves court. Sopan is now 69 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1987 (19 years after purchase): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">High court reverses the decree that favored
him</b>. Sopan is 74 years old. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1988 (20 years after purchase): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sopan moves High court against the HC order</b>.
Sopan is 75 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2015 (47 Years after purchase and 27
years after appeal): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bombay High Court
dismisses the appeal.</b> Sopan appeals to a larger bench. Sopan is 102 years
old.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2019 (51 years after purchase): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bombay HC dismisses the second appeal too
for delayed filing and default for non appearance</b>. <u>Sopan never knew his
lawyers did not appear in court. Sopan hails from Rural Maharashtra and is 106
years old now</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2021 (53 years after purchase): <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sopan appeals in the Supreme Court</b>
against the HC order. Sopan is 108 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">12 July 2021 (53 years after purchase):
SC agrees to hear Sopan's appeal. Sopan is 108 years old. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">12 July 2021: The lawyer of Sopan
informs the court that his client has died. The information from Rural
Maharashtra took time to reach the advocate. Sopan died aged 108 years.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sopan bought land when he was 55. He
died 53 years after he bought the land at age 108. He still doesn't have ownership
of his land and the court is still deciding his ownership.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the story of Sopan Narsinga
Gaikwad. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Or is it the story of Indian Judicial
system?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The case will now be
continued by the legal heirs of Sopan Narsinga Gaikwad. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But the billion rupee
question is will the reasons for the Mumbai High Court reversing the judgment
of the trial court and the reasons for the dismissal of the next two appeals be
investigated and the responsibility fixed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, will those responsible for the miscarriage of justice be punished,
even if they are dead, for the sake of record and acting as a deterrent for the
future?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To be continued….<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M Ravindran</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">/
</span><a href="mailto:raviforjustice@gmail.com/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">raviforjustice@gmail.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> 01 March 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-7761293370331315832022-02-09T16:51:00.002-08:002022-02-09T16:51:52.077-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-10<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In any case before a judge,
there are two parties, the petitioner and the respondent or the prosecutor and
the defendant. And both parties will have their own facts, laws, rules and case
laws in support of their cases. So a judge has a lot of discretion, and the
onerous responsibility that goes with it, to come to a fair decision. And like
all human qualities, discretion comes with ease and responsibility poses a
burden. Under the circumstances, it would have been only logical to ensure
systemic checks to ensure that discretions are not misused and responsibility
is carried scrupulously. Unfortunately, as we have seen, our Constitution has
not only failed to do it, it has gone overboard to protect those who could
misuse such discretion due to various reasons, including corruption. At least
whenever I see decisions that do not appeal to my sense of logic and fairness,
I always suspect corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
me present the case of Capt Satish Sharma , who had been mired in controversies
during his tenure as the Minister for Petroleum in the Union Cabinet, between
1993 and 1996. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the scams, fairly
well reported, was the petrol pump allotment scam. Here is the scam in the
words of three apex court judgments…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2 judge bench</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">
in </span>Common Cause A Regd Society<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Vs. Union of India and Ors, on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">25/09/96</b>:</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Court in The Centre for Public Interest Litigation case (supra)
has endorsed the guidelines submitted by the Attorney General for allotment of
petrol pumps, gas agencies etc. The Court in that case did not have before it
the actual manner of exercise of discretion by the Minister in the allotment of
pups/agencies. The allotment orders which are now before the Court clearly
indicate that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">leaving the authorities to
enjoy absolute discretion even within the guidelines would inevitably lead to
gross violation of the constitutional norms when the persons for allotment are
picked up arbitrarily and discriminatory.<o:p></o:p></b></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We, therefore, hold and direct as under: <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The orders - reproduced in
earlier part of this judgment - allotting petrol pumps to the above mentioned
fifteen persons are hereby quashed.</b> <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2. The allocation, allotment of the petrol pumps/retail outlet
dealerships by the Government of India, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. or any
other corporation in names of the above said fifteen persons shall stand
cancelled with immediate effect.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Above bench</span></b>, on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">04/11/1996</b>:</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -9.35pt; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The petrol pumps - public property - have been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">doled out in a wholly arbitrary manner</b>." ..... "All these
allotments are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">wholly arbitrary
nepotistic and are motivated by extraneous consideration</b>."<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“…we direct Capt. Satish Sharma
to pay a sum of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs. 50 lac as exemplary
damages</b> to the Government Exchequer. Since the property with which Capt.
Sharma was dealing was public property, the Government which is "by the
people" has to be compensated.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">3 judge bench</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> in </span>Common Cause A Regd Society<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vs. Union of India and Ors, on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">03/08/1999</b>:<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Rectification of an order thus stems from the fundamental
principle that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">justice is above all</b>.
It is exercised to remove the error and not for disturbing finality."<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We have already held above that in the judgment under review, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">there are errors apparent on the face of
the record, which has resulted in serious miscarriage of justice</b>. It is for
this reason only that we have proceeded to exercise the power of review.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For the reasons stated above, the application for Review is allowed. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The direction for payment of Rs.50 lakhs as
exemplary damages as also the direction for a case being registered by the
C.B.I. against the petitioner for Criminal Breach of Trust and investigation by
them into that offence and the further direction to investigate whether
petitioner has committed any other offence are recalled. The amount of Rs.50
lakhs, if paid or deposited by the petitioner with the Union of India, shall be
refunded to him. All applications for impleadment or intervention filed on
behalf of allottees are rejected.</b></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, here are some reports
from the media.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A report in India Today (‘Ex-petroleum
minister Satish Sharma and his beneficiaries come under CBI scrutiny’, April 15,
1997, updated April 26, 2013; </span><a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/19970415-ex-petroleum-minister-satish-sharma-and-his-beneficiaries-come-under-cbi-scrutiny-831260-1997-04-15"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/19970415-ex-petroleum-minister-satish-sharma-and-his-beneficiaries-come-under-cbi-scrutiny-831260-1997-04-15</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) states:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When captain Satish Sharma ruled the
Petroleum Ministry, a joke in the corridors of Shastri Bhavan, where the
ministry is housed, had it that an allotment letter for a petrol agency was
easier to obtain than a ration card. All that was required was the right
connection.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At times the allotment letter was just a
phone call away. And depending on the "weight" of the recommendation,
Sharma would favour his visitors with a petroleum dealership, a cooking gas
agency, or a kerosene oil depot.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But the good Captain's benevolence
boomeranged last November when the Supreme Court, acting on a public-interest
petition, cancelled 15 such allotments, terming them mala fide. It also slapped
a Rs 50 lakh fine on Sharma for behaving "as if he was a king and the
petrol pumps his personal property".</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Ministry officials point out that Sharma
may not have got "cuts" for these allotments, most of which were
doles meant to placate party-men, including dozens of Congress workers from his
constituency Amethi, and Andhra Pradesh, Rao's home state.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What however is known to everyone in the
Petroleum Ministry is that the "going rate" for a petrol dealership
was anywhere between Rs 20 and Rs 30 lakh, depending on the location.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another report ‘Capt.
Satish Sharma discharged in petrol pump cases’ dated Nov 22, 2005 at </span><a href="https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/capt-satish-sharma-discharged-in-petrol-pump-cases_257505.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/capt-satish-sharma-discharged-in-petrol-pump-cases_257505.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> informed the readers that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The investigating agency had filed the closure report in the cases
against Sharma, who was Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas between
1993 and 1996, as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Home Minister
refused sanction for his prosecution</b>.</i> Also, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The court, however, said the cases against the other 14 accused would
continue and asked the CBI to file an investigation report at the earliest. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-right: -9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Relevant
extract of a third report ‘SC reviews decision to fine ex-Petroleum minister’
dated Jan 21, 2007 at </span><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/sc-reviews-decision-to-fine-ex-petroleum-minister/story-4dew3bZLkiiE9whP2i93QJ.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/sc-reviews-decision-to-fine-ex-petroleum-minister/story-4dew3bZLkiiE9whP2i93QJ.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> is as given below (emphasis added):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Over
seven years after recalling its order to former Petroleum Minister Capt Satish
Sharma to pay a fine of Rs 50 lakh as fine in the petrol pump allotment scam,
the Supreme Court now finds 'considerable force' in arguments against its
decision.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The issue was raised in a petition filed
by one Vikram Dhillon who claimed a compensation of Rs 10.5 lakh for being
'wrongfully' denied admission in a Medical College in Haryana.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Though the court dismissed his petition
but during the course of arguments, a Bench of Chief Justice YK Sabharwal
(since retired), Justice CK Thakker and Justice RV Raveendran had an occasion
to reflect on Capt Satish Sharma’s case.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Petitioner’s counsel had argued that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in a review petition the court was not
right</b> in setting aside the direction for payment of Rs 50 lakh personally
from Capt Sharma, particularly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">when it
had recorded a finding earlier that the allotments were illegal, improper and
unconstitutional</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He had also submitted that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the apex court applied a wrong test </b>in
a review by adopting an analogy of a criminal trial and referring to provisions
of the Indian Penal Code.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Further, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it did not apply the correct test</b> by observing that in case of
criminal breach of trust, entrustment of property was an essential ingredient,
which was not proved, he had contended.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On a PIL by Common Cause, a Bench headed
by Justice Kuldeep Singh (since retired) had <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in 1996 cancelled the arbitrary allotments</b> of petrol pumps/LPG
distributorships made by Sharma in favour of his friends/relatives <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and imposed a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on him</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">on a review petition filed</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">after
Justice Singh’s retirement</b>, the order was recalled in 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(Just
for the record, I could not access the order of this bench at </span><a href="https://main.sci.gov.in/judgments"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://main.sci.gov.in/judgments</span></a>.
Since the search could not be carried out using the judge’s name, it was done
for the dates between 01/12/2006 and 31/01/2007. I could not find this case in
the list of 186 cases displayed.)<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Two
facts that struck me in these three verdicts of the apex court are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One,
the order dated 25/09/1996, considering the 15 cases of ‘discretionary allotment’
of petrol pump was in 26 pages, the order dated 04/11/1996, convicting Capt
Satish Sharma was in just 5 pages while the one exonerating him, dated
03/08/1999, was in 61 pages. It reminded me of the quip: a person’s depth of
knowledge of a subject can be measured by his ability to express it precisely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Two,
the judgment of 03/08/1999 began initially on a review petition with different
prayers- for constituting Lokpal, making CAG, CVC, CBI etc effective- but was
effectively diverted to a review of the judgment dated 04/11/1996.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this was a case that had its origins in
1990, when Capt Satish Sharma was not even the Petroleum Minister.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now, the disturbing question</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">: Ab initio the case was misuse of discretion by the
minister in the allotment of petrol pumps. So, who has erred? The bench of 1996
which imposed Rs 50 lakh penalty on Capt Satish Sharma? Or, the bench of 1999,
which reviewed that judgment and recalled the order of 1996? With a 3 judge
bench headed by the then CJI Y K Sabharwal in 2007 openly expressing that the
1999 order was legally wrong, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">where does
that leave the citizens of this society, supposedly ruled by law, , seeking
justice as interpreted by the courts?</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There are two questions that
struck me as I searched the website of the Supreme Court for copy of the orders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
table below shows the chronology of events when viewed based on docket numbers,
case numbers and actual dates of judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Docket
Numbers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Case
Numbers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Judgment
Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 166.5pt;" valign="top" width="222">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Judgment
Dates as shown in Search Result<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">76199/1990<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">WP(Civil) 821/1990</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: lime; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: lime;">03/08/1999</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 166.5pt;" valign="top" width="222">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">01/01/1970<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: aqua; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: aqua;">18305/1994</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: lime; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: lime;">WP(Civil) 26/1995</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">25/09/1996</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 166.5pt;" valign="top" width="222">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">01/01/1970<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 76.5pt;" valign="top" width="102">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: lime; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: lime;">18306/1994</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: aqua; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: aqua;">WP(Civil) 24/1995</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 94.5pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="background: aqua; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-highlight: aqua;">04/11/1996</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 166.5pt;" valign="top" width="222">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">01/01/1970<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Legend</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">1</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua;">2</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: lime; mso-highlight: lime;">3</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now
the first question is when the orders dated 25/09/1996 and 04/11/1996 are
practically pertaining to the same case- the first one cancelled some allotment
orders of the minister and issued show cause notice for not imposing penalty on
him and the next one, after receipt of reply from the minister, convicted him
and imposed the - how come they were registered under two dockets in 1994? And
why is the case numbers allotted to two consecutive dockets not consecutive?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
third is why was the date of judgment in the search result showing up as 01/01/1970
in all these cases? For now I will leave it for the readers to ponder<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Since the analysis of just
one case has taken up most of the space meant for this critique, I shall
conclude this with some assertions made by the courts in these judgments:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the judgment of 25 September, 1996-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">None of these cases fall within the categories placed before this Court
in writ petition (civil No. 886/93 titled Centre for public interest ligation
vs. Union of India & Anrs. decided on March 31, 1995 but even if we assume
for argument sake that these cases fall in some of those or similar guidelines <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the exercise of discretion was wholly
arbitrary</b>.</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- …</span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">leaving the authorities to enjoy absolute discretion
even within the guidelines would inevitably lead to gross violation of the
constitutional norms when the persons for allotment are picked up arbitrarily
and discriminatory (sic)</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(As an
aside, may I ask, two questions? One, what about those who enjoy absolute
discretion without even any guidelines? And, two, how about replacing ‘persons
for allotment’ with ‘cases for judgment’?)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This Court in Lucknow Development Authority versus M.K. Gupta (1994) 1
Supreme Court Cases 243, approved <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Misfeasance
in public offices" as a part of the Law of Tort. Public servants may be liable
in damages for malicious, deliberate or injurious wrong-doing</b></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -9.35pt; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the judgment of 04 November, 1996-</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -9.35pt; margin-top: 3.0pt;">- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All these allotments are
wholly arbitrary nepotistic and are motivated by extraneous consideration.</b>"</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the judgment of 03 August, 1999-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-</span>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Civil Service as such has no
Constitutional personality or responsibility separate from the duly constituted
Govt</i>. (Really? Aren’t they the ones who provide continuity to government?)</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"It may not be possible to frame an exhaustive definition of what
executive function means and implies. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ordinarily
the executive power connotes the residue</b> of governmental functions that
remain after legislative and judicial functions are taken away."</i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">These are what I call
judicial flip flops. And they are very common in our courts, quite often with
serious repercussions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Currently there is an IIT
alumni, Anil Gidwani, who is on a Fast unto Death at Azad Maidan, Mumbai since
26 Jan 2022. He had done his post graduation from the US of A and had a
successful career there for many years before returning to serve in India in
1998.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A senior citizen, he is seeking
speedy disposal of his cases pending with the courts in Mumbai. There is an
online petition at </span><a href="https://chng.it/vyGxzhdFfL"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://chng.it/vyGxzhdFfL</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> seeking support for his cause, which effectively is
the cause of justice, which affects us all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I dedicate this critique
to the righteous justice seeker Anil Gidwani and two martyrs for the cause of
justice-Indur K Chhugani and Mohini Kamwani-who have died, one due to covid and
the other, reportedly by suicide, without getting justice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a Face book post,
dated 30/04/2013 of Indur Chuggani:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Both PILs adjourned to 22nd June - Why?
- I do not know.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- Appears Judges like to see me in court
periodically - to double check "Is Chhugani still alive" --- Once
they find he's still alive - they adjourn the case.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- Waiting for me to die - So that they
can close the petition for demolishing 4000 illegal police chowkies across
Maharashtra.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- My petition dragging on since 2007 -
It was listed today at High Court<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Mohini
Kamwani, widow of a freedom fighter, had been illegally arrested by the police,
acting, as per her, at the behest of land mafia who were trying to grab her
property. She and her son were kept in jail for 4 days. The gutsy senior
citizen sought justice and got an order in her favour, granting compensation
for wrong done to her and directing the authorities to take action against the
police personnel. While the compensation was paid justice did not prevail
because the wrong doers were not punished. She had even gone to the then Chief
Justice of Mumbai High Court and threatened him with citizen’s arrest. The lady
had even protested in front of the apex court in February 2016. She had been
posting her updates on Face book regularly, till a couple of years back. She
has reportedly committed suicide on 30 October 2021, at a ripe old age of 83
years, due to financial problems. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
is one of her last Face book posts:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_I-pFk74s7X9Oj2FRuP71LLoeV2pA065KoJ2ubz9ZMgl3ZAnYadryY_XJr_p9Lb2zpHxj2Ru7F0JN0-t5pbUyM81Kk5g9Xwjm0zAsFdEXbMS1fSZIjmki5SIskifi80zvlb8cV4gg9ZA7xRfQeVHayOOoZjl6fhZzqiAPqQxsRUroCXiLlq_yy1nNvg=s608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_I-pFk74s7X9Oj2FRuP71LLoeV2pA065KoJ2ubz9ZMgl3ZAnYadryY_XJr_p9Lb2zpHxj2Ru7F0JN0-t5pbUyM81Kk5g9Xwjm0zAsFdEXbMS1fSZIjmki5SIskifi80zvlb8cV4gg9ZA7xRfQeVHayOOoZjl6fhZzqiAPqQxsRUroCXiLlq_yy1nNvg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M
Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/040222<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><p></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-9004575298484483722022-02-09T16:48:00.001-08:002022-02-09T16:48:21.692-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-9<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the first things
that I did while settling to a retired life, almost a quarter century ago, was
to buy an annotated copy of The Constitution of India, supposedly the most
voluminous book on the subject in the world. I have always had this gut feeling
that the fruits of sacrifices of the millions, during the freedom struggle that
lasted almost a century, had been whisked away by one family. Some crumbs had
been thrown to its courtiers, functioning as government employees, but the
masses have certainly been left out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Winston Churchill while
opposing grant of freedom to our country had said: “Power will go to the hands
of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low caliber
& men of straw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will have sweet
tongues & silly hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will
fight amongst themselves for power & India will be lost in political
squabbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A day would come when even
air & water would be taxed in India.” While Churchill had certainly underestimated
the core strength of this nation and its people, his successor Clement Atlee
cannot be blamed for not trying to make it prophetic by handing over the reins
of power to Jawaharlal Nehru, the one who usurped the Prime Minister’s office
after losing badly to Sardar Vallabhai Patel, through the first electoral
manipulation in the nation’s history. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It did not need very long
for me to realize the incongruities between what has been promised in the
Preamble and what has actually been provided in the main text. It really set me
wondering whether it was simple incompetence or a deliberate mash up by those
who had written it and approved it. In fact, even the apex court had not
accepted the Preamble as part of the Constitution initially and had accepted it
after 12 years holding its first decision wrong. Then one had just passed it
off as one of the flip flops that one is used to hearing about judicial
verdicts. Thereafter, my perspective changed and I wouldn’t blame the judiciary
for its initial conclusion because that is the extent of incongruities between
what has been promised in the Preamble and what has been delivered through the
details. And, it has been worse when translating words into actions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It was much later that I
read the revelation by none other than the acclaimed architect of the
Constitution, Dr B R Ambedkar himself. On 2nd September 1953, he made a
confession in the Rajya Sabha that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">People
always keep on saying to me, so you are the maker of the Constitution. My
answer is I was a hack. What I was asked to, I did much against my will. I am
quite prepared to say that I shall be the first person to burn it. It does not
suit anybody</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But, even before that, in
the Constituent Assembly of India on 19 November 1949, Seth Damodar Swarup had said,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'this Constitution may be the biggest and
bulkiest constitution in the world, may even be the most detailed one, it may
be heaven for the lawyers, and may even be the Magna Carta for the capitalists
of India, but so far as the poor and the tens of millions of toiling, starving
and naked masses of India are concerned, there is nothing in it for them. For
them it is a bulky volume, nothing more than waste paper</i>.'<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">History has proved Seth
Damodar Swarup true. It is only after a former tea seller gained access to the
most powerful office of the land that things have started to look up at least
for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">poor and the tens of millions of
toiling, starving and naked masses of India. </i>But it is certainly a long
haul, what with Narendra Damodardass Modi having to work with the rusted tools-
the bureaucracy and judiciary- he has inherited with his office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Since this critique is
about judicial perfidies we will leave the bureaucracy for now. But it needs to
be asserted that this series cannot be complete without mentioning how the clerks
have been exploiting and continues to exploit the failure of the judiciary, to
the hilt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We are all used to blaming
our politicians for everything going wrong in this country and it is rightly
so, given that we are touted as a democracy and the people we elect, through
periodical elections, have to be ultimately held responsible for the overall
governance. The politician-bureaucrat-criminal nexus has even been the subject
of official studies. The Vohra Committee Report of 1993, post the Mumbai serial
bomb blasts, is available at <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/VOHRA%20COMMITTEE%20REPORT_0.pdf"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/VOHRA%20COMMITTEE%20REPORT_0.pdf</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">More recently, in December
2020, the apex court dismissed a plea seeking a Lokpal-monitored investigation
into the "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">criminal-political nexus</i>"
as flagged in the 1993 Vohra Committee report, saying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the prayers are all "utopian".</i> By the way, Lokpal is a
judiciary- headed, judiciary-heavy (the chairperson is a retired Supreme Court
judge, half of the eight members are either retired Supreme Court judges or
Chief Justices of High Courts) anti-corruption authority at the national level since
March, 2019. But has anybody heard of any result of its activities? Or, of the
Lokayuktas in the states, which have been in existence for a much longer
period? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Before proceeding further,
here in a nut shell is what I have concluded from a study, from first
principles, of the Constitution and the performance of its three organs over
the years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Law makers without any
prescribed qualifications, qualities or experience, law enforcers with all the
scope for distorting and manipulating data required to aid decision making (by
the law makers), without any accountability and the law interpreters with all
the leeway for making whimsical and wayward decisions without even the fear of
being questioned sums up the gifts of our Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However, of all the people
constituting the three organs, the law maker, politician, is the only one who, at
least once in a couple of years, actually comes to the people and presents a
balance sheet to them. It is for the people to evaluate their candidate
objectively and choose the right one. How the people in the other two organs
have failed the voting population in accessing the data that would facilitate
informed decision making shall be covered separately. However, even after being
elected, the fact remains that NO politician can be corrupt, or do anything
wrong, without the active support of a bureaucrat. Then there is the media
always on the prowl looking for news to slander the politicians. And ultimately
the politician can always be hauled up before a court even by any citizen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Though it is the President
of India who is the Head of State and the Executive, but, unfortunately, it has
been reduced, practically, to a ceremonial office. It is the bureaucrat who is
the main stay of the Executive. While he provides continuity in governance and
is responsible for delivering government services to the people, he is actually
a behind the scene operator and the real power broker. By twisting facts and
laws he can actually make the politician policymaker, a puppet. Of course, he
can be seen using the same ploy for not performing himself. But, officially at least,
he is supervised by the politician, the courts and the media!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Coming to the judiciary,
judges enjoy a lot of immunity. In the case of higher judiciary it goes to the
preposterous extent of absolute immunity! I need not highlight this further as
the media is so full of reports about the crimes committed by judges and the
existing system looking helplessly on! P D Dinakaran, Soumitra Sen etc cases
have been covered in an earlier part of this series. The provision of
impeachment is a fraud. It is as good as promising free medical aid on the moon
to any poor patient who can transport himself there, at his own cost! Nowhere
is the truism 'power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely' more evident
than in our judiciary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">While being taught about
the Constitution and its three organs in school, we had been told, that there
are enough checks and balances between the various organs. But a cursory
reading of the Constitution will reveal that it is not so. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My study tells me that
Articles 129 and 215 of the Constitution are the most obnoxious provisions that
can be imagined in a document that lays down the frame work for a democratic society
with rule of law as its cardinal principle. These articles are reproduced for
ease of understanding: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">129. The Supreme Court shall be a court
of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to
punish for contempt of itself<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">215. Every High Court shall be a court
of record and shall have all the powers of such a court</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">including the
power to punish for contempt of itself<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
short and crisp provisions may only have been intended to be a deterrent for
those likely to take the verdicts of the courts lightly. But still, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the prosecutor and judge being the same is not
only anathema to the concept of justice but also questionable for its very rationale</b>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As James Madison, <span style="background: white;">often referred to as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father of the Constitution</i> in the U S of A, </span>put it<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No
man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause; because his interest will
certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With
equal, nay greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and
parties at the same time.</b><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Contempt of Court Act,
1971 aggravated the situation by defining contempt with a broad brush in the
following manner: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the
context otherwise requires,—<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(a) “contempt of court” means civil contempt
or criminal contempt; <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(b) “civil contempt” means wilful
disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process
of a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court; <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(c) “criminal contempt” means the
publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible
representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act
whatsoever which— <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(i) scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or
tends to lower the authority of, any court; or <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(ii) prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere
with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(iii)
interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the
administration of justice in any other manner;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As far as civil contempt
is concerned it is more or less catered for under Sec 188 of Indian Penal Code
which deals with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disobedience to order
duly promulgated by public servant. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interfering
with and obstructing judicial proceedings or administration of justice is
beyond the scope of anybody other than advocates and judges. That leaves the
issue of scandalizing and/or lowering the authority of any court. Here again,
strictly speaking, it is only the conduct of the judges and advocates that can
scandalize or lower the dignity of the courts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When four judges get together to address a press conference, that too
during working hours when they should have been in their respective courts, and
casts aspersions of the then Chief Justice of India himself, literally
questioning his very integrity, without even substantiating them and knowing
well that there was nothing that the public could do about their allegations,
and they get away with it, that is when the courts are scandalized and their authority
is lowered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The courts were
scandalized even when an advocate in Kerala was arrested for misbehaving with a
woman in public, the advocates united to protest, manhandled media persons and
even locked up the press room in the High Court complex for a prolonged period.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are aware that our jurisprudence is based on some premises like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even if a thousand criminals escape one
innocent shall not be punished</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">capital
punishments are awarded in the rarest of rarest cases</i>. In spite of this the
Supreme Court itself had admitted in 2009 that it had wrongly sentenced 15
people to death in 15 years. In 2012, 14 retired judges wrote to the President,
pointing out that since 1996 the Supreme Court had erroneously given the death
penalty to 15 people, of whom two were hanged. (‘You were wrong, My Lords’, 02
August 2015, </span><a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/7-days/you-were-wrong-nbsp-my-lords/cid/1314002"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.telegraphindia.com/7-days/you-were-wrong-nbsp-my-lords/cid/1314002</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) Did the judges offer any apology? Was any
compensation offered to the families of the victims? No? Haven’t those judges scandalized
and lowered the authority of the courts? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, on 18 January 2022, we get to read a
report at </span><a href="https://www.asianetnews.com/amp/india-news/bombay-hc-commutes-death-sentence-to-sisters-who-killed-children-r5wjzt"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.asianetnews.com/amp/india-news/bombay-hc-commutes-death-sentence-to-sisters-who-killed-children-r5wjzt</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> according to which the Mumbai High Court has ruled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that the indefinite delay in the mercy
petition could not be accepted at a time when communication was so fast due to
advances in technology </i>but rejected the demand of the accused to be
released. The facts pertaining to the case are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Renu
and Seema, two half-sisters, were arrested in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1996</b> in connection with the kidnapping of 13 children and the
murder of nine of them; their death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2006</b>; mercy petition to the
President has been pending since then. Following the commutation of death
sentences of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, on grounds of
delay, in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2014</b>, the convicted
sisters approached the High Court for reprieve which has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">now</b> been partly granted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Is
it some good (or bad) fall out of the letter written by 14 retired judges in
2012? Give me a reason for believing it is not. But what is striking is the
delay from award of death sentence by the trial court to its confirmation by
the apex court and even in disposing the petition for reprieve. Wasn’t this
issue of commutation of death due to delay in decision on mercy petition
another encroachment of executive jurisdiction by the judiciary?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we have to acknowledge here is another
simple fact- for the politician every decision has a political angle to it and
it is always guided by the assessment of how people will react to such
decisions. For the courts, it is not so. And that is what they have been
claiming too in public.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Contempt
of court for scandalizing and lowering the authority of the court is a
provision that has been used as a Damocles sword on the freedom of speech and
expression guaranteed under the Constitution. It has been used more than civil
contempt for disobeying the orders of the courts. But even here the waywardness
is evident when almost always ordinary citizens are hauled up and not everyone.
While Karnan’s case has proved that even sitting high court judges can be
punished, we have read enough reports of many members of the judicial fraternity
committing such offences and getting away with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Articles
124(4), 124(5) and 218 which provide for only removal of judges of Supreme Court
and high courts through impeachment and Articles 129 and 215 which provide for
contempt of court are surely against the principle of equality enshrined in the
Preamble of the Constitution and in violation of Articles 14 and 19 of the same
Constitution. It is interesting to note that Article 19 had been had been
amended for the first time in 1951 itself to restrict freedom of speech and
expression in the matter of contempt of court while its restriction in the
matter of sovereignty and integrity of India was included only in 1963. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there can be no doubt that the overall
effect has been to make our judges unaccountable and hence that much less
credible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Writes
Jay Bhattacharjee in his book Resurgent Bharat: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“In a long and disjointed judgement, the
bench ordained that any criminal case against a Supreme Court or High Court
judge would be registered only after the President sanctions the prosecution,
after consulting the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and in accordance with his
advice. The overt logic for this decision was that the higher judiciary
required protection from any executive interference...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be very clear. This was a veritable
coup against the Republic’s citizens.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is this case of Ajit
Kumar Sengupta, a judge of the Kolkatta High Court, to prosecute whom
permission was sought from the then Chief Justice of India, Venkatachaliah, who
was well known for his integrity. However, even Justice Venkatachaliah did not
give permission. The strength of the evidence can be gauged from the fact that Sengupta
was raided and arrested soon after he retired because after retirement,
permission of CJI was not required. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A report at <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/a-calcutta-scandal-197050601041_1.html"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/a-calcutta-scandal-197050601041_1.html</span></a>
(<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(‘</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">A Calcutta Scandal’, 27 Jan 2013</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) concludes with the following assertions:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Justice Senguptas career represents
only an extreme case of the freedom under which our judiciary functions. This
freedom was guaranteed by our Constitution to safeguard its integrity. But as
Justice Sengupta proved, the constitutional guarantee equally extends to
arbitrariness, and even to lack of integrity. The judiciary faces little
scrutiny from the media, which are mortally afraid of being charged with
contempt of court. No one outside has the power to discipline it, and its own
mechanisms of self-discipline are woefully inadequate. Only the judges can
reform the judicial system. They should make a beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is anybody aware
of any beginning being made? I am not. In fact I am not only aware but
convinced that even in the subversion of the Right to Information Act, the role
of the judiciary has been anything but commendable. Difficult to believe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is just one example.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Right to
Information Act, 2005, which became law on 15 June 2005, mandates that all
public authorities disclose certain basic information of their organization as
per Section 4(1)(b). This was to be done within 120 days from the enactment of
the Act. I have been using compliance with its sub sections (ix) and (x) as a
yardstick to measure the transparency of common public authorities. These sub
sections require disclosure of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(ix) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>a directory
of its officers and employees;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(x) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the monthly remuneration
received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation
as provided in its regulations;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As on 09 April
2021 when I tried to access these details I could not find details for the
judges but the details of Secretary General and below were available under the </span><a href="https://main.sci.gov.in/compliance-under-section-41b-right-information-act-2005" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Compliance under
Section 4(1)(b) of Right to Information Act, 2005</span></i></a> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">option.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">P M </span><a href="mailto:Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/290122"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/300122</span></a>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-26054194156921232502022-01-26T05:45:00.002-08:002022-01-26T05:45:39.161-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-8<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">How the quip <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">power corrupts and absolute power corrupts
absolutely </i>fits our judiciary to the T was supposed to be the topic of this
part of this series of critiques. But then a couple of reports that appeared recently
in the media necessitated a detour. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As a prelude, here is an
anecdote from the life of Adi Sankaracharya, the saint who revived Hinduism
with his Advaita philosophy. He did not do this through subterfuge or by
holding a sword at anybody’s neck. He did this by travelling throughout the
country and engaging in debates with the best of the brains in the lands he
visited. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">During one such debate he
became so used to countering his opponent that even before the opponent had
finished his argument he would counter it, beginning with a ‘No, no…’. The
opponent finally tried to use this against the Acharya and stated that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sankarachaya’s mother was… </i>and promptly
came the acharya’s counter with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No, no</i>.
The opponent concluded…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a chaste woman</i>.
The audiences were shocked and they believed that Sankaracharya will have to
accept defeat. But the acharya continued…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in
our society there is this habit of offering the bride to the local deity
symbolically first and hence his mother could not be considered chaste</i>.
Needless to say he carried the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Why I narrated this quip
here is because I seem to have got into the habit of criticizing the judiciary
whenever any report appears that tend to suggest that the judiciary is doing a
good work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The first of these reports
appeared at </span><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/make-a-model-scheme-to-fight-hunger-supreme-court-to-centre-2714531"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/make-a-model-scheme-to-fight-hunger-supreme-court-to-centre-2714531</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (Make A Model Scheme To Fight Hunger: Supreme Court
To Centre, January 18, 2022). The comments I posted online are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Justice is an intrinsic human need. We
suffer much privation but we cannot suffer being wronged. Absence of justice,
we must not forget, is one of the causes of crime.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-'Needed high speed legal
redressal'-Aravind Kumar, Jurist and lawyer, Pioneer, Kochi, 01 Aug 2006<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Will the court dispose of its mountain
of pending cases before telling our elected representatives what and how they
should do things that people expect them to do?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">After the ADM Jabalpur
case where the court had held that even right to life is not a fundamental
right during the Emergency of the 1970s, inviting criticism that the judiciary
crawled when required to bend, and beginning with usurping the powers of the
Executive in appointing judges to higher judiciary, the trend to encroach on
Executive space by the judiciary cannot be missed. And this certainly is at the
cost of using its precious time for disposing of the cases, piling up for ages,
before it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Coming to the report
referred to above, needless to say, it is not for the centre to frame laws on
this. We know even the ration system is handled by the States and the Centre
has been only supporting the states whenever needed, as has been amply seen
during the pandemic. In fact, in Kerala, it is popularly believed that Pinarayi
Vijayan got elected consecutively for a second term by repacking the ration
items provided by the Centre and passing it on as a free kit till the elections
were over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is not what is going
to be discussed now. It’s about a case of murder that happened in Kerala, God’s
own Country, touted as comparable with developed countries on development
indices and what not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Madhu, a mentally
challenged adivasi youth was killed by a group of people at Attappady in
Palakkad, Kerala on 22 February 2018. He had been accused of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stealing some food items</b> and beaten to
death by people who are reportedly local (settlers). As per reports he was not
even caught red handed stealing the times but pulled out from his cave like
abode 4 kms away in the forest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The
Forest Department was investigating how they had entered the buffer zone of the
Silent Valley National Park without permission. But there has been no report on
the result of those investigations have been seen in the media.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The case was investigated
by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, supervised by an Inspector General of
Police and the charge sheet had been filed against 16, for murder and offences
under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act), as per a report dated 23 May
2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The horror of the crime can be
imagined from the fact that the accused had filmed the assault and posted it on
social media. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The charge sheet mentions
15 injuries on Madhu’s body. The police obtained as evidence eight mobile
phones the accused had used to shoot the photos and videos of the lynching. Visuals
from three CCTV cameras at Mukkali Junction and five vehicles used by the
accused have also been obtained as evidence. Statements of 165 people of the
locality had been recorded and 119 had been made witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The trial has not yet started in the Mannarkkad SC/ST
Special Court in Palakkad distric</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">t. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As per the report, dated
14/03/2019, of a Fact Finding Committee of NGOs (available at </span><a href="http://adivasiresurgence.com/2019/03/14/fact-finding-report-on-the-murder-of-madhu-an-adivasi-of-attapadi/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://adivasiresurgence.com/2019/03/14/fact-finding-report-on-the-murder-of-madhu-an-adivasi-of-attapadi/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">), <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There has been a systematic
expropriation of indigenous lands of Attapadi tribes/ adivasis since the 1940s
by the settlers from the plains. The land reforms and Kerala Forest Act have
not in any way protected the interests of Tribal. Now, 90% tribal land has been
illegally amassed by the settlers who have changed the traditional nativity of
the tribal land and devastated forest lands.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The crime against adivasis from in the
last decades have been on the increase and many such instances go unnoticed as
there are not mechanisms to complain and seek justice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a well-knit nexus between the
government agents like Forest and Revenue Department and Police Department and
the settlers who illegally appropriate the forest land and produces and
unleashing extraordinary levels threat, fear and legal violence against the
adivasis.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile two reports (</span><a href="https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=646750&u=shamsuddin-accused-in-madhu-murder-case-named-cpm-branch-secretary-revokes-decision-later-646750"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=646750&u=shamsuddin-accused-in-madhu-murder-case-named-cpm-branch-secretary-revokes-decision-later-646750</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">26/11/2021</b>
and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/trial-of-madhu-murder-case-extended-again-mother-disappointed-attappadi-madhu-murder-case-trial-1.6214261%20of%2015/01/2022"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/trial-of-madhu-murder-case-extended-again-mother-disappointed-attappadi-madhu-murder-case-trial-1.6214261</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> of</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">15/01/2022</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">)
inform us that at least one of the accused is an active member of the ruling
Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Special Public Prosecutor appointed
by the Government has resigned on medical grounds. There has been no report of
a new SPP being appointed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is said of crime and
punishment that it is the promptness and certainty of punishment that acts as
the deterrent and not the severity. And we know how the judiciary is a failure
on that account. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is the data on
pending cases with our courts published by Moneylife on 02 December 2021, based
on data available at Supreme Court web site and the National Judicial Data
Grid:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Supreme
Court<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>: 70,
038 as on 08/11/2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">High
Courts<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>:
56, 42, 858 as on 29/11/2021 and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">District
and subordinate courses<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>: 3, 79, 42, 466
as on 29/11/2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
report in The Hindu, dated 11 September 2020, informs us that 70% prisoners are
under trials, their number has been only increasing over the years, about 28%
of them are illiterate, around 40% are below Class X, about 10% are
graduates/diploma/post graduates and about 2% have been in prison for more than
5 years, 3% for more than 3 years and 25% for more than one year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Analyzing
the problem, Commonwealth Human Rights Intiative, an NGO, has quoted the apex
court from their judgment in </span>Moti Ram and Ors. V. State of Madhya
Pradesh (AIR 1978 SC 1594)<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“The consequences of pre-trial detention
are grave. Defendants presumed innocent are subjected to the psychological and
physical deprivations of jail life, usually under more onerous conditions than
are imposed on convicted defendants. The jailed defendant loses his job if he
has one and is prevented from contributing to the preparation of his defence.
Equally important, the burden of his detention frequently falls heavily on the
innocent members of his family.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
here is some data extracted from what had been obtained by an RTI activist from
Uttar Pradesh in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2010</b> about inmates
in jail:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Capacity</span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><u>Lucknow</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Kanpur</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><u>Meerut</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Ghaziabad</u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Male<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">1920</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #943634; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">1143</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">1485</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-themecolor: accent4;">1546</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Female<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>180<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>42<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>123<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>94<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Non
adults<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>240<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>60<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>99<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>64<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Convicts
(Sidhadosh)<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Male<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">426</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #943634; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">413</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">378</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-themecolor: accent4;">455</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Female<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>0<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>14<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>19<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Non
adults<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>18<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>13<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Vicharadheen
(under trials)<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Male<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">2418</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #943634; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">1753</span></b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1950</b><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-themecolor: accent4;">3461</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Female<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>0<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>66<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>72<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>108<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Non
adults<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>100<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>120<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>157<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>285<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you just compare the figures, particularly the ones that have been highlighted,
one can observe two facts: one, the capacity vs occupancy and two, the number
of convicts vs under trials. Both, to say the least, are grave injustices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While for crowding, the executive needs to
take responsibility, there cannot be any doubt about who should be held
responsible for the high number of under trials being in jail (judicial
custody, of course).<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sec
436A of the Criminal Procedure Code has specified the maximum period for which
an under trial prisoner can be detained under any law, not being an offence for
which the punishment of death has been specified as one of the punishments. For
implementing this, a review mechanism has been set up with the following features:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Composition</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> - The jurisdictional Magistrate/ Judicial
Magistrate/ Sessions Judge will have the authority to review undertrial
prisoners for purposes of implementation of Section 436A. </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Frequency</b> - The concerned authority shall hold one sitting every
week in each jail for two months, commencing from 1st October 2014. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Function </b>- The concerned judicial officer will identify under trial
prisoners who have spent half of their maximum sentences in jail or the maximum
period of imprisonment provided for the said offence under the law. The
judicial officer will pass an order in the jail itself for the release of such
undertrial prisoners who fulfill the requirement of Section 436A.. <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monitoring Mechanism</b> – The report of each sitting will be forwarded
to the Registrar General of the concerned High Court, and at the end of two
months, the Registrar General of each High Court will submit the report to the
Secretary General of the Supreme Court. The Jail Superintendent has to provide
all necessary facilities for holding the court sittings</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But still we do get to
read reports like ‘I was framed for being a Dalit, 6 years of my life were
taken away from me’ (</span><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dalit-identity-false-case-pocso-7495353/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dalit-identity-false-case-pocso-7495353/</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">, <span style="color: #484848;">September 8, 2021). Apart
from the gross criminal violation of Sec 436 A of the CrPC , some parts of the
report are worth a relook:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He was arrested on May 18, 2015, when
the alleged incident took place.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On August 7, (2021) a Delhi court
acquitted him, observing that he had been “falsely framed due to prejudicial
disposition of the parents towards the accused, who <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">belongs to the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dalit
community</b>”. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 12.0pt;">The complainant was found
to have filed a false case after the 55-year-old objected to his dog defecating
outside his house in outer Delhi district.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a rare instance, it
also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ordered the state to pay a
compensation of Rs 1 lakh</b> to the accused within two months, observing that
this was a “symbolic amount and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">without
prejudice to his legal rights and contentions.”</b></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="color: #3e3e3e; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What
needs to be relooked in the above facts are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
the court did not take suo moto cognizance of the crime under SC/ST
(Preventions of Atrocities) Act against those who falsely framed this 55 year
old man?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
should the state (read tax payer) pay compensation, instead of those who false
framed the victim and those specific public servants who investigated and
prosecuted him? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What
was the role of the public servant responsible for the review mechanism of
under trial prisoners? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
court has stated that the symbolic amount will not prejudice the acquitted
man’s legal right and contentions. Does it remind one of Pilot of biblical
notoriety who washed his hands after sentencing Jesus Christ to be crucified
and stated that he has no role in the sin (of convicting Christ)?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am by no means against taking care of the poor and the government is duty bound
to take care of all citizens of this country. And for a change, we are seeing
positive steps being taken, since 2014, by the Union Government in alleviating
poverty in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Again,
I am against doling out freebies from tax payers money. But then free LPG,
rations for sustaining life etc can be considered exceptions. They can be
justified in the name of bridging the disparity. But ultimately real bridging
will occur only when people are made capable of standing on their own feet and
it is not an act that can be done in a jiffy. And it needs resources. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
judiciary has been touting a brainless judge to population ratio to justify the
mountain of pending cases. It doesn’t need Einstein’s brains to figure out that
the population has nothing to do with the number of cases filed. So the only logical
figure is the judge to docket ratio. And here is some data from a power point
presentation on ‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Justice delayed<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in India’, made by Adv K T S Tulsi on 24
August 2004 at the Supreme Court Bar Association: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Cases
filed in One Year (1999):<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.5in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">India<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">13.6 Million, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>USA<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>93.81
Million (689% more cases with less than 25% population)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Docket’s
per Judge<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 3.0pt;">India<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>987 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>USA
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3235 (327% more compared to Indian
judges)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
would declare anybody touting the judge to population ratio unfit to be a
judicial officer on account of lack of reasoning ability, a primary requirement
towards logical deductions and fair judgments. It also needs to be asserted
that the performance of the judiciary needs to be assessed only on the basis of
how cases are handled and disposed of by the judges. (More on this, later.)
Whereas this logic does not apply to the Executive which can certainly be
constrained by resources. For example, you cannot assign a group of 10
policemen to control a (violent or at least unpredictable) mob of 100. Not even
50 with lathis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: -.25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-right: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">KTS
Tulsi has unequivocally asserted that the <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">primary causes of delay are: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Not the law</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Not the procedure</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Not the paucity of judges</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sheer question
of (mis)management</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 3.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The second of the reports
I had mentioned at the beginning of this part is ‘Hate speech a criminal act;
ruling party endorsing it: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Nariman’
of 19 January,2022 available at </span><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/hate-speech-a-criminal-act-ruling-party-endorsing-it-former-suprem-court-judge-justice-rohinton-nariman-23210323"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/hate-speech-a-criminal-act-ruling-party-endorsing-it-former-suprem-court-judge-justice-rohinton-nariman-23210323</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The comments I had posted
is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Worse than hate speeches by fringe
elements of the society are judges who do not know the law they are supposed to
interpret logically and convincingly and those who spread lies.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Rohington Nariman was part of the bench
that delivered the controversial Sabarimala judgement in the matter of entry of
women of all age groups. The fact is that it was not a gender based
discrimination as made out by Rohington Nariman. If any it was only age based,
because not only are women allowed they are allowed irrespective of their
caste, creed or religion. For that matter long before the judiciary recognized
the rights of LGBT communities, there had been no ban on entry of even those of
these communities in Sabarimala. Worse, when the apex court decided to look at
gender based discrimination prevailing in all religions, Rohington was the
first to murmur in disapproval. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And now he is also lying about the top
echelons of the ruling party endorsing hate speeches. If he has proof he should
go back to court and prosecute those whom he is castigating in public. By the
way, his father, world renowned lawyer, has authored two books- one is 'India's
Legal System: Can it Be Saved?' and the other is 'God Save the Hon'ble Supreme
Court'<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sabarimala verdict and
similar judgments will be discussed in detail subsequently. But Fali Nariman’s
books, just the titles by themselves, are sufficient to question the
credibility of the judiciary as a whole, the apex court being no exception. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I had purchased and read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">India's Legal System: Can it Be Saved? </i>with
great expectation and was certainly disappointed in not finding a definite
conclusion or even suggestions to rectify the perceived and experienced wrongs.
The only value for money I got was a quotable quote: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For more years than I can imagine we lawyers have been using our
lawyering skills not in a profession but in a game, in which the more skilful (which
tends to become also the more costly), will invariably win. </i>But any
litigant who had approached a court for justice would have learnt this sad and
horrible truth from his own experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact, not only have the
courts themselves failed in their assigned task of dispensing justice, they
have also provided ground for other unscrupulous elements in the other organs
of the Constitution to exploit the unsuspecting, hapless, ordinary citizens. The
quasi judicial organizations are typical examples of such institutions that
have also grossly failed the people they are tasked to serve. Here, one is
reminded of Schopenhauer's Law of Entropy. It states that </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you put a spoonful of wine in a barrel full of sewage, you get sewage</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you put a spoonful of sewage in a barrel
full of wine, you get sewage</b></span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a layman,
but a fairly alert one at that, one is conscious of many elements within the
country working against its interests. But when former judges, especially of
the apex court, start casting aspersions on the ruling dispensation, based on
their warped perceptions of history and legality, then they take the
credibility and integrity of the judiciary itself to new lows. The potential
harm it can do to the rule of law can well be imagined. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A Lord Chancellor of England has been quoted
as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gentlemen are required in the
judiciary and some knowledge of law is an advantage</i>”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amen to that and wish that the judges
recollected this quote every time they opened a case file.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P
M Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/230122</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125051852405826202.post-43185899367172158122022-01-26T05:44:00.002-08:002022-01-26T05:44:46.066-08:00JUDICIAL PERFIDIES-7<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I had concluded Judicial
Perfidies-6 by listing some suggestions I had submitted to the then President
of India and the Prime Minister, in 2005, through an online petition, to </span>constitute
a National Judicial Commission to try and punish guilty judges as per laws
applicable to ordinary citizens. Incidentally, 2005 had been declared the <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Year of
excellence in Indian Judiciary by </span>the then<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Chief Justice of India.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But, in 2014 itself, I had sent a letter to the Chief
Justice of Kerala on the subject of ‘<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Reforming
our Justice Delivery System’. It dealt with the following issues:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Contempt
of Court Act – anathema to the very concept of democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Judicial
accountability and the National Judicial Commission.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Judicial
Accessibility</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
Judicial process.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Listing
of cases.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Personal
appearance of litigants/representatives.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">- </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Involvement
of advocates.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Citizens’
charter and working hours.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Grading
of advocates and establishing norms for fees.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Irrationality
and unfairness of decisions.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">On
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Judicial
accountability and the National Judicial Commission, I had written: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A
former CJI is on record that 20% judges are corrupt. Another CJI moaned that
there is pressure on the Hawala Bench. Yet another one expressed helplessness
in tackling an instance of mass leave by high court judges. Some CJsI, after
demitting office, have even gone abroad and advised foreign governments to
avoid taking issues to Indian courts since the delays are preposterous. One
CJI, shortly after retiring, came to Kerala and passed some comments which, had
it been made by anybody else, would have landed him/her behind bars for
contempt of court. Then of course there are the Mysore, Rajasthan and Delhi
cases reportedly involving the judges of the high courts there. Suffice to say
that the need for a National Judicial Commission to try judges has been amply
established.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">When even the President of India has
asked his office to be brought under the purview of the Lok Ayukt (sic, Lokpal),
it is disconcerting that the judiciary has not responded positively to this
need of ensuring transparency in its functions and integrity of conduct of its
members.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This
was followed by a one man protest in front of the high court to take the
message to the people at large, the real sovereign entities in the democracy. (The
Constitution Review Commission had unequivocally stated, if at all such an
affirmation was required, that the highest office in a democracy is that of the
citizen.) Unfortunately the media failed to cover the issues that was sought to
be discussed by the citizens at large. But, why? The answer lies in the fear of
the media to report issues that project the judiciary in poor, though real,
light.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Mysore Sex Scandal hit the headlines in 2002. It was reported that 3 judges of
the Karnataka High Court were found in a Mysore resort with some women who were
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">from lower rungs of the same fraternity</i>
(‘Sex scam: Govt seeks report from Mysore police chief’, Nov 9, 2002; </span><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/sex-scam-govt-seeks-report-from-mysore-police-chief/articleshow/27794260.cms"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/sex-scam-govt-seeks-report-from-mysore-police-chief/articleshow/27794260.cms</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) Based on the report by the Chief Justice of
Karnataka High Court, the Chief Justice of India constituted a committee of 2
sitting Chief Justices of High Courts and another high court judge to probe the
matter. Not unexpectedly, the committee gave a clean chit to the judges. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But
the media reports also did bring out certain facts like there were 5 judges in
Mysore during that time, one had gone to his village to meet relations and another
had gone to meet colleagues to invite them for a function. The judges had not
informed the court or the police of their move outside their place of work,
which was required as per rules. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At
a meeting of about 600 lawyers, one of them had suggested that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the three judges should not be allowed to
sit on the bench till the Supreme Court-constituted inquiry committee completes
its investigation. </i>This was followed by violence during which journalists
covering the event were roughed up and the matter had been reported to the
police. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
State Women’s Commission had sought a report from the police. Later, Adv Indira
Jaisingh had petitioned the apex court to release the judges’ committee report
in public. The outcome is not known. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
last I remember of this episode is that there was a report that the
journalists/media houses were hauled up for contempt of court for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">conspiring</b> and publishing reports to
diminish the image of the judiciary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">After
all the sound and fury, everything had died down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But
Shameet Mukherjee, acting judge of Delhi High Court was not so lucky. At the
first hint of the DDA scam, when some of his official papers had been found
with an accused, he resigned quoting personal reasons. And once he had
resigned, it was easy to get permission for prosecuting him. He was arrested,
remanded and granted bail for one month after one week. His attempt to withdraw
his resignation subsequently was not successful as the then President, Dr Abdul
Kalam, had promptly accepted it and it became final. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
that was the last that was heard of this scandal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">These
events had even led the Bar Council of India to demand that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the provision for impeachment of judges of
the higher courts must be done away with and replaced with a suitable mechanism
whereby judges accused of corruption can be tried and punished if found guilty</i>.
Its chairman had added "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Since
impeachment of judges is a cumbersome process it has lost its relevance</i>"
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"High courts have the power to
punish lower court judges if they indulge in corruption. As far as we are
concerned, high court and Supreme Court judges must not have immunity if they
violate the law."</i> (‘Punish erring judges, says Bar Council’, May 05,
2003; </span><a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/05bar.htm"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/05bar.htm</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But
nothing has moved forward. If any, things have only gone from bad to worse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Adv
Prashant Bhushan had alleged that 8 of the 16 Chief Justices of India had been
corrupt. He had put up their list along with his justification in public domain
too. But instead of any inquiry or prosecution what we have is a contempt of
court case pending against him (the messenger? Or, whistle blower?) since 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
there are other cases that made it to head lines of newspapers too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
cash packet of Rs. 15 Lakhs was delivered to Judge Nirmal jit Kaur, of Punjab
and Haryana High Court. She reported the matter to the police and it was
revealed that the cash was for Judge Nirmal Yadav (having same first name.)
Three independent enquiries by local police, CBI and in-house judges’ panel
concluded that charges of corruption are valid prima facie against Nirmal
Yadav. The case seems to have been buried and closed (HT 18/01/2010) and Yadav
was posted to Uttarakhand High Court. Law Ministry refused to disclose
information on the recommendations by CJI, says a power point presentation by
Mission Justice, Mumbai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A
M Bhattacharjee, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court had to resign in 1995 after
allegedly receiving US$ 800,000 as royalty. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Aurn
Madan, judge of Rajasthan HC had to resign in 2003 after being indicted by a committee
of judges for corruption. There was also an allegation of sexual harassment of
a woman doctor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
what is popularly known as the Ghaziabad Provident Fund scam, involving Rs 7
Crores, there were allegations against thirty six judges, including one sitting
Supreme Court judge, 11 judges of Allahabad and Uttarakhand High Courts and 24
District Court judges. A report dated 28 November 2013 in Times of India
informed readers that a CBI court had framed charge sheets against 6 retired
judges, including 3 from high courts. Another report, dated 05 October 2015 in
Economic Times, stated that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They(approvers)
alleged that the judicial process was being subverted by recording partial
statements and that they were being forced to depose only against retired and
not sitting judges. The Central Bureau of Investigation was also not producing
all the evidence seized in the case, they said through lawyer Prashant Bhushan.</i>
And there it rests till date.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another
interesting case reported in the media was of a court in Gujarat issuing non-bail
able warrants against the then President Dr Abdul Kalam and the then Chief Justice
of India, in a sting operation. There was a flurry of activities like
suspending the judge, confiscating the documents, inquiry etc. But the last
report on the subject was that the judge was exonerated because he has to sign
many documents in the course of his duties and he cannot be held responsible
for such mistakes. It was also reported that the journalists who carried out
the sting operation and the media that published the report were being
prosecuted for contempt of court, the outcome of which is still awaited.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There
was also this case of a judge of a Mumbai High Court seeking the help of the
underworld to get the tenants evicted from his personal property. The police
had stumbled on the telephone conversation between the judge and an underworld
don while investigating some other case. The usual inquiries followed,
including forensic test of the recorded conversation but the judge was
exonerated on the statement of his Personal/Confidential Assistant that the
judge’s voice could not be recognized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
Judicial Perfidies 5, I had quoted Binod Kumar Roy, then Chief Justice of
Punjab and Haryana High Court, who had issued an administrative order
identifying 12 judges of his court who had relations practicing as advocates
practicing in the same court and barring these advocates from appearing before
any of them. While the Bar Council rules forbade advocates related to judges
from appearing before those (related) judges, Roy’s order extended the scope by
barring all relations of all the 12 judges from appearing before anyone of
them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To
illustrate this further, let us say A and B are two judges of a court. X is the
son of A and Y the daughter of B, both advocates, practicing in the same court.
While Bar Council rules barred X from appearing before A and Y from appearing
before B, there was no bar on X appearing before B and Y appearing before A.
This is popularly known as uncle judge syndrome in legal circles. It was a
scourge in the judiciary. Advocates who did not have uncle judges were
certainly at a disadvantage. The scope for corruption in such a situation can
well be imagined. What Roy’s order did was to break this unethical nexus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">K
G Balakrishnan, who had been the Chief Justice of Gujarat /Tamil Nadu High
Courts between <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">July 1998</b> and June
2000 and Chief Justice of India from January 2007 to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">May 2010</b>, had invited allegations when his family members had
reportedly failed to disclose crores of rupees in their Income Tax Returns. They
had reportedly paid the dues with penalty and closed the cases. Some salient
points from these reports are: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For
Adv P V Sreenijin, his son in law, the income shown in the Return of Income,
income assessed for tax, tax with penalty paid and the year are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">26.61
lakhs, 1.64 cr, -, 2009-10; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">47.47
lakhs, 2.11 cr, -, 2010-11;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">22.06
lakhs, 1.04 cr, 1.02 Cr, 2011-12(?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For
M J Benny, another son in law, it was 28.94 lakhs, 1.79 cr, 97.73 lakhs for 2010-11.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For
his daughter, Soni, it was 38.69 lakhs, 1.67 cr, 38.74 lakhs for 2010-11.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
reports are available at </span><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/former-cji-k-g-balakrishnans-relatives-hid-crores-of-income-reveals-i-t-probe/articleshow/57162253.cms"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/former-cji-k-g-balakrishnans-relatives-hid-crores-of-income-reveals-i-t-probe/articleshow/57162253.cms</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> and </span><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ex-cjis-balakrishnans-son-in-law-pv-sreenijan-resigns-from-youth-congress-444080"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ex-cjis-balakrishnans-son-in-law-pv-sreenijan-resigns-from-youth-congress-444080</span></a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Those
who would prefer to dismiss it as routine things should peruse the data of his
son-in-law, P V Sreenijin, who is currently a CPI(M) MLA in Kerala, at </span><a href="https://myneta.info/Kerala2021/candidate.php?candidate_id=169"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">https://myneta.info/Kerala2021/candidate.php?candidate_id=169</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
tip of the ice berg shows that Adv P V Srinijin and his spouse, another
advocate practicing in the Kerala High Court, have between them almost Rs 12 crores
of assets, none of them inherited and their sources of income is from their
legal profession only. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Some
interesting details are: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">113 acres</b>
of agricultural land purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2013</b>
for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 15 lakhs</b>, currently valued at
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1.2 cr</b> (800 percent appreciation in cost in 8 years), another <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">54.53 acres</b> of agricultural land
purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2008</b> for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3.4 lakhs</b>, currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 2.65 cr</b>, non-agricultural land, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3.29 acres</b>, purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2015</b> for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 97 lakhs</b>, currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1.26 cr</b>, commercial properties purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">????</b> for Rs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">???? </b>but
development cost of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 24 lakhs</b>,
currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">62 lak</b>hs and
residential buildings at two locations, one purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">????</b> for Rs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">????</b> but
development cost of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 26 lakhs</b>
currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">52 lakhs</b> and the
other<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2009</b> for Rs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">17 lakhs,</b>
development cost of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 20 lakhs</b>
currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 2.11 cr.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">His
wife has non-agricultural land, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">11.79
acres</b>, purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2005</b> for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 3.36 lakhs</b>, currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">70
lakhs</b>, commercial properties purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2007</b> for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">15 lakhs </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 53 lakhs</b> and a residential building purchased in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2009</b> for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">17 lakhs</b> and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>development cost of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 28 lakhs</b> currently valued at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rs 2.11 cr.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If
anybody thinks nothing wrong in these or it is an isolated case, they are
surely mistaken. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
old quip is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">P M
Ravindran/raviforjustice@gmail.com/160122<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Veteran Major P M Ravindranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12541989158471015540noreply@blogger.com0