Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
A DAY FILLED WITH EMOTIONS!
The entire judicial system is tough, difficult: Neelam Katara
The afternoon session, ‘Yeh Public Hai Boss’, at the Lucknow Literature Festival, took on a serious tone with the functioning of the judiciary coming under the scanner. The panellists were Neelam Katara, mother of the infamous Delhi honour-killing victim Nitish Katara, Bureau of Police Research and Development director-general AP Maheshwari and Lucknow Expressions (the society organising the literature festival) president Jaideep N Mathur. The discussion was moderated by Surabhi Modi.
Neelam Katara, who happens to be from Lucknow, said, “This city is in my DNA. It’s like coming home. Nitish too had his early education at St Francis College before shifting to Delhi.”
Talking about the case which she fought long and hard to get justice for her son, murdered and burnt in 2002, she said, “Now, when I look back, I feel what a long and tough battle it has been, especially for a mother who lost her young son at the hands of a family of a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha. It’s all so vivid in my memory. I remember going to identify my son’s body though it was in an absolute mess. It just took me 20-30 seconds to say it’s Nitish. Then a complaint was lodged and took real time to file a charge-sheet.
“At that time, I thought now justice will be served. But I did not have a slightest idea that it was just the beginning as the case went on and on. The entire judicial system is so tough and difficult. Getting justice was a Herculean task. I was fighting a big matrix of caste, power and money. If my case hadn’t shifted from Ghaziabad to Delhi, I don’t think it would have ever ended.
“The judgement came in October 2017, after 15 long years. In that time, I also lost my husband in 2003. But it was media that stood by me and finally justice was served. Why can’t we have criminalisation of politics and stop politicians with criminal backgrounds from contesting elections and coming to power.”
Dr Maheswari agreed that justice delayed is justice denied and said that the police working needs to be insulated from any outside political interference. He said that a better level of public participation is important.
Many in the public agreed that Katara’s story gives them goose bumps and brings to the fore the reality of our weak systems.
Jaideep N Mathur said, “Neelam Katara’s story should be an eye-opener for all, though there are many loopholes in our system but if fought firmly and with a strong will, even a weak system and administration has to deliver justice.”