Disha bail order should set welcome precedent
The order of the additional sessions judge of Patiala House Courts, Delhi, granting bail to Bengaluru-based climate activist Disha A. Ravi, arrested for her alleged role in the preparation of a “toolkit” that the police claimed led to the violent incidents in the nation’s capital on January 26, has sought to right two wrongs. One, it has made a timely intervention and stopped the state from using legal tools to put dissenting citizens behind the bars for no end. Two, it has reassured the people that Article 19 (1) of the Constitution which guarantees the freedom of speech and expression has the strength to come to the aid of a legitimate dissenter.
The court demolished the Delhi police’s case by pointing out that it was devoid of material evidence to connect the activist with the case slapped on her; and more importantly, whatever she did was protected by the Constitution. The court found that the investigating agency which charged the activist with sedition has produced “not an iota of evidence” to link her with seditious or violent acts; and reminded the police that it cannot resort to “surmises or conjectures” to convince itself of the culpability of an accused. The “scanty and sketchy” pieces of evidence the agency has produced are not enough to send a 22-year-old young woman with absolutely blemish-free criminal antecedents to jail, it said. The strong words on the nature of the evidence were, in fact, a censure of the police, which went overboard picking up a citizen violating the Supreme Court’s guidelines and her basic rights.
The court made a series of observations on the citizen’s rights that a democracy would love the judiciary to assert and protect in the face of state assault. “Citizens are conscience keepers of the government in any democratic nation,” it said. “They cannot be put behind the bars simply because they choose to disagree with the state policies.” In a warning to the self-appointed “patriots” who miss no chance to threaten dissenters with the label “traitor” and the state which has a profligacy to slap sedition charge at the drop of a hat, the court said, “The offence of sedition cannot be invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments.” The court observed that difference of opinion, disagreement, divergence, dissent, or even disapprobation, are recognised legitimate tools to infuse objectivity in state policies. If the Constitution was not enough, the judge referred to the nation’s 5,000-year old civilisation and the Rig Veda to remind everyone that we were “never been averse to ideas from varied quarters”.
It’s an irony that a government manned by people who have participated in the greatest freedom restoration movement in Independent India is resorting to suppressing voices of legitimate dissent. They should not ideally expect the nation to experience the silence of a graveyard when they go about implementing their agenda. They will face, to quote the judge, an “aware and assertive citizenry, in contradistinction with an indifferent or docile citizenry”, which is, “indisputably a sign of a healthy and vibrant democracy”. The refreshing thoughts must set in motion a process to free many more that are languishing in prisons facing similar charges.
It’s an irony that a government manned by
people who have participated in the
greatest freedom restoration movement in Independent India is
resorting to suppressing voices of
legitimate dissent
Maharashtra government on Thursday announced curtailed budget session of state Assembly citing rising number of Covid cases. However, the Opposition walked out from the business advisory committee accusing the government of running away from its responsibility towards people. The budget session will have eight working days from March 1 to 10. The budget will be presented on March 8.
The decision was taken on Thursday in a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which was attended by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and leader of opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis among others.
Mr. Fadnavis said, “The government is not interested in holding discussions… In a first, the government does not want to complete the budget process. The budget will be tabled and discussion will be held on it but the demands would not be made on it. It is totally unlawful.”
Parliamentary Affairs Anil Parab said that the decision was taken considering Covid19 situation in the state. “Many ministers and legislators have been infected with the Coronavirus. The session will begin from March 1 to March 10. The Governor's address to the two Houses will be on the first day of the session. In addition to this, supplementary demands will also be tabled on the same,” he added.
According to state officials, RT-PCR test has been made mandatory for all the legislators, officials, employees, securitymen and mediapersons for the assembly session.
Mumbai, Feb. 25: Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar on Thursday unveiled a tram car restored by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in south Mumbai, a civic official said.
The civic body had earlier displayed the tram car on an elevated podium at Bhatia Baug garden next to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, but due to various reasons including the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not open for public viewing.
“The BMC has taken this tram from the BEST and installed it at Bhatia Baug so people could re-experience the past glory of Mumbai,” Pednekar said, while unveiling the tram.
The yellow and maroon coloured single-decker tram car is decorated with lights for tourists to enjoy viewing it at night time as well, the mayor said.
Trams were part of Mumbai’s public transport system for nearly 90 years and were one of the cheapest and favourite modes of transport for citizens, before they were discontinued from service in 1964.
Berlin, Feb. 25: Hundreds of German police officers conducted coordinated raids early Thursday in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg in the investigation of an organisation banned over allegations of Islamic extremism.
Some 800 police, including SWAT teams, were involved in the raids of apartments linked to members of the organisation, authorities told the DPA news agency. The raids were carried out with the primary focus of obtaining evidence. No arrests were immediately reported. Berlin authorities said further details would be released at a press conference later Thursday.