Delayed Justice = Denied Justice

Friends Yesterday I said : "Coming days we will try to discuss another 5 subjects, not necessarily in this order : 1) Judicial Delays 2) Corruption 3) Politics in ICU as V C it 4) Irreverent Protests and relevance of shock treatments 5) World is safe for next 100 years" Today we cover Judicial delays and related issues. M G Warrier Delayed Justice = Denied Justice A Crime & Punishment Times of India feature headline : "699 death sentences in 5 years. Why SC confirmed only 2" Perhaps a review of the timeframe, levels of decision making and professional competence of bench and bar is overdue. B Fast-track justice Fast-track justice? The judiciary needs to do more https://share.google/EqVQKuMl15EXCxDFy Excerpts : "In the absence of a will to administer law in a fair and reasonable way, guidelines from the government and rulings from courts will have limited potency. This ‘will’ should come as a credible message from the highest level. It will be next to impossible to make laws mischief-proof. We have a Constitution and a large-sized library of statutes which can protect almost every right a citizen could think of for a decent living. Any country should envy the tripod of legislature, executive and judiciary which was put in place to give effect to the rights, responsibilities and duties envisaged in the Indian Constitution by those who took charge of governance from the British. Though not as active as it is now, the fourth estate—the media—too has played its bit fairly well in bringing to the fore the commissions and omissions by people who have been running the government so far. Then, why results are not showing the way the framers of our Constitution visualized?" My article was published in 2013. Unfortunately it remains relevant after 13 years. C Bonus Mumbai Riots, 1990's While reading a WhatsApp message, remembered Mumbai Riots of 1990's. Riots had started. Without grasping the severity, I planned two days solo visit to Vatakara by train. We were staying in Gokuldham Quarters. Had to catch Jayanti Janata from VT. By the time I was shifting from Churchgate-bound local to a VT-bound train @Mahim the riots were a reality through which I was moving. Burning petrol stations, angry crowds et al VT station looked like a refugee camp : A cross-section of Bombay sleeping, shouting, running, eating... My train was on the correct platform. I entered the crowded non-AC Sleeper compartment in which I had reservation. Just reached my seat which was already occupied. The person who was sitting on my window seat allowed me to share the seate : Bombay courtesy. Train moved. The well dressed Muslim lady nearby was travelling to Tirur to leave her seven year old son in her In-law's place and planned to come back and search for her missing husband. Her son had witnessed a daylight murder previous day and she wanted to protect his life. Railway police came in when the train reached Pune and I was allowed to occupy my berth. I reached Vatakara safely and completed my work next day. Third day I went to Vatakara Rly Station for return journey to Bombay. Station Master dissuaded me from travelling back to Bombay that day. I asked him whether the train was cancelled. He said, 'train is on time'. I said I had to go. Train came. I entered my compartment which was empty. One more person joined on the way. Two of us who dared to travel in uncertain environment, due to compelling reasons, reached Bombay safe.