E-Paper
Don't seal the fate of common man
Unwarranted tussle between the judiciary and Delhi/central governments concerning demolition drive in Delhi is just an insult of democracy and is troubling the common man. Demolition in rich colonies like Greater Kailash and Friends Colony is comprehensible. But, it is indeed incomprehensible in the poor people?s colonies given that employment generation in India is so low.
Unwarranted and highly damaging tussle between the judiciary and Delhi/central governments concerning demolition drive in Delhi is just an insult of democracy and is troubling the common man.
Judiciary has been passing out orders for demolitions of unauthorised constructions; sealing of the shops in the residential areas; banning of vendors without even thinking of the adverse impact on the common man.
Demolition in rich colonies like Greater Kailash, East of Kailash, Friends Colony is comprehensible. But, it is indeed incomprehensible in the poor people’s colonies given that employment generation in India is so low. The proposed banning of vendors will be biggest blow for the poorest of poor populace of Delhi.
What Judiciary needs at this juncture:
* To instruct Government of India to generate ample educational and subsequent employment opportunities and if that is not possible, then at least provide sufficient money as subsistence allowance like it is done in European countries and USA and then order demolition.
* Ask the government to prepare a list of colonies which are highly notorious in violating the norms. If the judiciary is not satisfied with the list of colonies provided by the government, it could specify the colonies that it thinks are trouble-makers and then again ask government to consider them adding to the list of rogue colonies.
* Judiciary may even ask the government to suggest the stringent action against the violators of the norms. Judiciary must fix time limit for presentation of such lists and proposed action against the violators. Once it is done by the legislators themselves, the public will get disciplined on its own because what is required is to discipline the law makers. Anyways, the violators are rich people and the court’s hammer falls on the innocent poor common men who are normally law-abiding citizens.
In short, my gut feeling is that when Government of India cannot provide safe potable water, free quality school education, even bare minimum employment, good roads, reliable transport, cheap homes and a corruption-free security agency, the judiciary must then concentrate its all energies and attention towards having these deficiencies made good by the Government of India as a whole or Delhi Government in particular. Once the above deficiencies are made good, the level of violations will naturally get minimised.
