Editor,
The implementation of the Roster System in the State Reservation Policy with retrospective effect has deeply affected the unemployed youth of one region of the state with a gain for the other region of the same state. Here I fully support the stand of the political party Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) together with the voice of other NGO’s like the KSU, HYC for putting on hold the job recruitment process through the MPSC until the matter of the Reservation Policy is discussed in the State Legislative Assembly. But the MPSC’s Notification dated April 6, 2023 has fixed the tentative dates for conducting written exams for many posts, right from the Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) to the LDA exams for various departments of the State Government. Hence as a concerned citizen I am deeply pained to see that many written exams will be conducted in the coming month without rectifying the ill effects of the implementation of the roster system. Here, as a concerned parent, I request the Government and the MPSC to temporarily halt the recruitment process until the concerned matter has been cleared. I also request all the political parties to come on board on this issue in the interest of the state and its people.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Arbitrary parking fees
Editor,
I recently went to Umroi Airport to pick up my relatives who had landed there. In less than 10 mins of my arrival their flight had landed and we were proceeding out of the airport by then. What surprised us was the exorbitant parking fee. We were asked to pay Rs 50 per vehicle. That amount was not the problem. The problem is that we were given a receipt after paying the amount demanded. This is a matter of concern as it involves transparency and accountability. When I demanded a receipt, the person collecting the money replied in a harsh tone that they do not issue any receipts.
I would like to know from the Airport authorities if they have entrusted anyone to collect that amount. If so, why don’t they instruct the parking fee collector to issue a proper receipt for the amount paid?
Also why don’t the Airport authorities have proper signages regarding the amount of payment required to be made for parking depending on the length of time a vehicle is parked. If fees are collected, why aren’t the toilets, approach roads et al properly maintained? Why aren’t these persons collecting the parking fees not in proper uniforms? Are they really people entrusted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) I to collect such fees?
The airport authority should look into these matters as early as possible so that it makes the visit to the airport a pleasant and memorable experience.
Yours etc.,
Casper Tariang,
Via email
CrPC, IPC & Evidence Act need changes
Editor,
After the judgment delivered by Surat court against Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case with two years imprisonment being imposed, there are tremors across the nation. As a result of the judgment Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha seat has been declared vacant. Here it is worth noting that under Section 499/500 maximum punishment is for two years and Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years punishment. Moreover, as per media reports this is the first time since the inception of the sedition law that any person had been awarded punishment for two years. Since then it is a matter of debate as to whether defamation clauses should be covered under CrPC or the Civil Procedure Code.
In the same way Section 124-A is a controversial clause which was frequently used by the British police to suppress the freedom movement. It is an interesting fact that the same clause had been abolished in Pakistan but in India which is the world’s largest democracy this section still exists even though it is presently kept in abeyance.
There is also the wrong interpretation of the word “custody,” which has been there for a very long time. On account of that misinterpretation the liberty of many had been curbed due largely to lack of knowledge of persons in the Police department as well as of the judiciary. There is a need for corrections now. When the word custody is mentioned it is ambiguous and has been left to the whims of concerned officials. Recently the Supreme Court has reminded the lower courts to avoid unnecessary arrests. However, we also know that bureaucratic habits die hard, The apex court has also clarified that Section 170 CrPC merely connotes the presence of the accused in court and the investigating officer has to ensure that. This points to a real need for better training and refresher courses for judicial officers and an effective method of circulating important Supreme Court judgments and statutory changes to the lower judiciary and police. Our police force is unaware of the simple truth that common sense is more important than going simply by the letter of law. When Information Technology is so developed it is shocking how important judgements from the apex court and high courts do not reach the trial courts and the police.
Citizens expect the State to treat them better and allow greater freedom of expression. Moreover a distinction must be made between existence of the power to arrest and justification for exercising it. If arrest is made routine it can cause incalculable harm to the reputation and self-esteem of a person. If the investigating officer has no reason to believe that the accused will abscond or disobey summons and has throughout cooperated with the investigation, we fail to appreciate why there should be a compulsion on the officer to arrest the accused. Trial courts are stated to be insisting on the arrest of an accused as a prerequisite formality to take the charge sheet on record in view of the provisions of section 170 of the CrPC. And moreover trial courts seem to be labouring under a misconception that in every non-bailable, cognisable offence police are required to arrest a person even if it is not essential for investigation purposes. Such a course of action should be considered misplaced and contrary to the very intent of this section. Combined efforts should be made by the judiciary and police to take care of the common citizen of India.
It is good to know therefore that the central government is actively considering amendments to criminal laws. Some of these amendments have to do with sedition. Earlier, in March 2020, the Union Home Ministry constituted a national-level committee for reforms in criminal laws, headed by the Vice-Chancellor of the National Law University, Delhi, to undertake a review of the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act.
Yours etc.,
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Via email