Opinion Rapists Beware
Many a rapist escapes punishment for his heinous crime for manifold reasons. Firstly,the victims fear of going to the police station where she would most likely be insulted....
Many a rapist escapes punishment for his heinous crime for manifold reasons. Firstly,the victims fear of going to the police station where she would most likely be insulted. Secondly,reluctance to prosecute the rapist because the mindset of the lower judiciary which permits the defence counsel to subject the victim to humiliating cross-examination for making her out to be a loose character to justify the defence plea that she consented to sexual intercourse and hence no rape was committed. Thirdly,absence of corroboration of the prosecutions evidence which leads to acquittal.The recent Supreme Court judgment of a division bench comprising of Justices Panchal and Deepak Verma heralds a welcome change. The court ruled that in rape cases even the slightest penetration that does not rupture the victims hymen or other parts of her genitalia yet amounts to rape. The Court ruled that minor discrepancies cannot be a ground for giving benefit of doubt to the accused. The Court further held that if prosecution evidence inspires confidence,it should not be discarded only on the ground of non-corroboration which is not a sina qua non for conviction in a rape case. The judgment should be a deterrent for the tribe of rapists who apparently are swarming all over.
Karnataka Lokayukta
The news that Karnataka Lokayukta,former Supreme Court judge,Justice Santosh N Hegde was chosen the Times Karnataka Person of the Year 2009 is heartening. Other people in the contest included heavyweights like Madhu Pandit Dasa of the Akshaya Patra fame and Nandan Nilekani,cricketer Rahul Dravid and billiards gem Pankaj Advani. Hegdes topping the list is evidence of public disgust with corruption and its admiration for Santoshs stellar performance in tackling this deadly virus. He has put the fear of God into minds of corrupt officials,including MLAs,when the Lokayukta police trapped a sitting MLA while taking a bribe. Hegde bemoans that the Lokayukta has no suo moto power to prosecute corrupt officers but is obligated to seek permission from government. It is unrealistic to expect government to confer such power or to grant permission in case of ministers and high officials. The problem is there is no real official will to combat corruption.
Hegde is right in emphasising that the corrupt should be socially boycotted. More is needed. When a public functionary is convicted of corruption after a fair trial the illicitly acquired property should be confiscated. Moreover he or she should be stripped of whatever public position they are holding and also of membership in reputable organisations,associations and clubs. Their names and photographs should be displayed at airports and railway stations and they must be branded as human rights violators of the socio-economic rights of the people because funds meant for roads,wells,hospitals and schools are siphoned off in the invisible bank accounts of the corrupt gentry. We must ensure that corruption does not pay. In the meantime,more strength to the Lokayukta of Karnataka,Santosh Hegde.
Humour & laughter in 2010
Many ills in our society spring from intolerance and narrow mindedness. We get excited about trifles,perceive insults and injury where none is intended and react to some incident disproportionately. The truth is we have no sense of humour. I am sure Shashi Tharoor has realised this. In this context,the National and International Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi Caricature contest arranged by the Indian Institute of Cartoonist is refreshing. A jury of three members comprising of Justice MN Venkatachaliah,former Chief Justice of India,Prof. VG Andani,artist Sri Keshav selected the six best caricatures. The first prize for the Manmohan Singh caricature was bagged by the persons both hailing from Iran. The first prize for the Sonia Gandhi Caricature Contest was awarded to BN Biswal from Nagpur followed by Satish Sringeri from Bangalore. Thank God,no crank has filed an FIR for insulting the pride of the nation. We need to smile,laugh and be cheerful always remembering as we begin 2010 that there is nothing worth the wear of winning,but laughter and the love of friends.
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