Give dignity and not segregation to Women

Recent spurt of tokenism in the cause of woman empowerment by opening exclusive bank branches or women police thanas has confounded the entire policy to give dignity to the women. When Chidambram goes to Mumbai to open a bank branch for women exclusively what is the message to the country? Are we segregating them from normal banks to say that we are unable to protect them in normal branches? This is the same psychology that has given rise to Talibnisation of women in the world that advocates strict purdha and segregation of women to isolate them from contact with men.I concede that separate toilet for women cannot be disputed as there are differing needs of two sexes. But  Banks must give such atmosphere in their functioning that people do not rot in the long waiting queues and rub each other. It needs better management of the functioning of the banks rather than taking away women in special confined places. Similarly the remedy to give safety in police reporting and attendance is to recruit more women not in constables alone but in higher positions of Inspectors and officers. The remedy to unending rapes stories is to treat women with dignity in each organization and also educate them to occupy larger places of influence in society. In this sector we have failed miserably. Nordic countries have 40% women in legislature and Brick countries like Russia, China and Brazil have more than 50% in the world of work. There are only 11% women in Parliament in India  and a bill for 33% representation is languishing. Even if that is passed the situation is not going to improve as we are not doing enough to enable them to reach influential professions and party organizations.

So far no party has provided a solution to the mindset that we give token allocation of tickets from parties to fight elections. Even the ticket are given to only few such candidates who have god fathers or relations at the top positions in the party. The workers who slog are ignored. Unless merit constitutes our standard for selection the existing stalemate will continue.

It is common knowledge that provison for reservation of 50% women in panchyats posts has hardly met its objectives as most of the representatives are illiterate or semi literate making them dependent on others. If we have to empower women we have to open flood gates of professional education to the women instead of doing lip service by passing laws and making a few exclusive places for them. Look at our attitude as shown in Mamta Banerjii words where she blamed the nation for rising rapes and said” Rising number of men and women mix more than they need to. Earlier a man and women hold hands  if caught would be reprimanded by parents but now everything Is open”. A BJP Minister of Goa wants a full dress and not bikini on the beaches. They forget that they are living in global world where internet and media uncovers the entire world. You cannot take country to anachronistic practices and expect the world to come to you for tourism or business. We cannot live in isolation and segregation like Talibans who enforce same stifling life and exploitation of women which we condemn. Strangely BJP does not realize that Hindu civilization was not  purdah prone and women freely participated in different functions and discussions even in Mahabharata and the dress was not for total camouflaging the body as would be needed by the protagonists of anti-bikini or jeans class. The camouflage of women followed Islamic influence. Let there be freedom and liberty so that women equally go ahead and realize their own best in society. Those who look at women only as object of pleasure or greed should be tackled by effective policing and law and order. If we are unable to enforce law and order we cannot tell the women not to move out as it will be retrograde step and moronic thinking. Remedy lies in more women police and strict punishments for use of force or harassment to women.  They should have freedom to move anywhere at any time. Normal risks are always there even in advanced countries .Taking that cue women must, when enabled and educated, use their own discretition.

Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India 

Judiciary must cure itself

How to get justice for common man when delay has resulted in piling of cases leading to situation that it will take 300years to clear the back log in present pace .The judges must be accountable for their performance and have exemplary conduct. Recently a former Chief justice of High court and judge of Supreme Court Markande  Katju has openly mentioned that Chief justices are reluctant to expose corruption in judiciary and cited  cases of judges who were corrupt but were still favored with appointment by the Supreme court despite adverse reports. Same court told Genral V.K.Singh to be honorable and ‘blow with the wind’. Was that function of highest court to do this? The case of High court judge Dinakaran is well known as he was accused of disproportionate wealth and other charges but was finally let off as he resigned although a committee was set up that had evidence of his being guilty. Two other judges faced impeachment but could resign and get out. The resignation should not have been accepted and in one case the impeachment failed as Congress member abstained from Parliament .We have generally reposed faith in higher judiciary but some notable cases have cast doubts about the equity and justice meted out by superior courts and that has led to the question of how judiciary functions and is views itself. The result is a compromise formula of Judicial Accountability Commission.

The present system is collegiums that consist of five judges including Chief Justice responsible for appointments of judges is virtually a club. In other words the judges appoint judges and there is a club of five whereas the system followed by them and norms are secret and not known to other judges also. This appears a very clandestine functioning in a democracy. Recently the court also turned down an RTI plea asking judges to reveal their own assets. What is so holy about the judges that an honorable citizen of the country cannot have information about their assets and working? No where in the world this system prevails and there is no provision in the Indian constitution providing what the court itself has evolved and is following. In UK Queen appoints judges after proposal of the Prime Minister and in US too it is the President who appoints the judges and finally it is ratified by the senate. US has gone through this phase when President Jafferson had to get rid of some of them but now the system is so clean that evaluation of their performance is regularly done. It is exemplary case of checks and blances in the Constitution. US constitution  has enabled it to keep the institutions of judiciary, executive and legislature in fine balance and ensuring no one transgresses its limits. Unfortunately Indian Constitution that needs extensive revision in view of past experience does not provide any system. President was supposed to appointment judges on advice of the cabinet and before 1993 executive appointed judges. Even then there were fine judges with few exceptions and it met with problems when it was distorted in emergency. Consequently a change was done. Due to question raised in typical cases it is again being reviewed and the commission is the outcome of deliberation that has led to parliament enacting the present law.

Instead of in- breeding of judges without accountability the present system the commission will consist of CJI and two senior most judges, the law minister and leader of opposition in addition two eminent persons nominated by the Prime Minister in consultation with CJ and opposition. There is predominance of judges in this system also but not unquestioned inbreeding as there are other equally eminent and responsible representatives of government and opposition on the board.It certainly takes away the monopolistic hold of Supreme court but is it not democracy where we function with participation of different institutions? The court might still try to annul it but fair system as it is needs to be tried and tested.

The highest court must set also norms for trial courts as cases dragging on for years and in some cases people die but cases are not decided. It is a shame for Indian democracy that there are more under trials in the jails than convicts. The judiciary need to be free but also accountable for their performance and conduct to the nation through the representatives of people and this is precisely the purpose of setting up the commission which has been unanimously voted by Parliament of India. People must have faith that if they go to court they will get justice and protection without delay. This is minimum expected from egalitarian regime.

Bus Stop

First Psssenger-Has Modi’s speech about cleanliness made any impact in Himachal?

Second Passenger: Yes now on special occasions people have started giving garbage baskets as gifts.

Prof N.K.Singh former chairman International Airports Authorty of India