Hum Saath Saath hai!!!

The heading reminds me of a movie with the similar title. Due to the current prevailing situation, everybody has got familiar with the terms Lockdown & Quarantine. People have chosen to ‘stay home to be safe.’ The question here is, whether staying at home has really brought us closer with our family members or it has given us new reasons to go away from them?

Family courts are shut down at present. But whether domestic violence has stopped taking place? Whether sons/daughter in laws have started treating their old age parents/in laws well? Whether child marriages, cases of mental & physical cruelty have stopped?

The answer is certainly in negative. The positive side of the story is that the people have learnt, the importance of relations, sharing of things, to face the difficult situation and to go through it safely to reach the shore, in lockdown. The Family system values are so deep rooted that makes us strong from within. In a relationship, one must understand that, ‘storm that roar also calms down’. It is the matter of time when we have to keep our roots strong.

The people, who experience tough time in their relationship & go through it successfully, find themselves better as an individual and far better as life partner!

So stay home stay safe and say Hum Saath Saath Hai!!!

Lockdown continues for Under Trial Prisoners…!

COVID-19 has not left any sector untouched all over the world. In India, initially the spread was increasing gradually and now, when in some countries, there is relief from lockdown as the ratio of COVID affected patients goes down, India is experiencing the community spread. The judicial system, though falls under essential services, has been put on hold by the pandemic of COVID-19. The trials have taken a big pause, witnesses are not being examined, no final arguments are heard and so, no judgments’ are delivered.

It is not just about adjudication of a pending case. It is about those criminal cases wherein the accused persons are being tried as an under trial prisoner. As on today, there are thousands of under trial prisoners in various prisons in India. Their right to speedy trial, right to life and liberty are at stake. Though there are steps taken to release those who are charged for offences wherein the punishment provided is up to seven (7) years. As regards others, they are unfortunately being subjected to pre-trial conviction by the system.

Refusal to extend the discretion of granting bail can be understood. But delay in adjudication of case of an under trial prisoner amounts to denial justice to him. With less number of judges & with even less matters on board, the functioning of the essential services like judiciary appears to be farce as so far no steps have been taken to push ahead the cases of under trial prisoner which are on hold since March 2020. With some relaxation in lockdown, the things all over are returning to its track. Let’s hope the justice delivery system get back to normalcy soon and delivers justice to its seeker.

Till then lockdown continues for under trial prisoners…!

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