Indian democracy rests on three important pillars – the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary with the media playing a fourth, yet intrinsic role in nurturing those core democratic values. In recent times the legislature has played safe on many contentious issues for fear of offending one section of the population or the other. This fear arises primarily from the fact that taking unpleasant decisions could erode the vote banks of politicians and political parties. From reading down Article 377 to the ruling on women entering Sabarimala temple, which the apex court has interpreted as ’gender justice,’ the judiciary has remained the sheet anchor of the Indian people.
In Meghalaya the High Court has been pro-actively aiding citizens who approach it with public interest litigations (PIL). The latest one on expanding and completing the repair work of the road leading to one of the region’s largest medical institute, the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute for Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS)and other public institutions located there is timely. It is difficult to understand why a road of a few kilometers should take over a year to complete. Meghalaya roads are notorious for needing frequent repairs and this is purely because of corruption in the Public Works Department (PWD) where ministers, contractors and engineers profit while the public is at the receiving end.
The latest PIL in the Meghalaya High Court pertains to the supply of non-potable water laced with oily substance to the residents of Shillong. The Court has taken cognizance of this plaint and made the PHED and the State Pollution Board the main respondents. Corruption in the PHED is an open secret and the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) has benefitted a particular technocrat who has ruled the roost until his retirement, despite brazen lack of performance and questionable deployment of funds. It is unbelievable that one person should wield so much power in a particular department but that was possible because of political patronage. For the citizen, things look dismal. Power supply is erratic; water supply is fraught with fears of contaminated water entering our kitchens; roads are in a pathetic condition in most parts of the city. The most neglected road by far is the one leading to the Union Christian College(UCC) in Umiam. The Justices could perhaps familiarize themselves with this road too which has led to many a slipped disc. There is a limit to corruption and only the Courts alone can rescue this blighted citizenry.
