We hope the Supreme Court will pass attorney general’s opinion that a comedian’s critical tweet, however offensive, amounts to criminal contempt. The test for scandalising the courts has to be redefined for the age of social media. The contempt law should be used sparingly and only for obstruction of justice.
Modi govt’s new stimulus measures got both timing and focus right
Modi government has got the timing and focus of new economic stimulus measures right. It recognises that the unlocking of the economy is making progress and needs incentives. Not just stimulating demand, it also aims to boost local production. It is a complex strategy but optimal given India’s fiscal constraints.
Positive movement on Ladakh front. Both India, China need exit now from unaffordable conflict
The Ladakh standoff isn’t resolved yet, but there’s welcome movement. If the new Chinese proposal looks an improvement, it’s because Indian army’s audacity on Aug 29-30 night, on both banks of Pangong Tso gave India strategic chips to play with. Both sides need an exit now from an unaffordable conflict.
We can hope, but the hope rests on assumed strength of the 3rd pillar, and that’s become questionable last few years.
On the other hand, if they do take cognizance and end up having court proceedings, the least they can do is to clarify and respond in detail to Kamras tweets. No grand statements on majesty of law and no pontification please. Quite a few of the audience for these statements is currently in jail with their bail petitions failing to get scheduled.
Wishing the wonderful team at Print and their families a happy Diwali. One more year of chronicling, with passion and integrity, India’s trek to a better future for all its citizens. Asha – Ashok. Ananyadevi from Singapore.
Justice Chandrachud had said that dissent is the safety valve of democracy. So, in a way, is social media. It allows ordinary people to express themselves on public affairs, the working of institutions, the most trusted of which is the judiciary, with a candour that would not be possible in the case of mainstream media. Which in any case is going through an exceptionally deferential phrase. 2. It would be stating the obvious that all is not well with the judiciary. The tenure of the previous CJI, concluding in his elevation to the Rajya Sabha, was eventful. The manner in which allegations made against him by a lady employee were dealt has not created an excellent precedent. An awkward situation has arisen with the CM of AP making allegations against the learned Judge who is poised to become the next CJI. Learning from the immediate past, these should be enquired into through a process that inspires the utmost public confidence. That will allow him to helm the institution in a manner that demonstrates absolute independence from the executive.
For me, the best Diwali gift would be the certainty that there will be no war in the Himalayas. Dokalam was a tense 73 day standoff which reminded both sides that the forty odd year stretch of No loss of life along the LAC could not be taken for granted. The informal summits at Wuhan and Mahabalipuram could have put in place more durable protocols to prevent the tragic loss of lives at Galwan Valley. 2. President elect Joe Biden is speaking to world leaders, the sequence laying out in concentric circles the salience of various countries to the United States.