Starting 26th January this year, government has launched a mission for the release, by the target date of July 31,of 1.25 lakh of 1.70 lakh undertrials languishing in jails,booked for petty offences and having served a major part of the prescribed sentence .Besides ending the traumatized conditions of the inmates and agony of their families ,it will go a long way in improving the conditions of jails currently overcrowded with 3.5 lakh prisoners against the total capacity of 2.5 lakh.The mission envisages offering undertrials option for ‘plan bargain’:admit guilt ,judge sentences to periods of imprisonment already served or in the alternative conduct trials on day-to-day basis inside prison premises or through video-conferencing.
The move is laudable in the context of high handed attitude of law enforcing personnel towards criminals and general apathy of prosecuting agencies and the judiciary to the fate of undertrials.This had the overall effect of rather segregating them from society and making it even impossible for them to return to society as normal individuals for rehabilitation.The aim of law to reform the criminals thus stood defeated.
Numerous cases on fake charges registered against innocent individuals ,some even at the instance of top cops,have prominently come to light recently.Ruchika case tells how her brother was statedly booked under false charges, her family almost ruined and she ended her life under humiliation.To guard against such cases ,it may be appropriate if the government set up a specific authority where individuals can take recourse to guard against the criminal-like inclinations of law enforcing officials.Government must ensure that people’s faith in law is not shaken.
Global perspectives lay added stress on modernity and enlightened society for the benefit of mankind.There is thus even a greater need to undertake a review of law to do away with provisions that may be unduly harsh, gender biased or may in any manner hinder the progress of society.Justice Delivery System may also be streamlined to ensure speedy justice and provide for easy bails to undertrials.Where prosecution tends to be unduly prolonged so that the inmates do not get traumatized inside jails and their families suffer outside due to lack of financial and emotional support.
Overcrowded jails and cumbersome prosecutions place heavy burden on government finances that are ultimately funded by the tax payers .These departments therefore are required to be manned more considerately .These efficiencies would further cut the backlog in courts thus ensuring a bit speedier disposal of cases.
Jan 27, 2010
India,Bangladesh meet-a new phase of relationship
With various countries of South Asia struggling against internal strife or facing violence domestically or from across the borders ,the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed to India this week may prove the beginning of a new phase of relationship between the two countries that could be the first step towards combating international terrorism in this region and additionally bring about marked improvement in the trade and economic environment of Bangladesh.The slew of agreements concluded between the two countries includes a significant concession of providing road and rail links from Bangladesh to Nepal as well as to Bhutan via India,carrying the potential of facilitating Bangladesh’s economic integration with other countries in this region which may also boost its trade with even other distant countries. The other agreements of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters; combating international terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking and transfer of sentenced persons may go a long way in ridding this region of the scourge of terrorism.
It could be more meaningful if such like issues are discussed in-between various countries of this region with a view to institutionalize such matters of common concern and provide strong structures so that all countries big or small may take recourse to safeguard their interests on equal footing.This would naturally promote cohesiveness in this region and enhance the prospects of economic integration.
Paradoxically ,countries in Europe that were at war during world war II intent on devouring those on the opposite side have completely given up their hostilities and are now rather united in the form of European Union to boost their economic interests while countries in South Asia after the British power left this region are virtually adopting antagonist policies of hatred towards the neghibouring countries.
Resultantly the region is torn with terrorism and as a result economic advancement of almost all the countries suffers and the people live in poverty and misery.If united,we could put higher stakes to global resources at institutions like UN,World Bank and enjoy better clout in International fora. On the other hand divisive and retrograde forces at play undermine the interests of our countries.
Though Sri Lanka has succeeded in eliminating the terrorist organization of LTTE,Nepal is hopefully likely to emerge stronger after the peace process, India is squarely handling the naxalite problem which somehow appeared as having links to the situations prevailing in Sri Lanka and Nepal, Pakistan may also recover from its domestic terrorism while Afghanistan is at the centre of focus of International efforts to impart stability to this country.Coordinated efforts may be the key solution to bring concord and harmony to this area for mutual benefits.
Cultural and linguistic ties have not been properly exploited at Govt-to-Govt level as well as people-to-people levels to bestow sanity and goodwill in this region though films from bollywood and Pakistan equally touch the chord of people in the entire region.
The current meet between the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh may thus prove a turning point in imparting goodwill,stability and economic advancement in Bangladesh and similar approach may gradually embrace the whole region yielding the dividends of progress and prosperity.
It could be more meaningful if such like issues are discussed in-between various countries of this region with a view to institutionalize such matters of common concern and provide strong structures so that all countries big or small may take recourse to safeguard their interests on equal footing.This would naturally promote cohesiveness in this region and enhance the prospects of economic integration.
Paradoxically ,countries in Europe that were at war during world war II intent on devouring those on the opposite side have completely given up their hostilities and are now rather united in the form of European Union to boost their economic interests while countries in South Asia after the British power left this region are virtually adopting antagonist policies of hatred towards the neghibouring countries.
Resultantly the region is torn with terrorism and as a result economic advancement of almost all the countries suffers and the people live in poverty and misery.If united,we could put higher stakes to global resources at institutions like UN,World Bank and enjoy better clout in International fora. On the other hand divisive and retrograde forces at play undermine the interests of our countries.
Though Sri Lanka has succeeded in eliminating the terrorist organization of LTTE,Nepal is hopefully likely to emerge stronger after the peace process, India is squarely handling the naxalite problem which somehow appeared as having links to the situations prevailing in Sri Lanka and Nepal, Pakistan may also recover from its domestic terrorism while Afghanistan is at the centre of focus of International efforts to impart stability to this country.Coordinated efforts may be the key solution to bring concord and harmony to this area for mutual benefits.
Cultural and linguistic ties have not been properly exploited at Govt-to-Govt level as well as people-to-people levels to bestow sanity and goodwill in this region though films from bollywood and Pakistan equally touch the chord of people in the entire region.
The current meet between the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh may thus prove a turning point in imparting goodwill,stability and economic advancement in Bangladesh and similar approach may gradually embrace the whole region yielding the dividends of progress and prosperity.
Jan 13, 2010
Al-Qaeda spreads its network
Al Qaeda and its affiliate terror outfits have suddenly branched out to newer territories like Yemen and Somalia while the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are yet to be concluded.Worst still, it is adapting to more complicated networks and sophisticated ways of operation that appear beyond the grasp of coordinated intelligence sharing at international level of US and its allied countries. Now a Nigerian national Mr Abdulmutallab ,who recently turned a terrorist, was able to procure explosives from Yemen and evade security, screening and intelligence monitoring while traveling through Ethiopia,Ghana and Nigeria to Schiphal airport in Amsterdam and boarded flight no 253 to Detroit on Christmas day now stuns the whole world.This despite the fact that father of the accused intimated the fact of his becoming a terrorist to the Nigerian Authorities and the American embassy in Abuja.The intended terrorist blast was however averted by luck.Obama thus bluntly said “That’s not acceptable and I will not tolerate it.”
Located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula,Yemen is a poor muslim country with a weak central government, armed tribal groups in outlying areas and porous borders.Besides the central government is currently struggling to contain an uprising by Shia Houthi rebels in the north and a secessionist movement in the south.It therefore provided an ideal location for the fresh growth of Al Qaeda organization and its network,whose presence is otherwise considered to be quite old.Yemenis affiliated with Al Qaeda were responsible for October 2000 bombing of the navy destroyer US.S.Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden.Now Gorden Brown the British Prime Minister is holding a meeting in London on January 28, to discuss ways to counter this radicalization in Yemen.
Clearly the two wars in Afghanistan,Iraq fought after 9/11 as part of the “war on terror”, to promote democratic regimes for economic betterment of the people failed to obtain the desired results.The outcome of these two lengthy wars appears uncertain as to how it will actually transform this region.And the US has squandered its resources heavily.Resorting to military means for regime change has mostly proved counter productive .Military minds and war commanders have seldom been able to judge the consequences of war.Wisdom ordains adopting such approaches that should bring in concord and harmony .Such an approach is available even in the midst of wars or wars like situation.
One such idea has recently been floated by British Foreign secretary Miliband .According to him Afghanistan is keen on having regional forum comprising India, Iran, Pakistan and Russia in place before June 2011,the proposed time frame for US and NATO troops to start reducing presence in that country.
Such multilateral concepts of spreading peace in different regions should be seriously considered and implemented to overcome the scourge of terrorism. In order to contain the terrorism in Yemen a regional approach that may look after the economic interests of Yemen and other neighbouring countries may prove more useful in dealing with the Al Qaeda problem.The US has now increased its counter –terrorism aid to Yemen in an intensified campaign to uproot Al-Qaeda’s offshoot in this country.Yemen however opposes any direct intervention by US or other foreign troops in the fight against al-Qaeda with their Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi saying “ I’m sure that their experiences in Iraq,Afghanistan and Pakistan will be very useful to learn from -----that direct intervention complicates things”.
Located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula,Yemen is a poor muslim country with a weak central government, armed tribal groups in outlying areas and porous borders.Besides the central government is currently struggling to contain an uprising by Shia Houthi rebels in the north and a secessionist movement in the south.It therefore provided an ideal location for the fresh growth of Al Qaeda organization and its network,whose presence is otherwise considered to be quite old.Yemenis affiliated with Al Qaeda were responsible for October 2000 bombing of the navy destroyer US.S.Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden.Now Gorden Brown the British Prime Minister is holding a meeting in London on January 28, to discuss ways to counter this radicalization in Yemen.
Clearly the two wars in Afghanistan,Iraq fought after 9/11 as part of the “war on terror”, to promote democratic regimes for economic betterment of the people failed to obtain the desired results.The outcome of these two lengthy wars appears uncertain as to how it will actually transform this region.And the US has squandered its resources heavily.Resorting to military means for regime change has mostly proved counter productive .Military minds and war commanders have seldom been able to judge the consequences of war.Wisdom ordains adopting such approaches that should bring in concord and harmony .Such an approach is available even in the midst of wars or wars like situation.
One such idea has recently been floated by British Foreign secretary Miliband .According to him Afghanistan is keen on having regional forum comprising India, Iran, Pakistan and Russia in place before June 2011,the proposed time frame for US and NATO troops to start reducing presence in that country.
Such multilateral concepts of spreading peace in different regions should be seriously considered and implemented to overcome the scourge of terrorism. In order to contain the terrorism in Yemen a regional approach that may look after the economic interests of Yemen and other neighbouring countries may prove more useful in dealing with the Al Qaeda problem.The US has now increased its counter –terrorism aid to Yemen in an intensified campaign to uproot Al-Qaeda’s offshoot in this country.Yemen however opposes any direct intervention by US or other foreign troops in the fight against al-Qaeda with their Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi saying “ I’m sure that their experiences in Iraq,Afghanistan and Pakistan will be very useful to learn from -----that direct intervention complicates things”.
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