Is it a proof of “anarchist, authoritarian approach” of the Arvind Kejriwal government ? – Vijay Shanker Singh.

The latest circular issued by Delhi Govt on the direction of Arvind Kejriwal is a clear cut example of high handedness. It is a gagging of press. If you have no courage to face any criticism, whether it is right or wrong then you are not deserved to be a political man. I am not saying that every criticism done by press is based on truth and facts.. Many are based on gossips and on cooked materials. But as a serious politician the press should be countered by the facts and truth not by fictions.. But to stop the press for not reporting news and views are a undemocratic act.

In 1975 when Indira Gandhi censored the press , it had been condemned by all the sections of society and she was ultimately defeated in 1977. Inspite of the facts that the pace of governanace was improved dur to discipline imposed under the government emloyees. But why this man has chosen this path. He says media is biased. The biasism of media must be exposed. But you have to take other options and to accept different means. To gag the press is no option. Press has also to do a honest introspection. They may be influenced by any particular pericular thought or any group or they may have some hidden business interests , but while reporting or interpreting any incident or political development they must be professional and this professionalism must be seen apperantly. The erosion in credibility of media is a different issue but on the hoax of this particular image you can and should not stop the press.

The circular says a defamation case will be filed by Government against the mud slinging reporting. There are many national dailies and national news channels who rarely publish and telecast any biased news and views. But there are many small newspapers who often publishes some derogatory news but you can not butcher a limb for treating a small infection. Anybody can file a defamation case under the law for anyone. But such type of circular to issue a special direction for defamation case to Govt officials is condemnable. 

According to the circular issued by the Directorate of Information and Publicity Department,

‘’ if any officer associated with the Delhi government feels that the published or aired news item damages his or the government’s reputation, he should file a complaint with the Principal Secretary (Home).

“In such case, a reference letter will be sent to the Principal Secretary (Home) containing details of the defamatory imputation published, the mode of publication, factual inaccuracy, details of allegations made and ground for believing that it will harm the reputation of the person against whom the imputation has been made,” a senior officer said.

According to the official, the Principal Secretary (Home) will then examine the matter and will also seek the opinion of the Director (prosecution) as to whether the prosecution under section 499/500 of the IPC is to be launched.

If as per the opinion of the Director (prosecution), offence of defamation is made out the Principal Secretary will refer the matter to the Law Department for examining the matter and obtain the sanction of under section 199(4) of the CrPc. After the sanction of the government is obtained, the home department will forward the case to the public prosecutor for making a complaint under Section 199(2) of the CrPc.

The move came just a few days after, Delhi Government issued order for close monitoring of all news channels. Is it a proof of “anarchist, authoritarian approach” of the Arvind Kejriwal government ?

Hit and Run, Jailed, Sorry Bailed !! - Vijay Shanker Singh

Salman khan found guilty and convicted for 5 years of imprisonment. He got bail for two days, from Bombay high court. His writ for regular bail is pending, and what happened is not known to me till now.

Entire media, elecronic or print, are busy in recording the reactions of after shock. Some are very disturbed to see the tears of Salman and his brothers and sister. Some were calculating the loss of bollywood after this judgement. Some found a Hatim Tai in Salman. Some connected the High court bail issue with the pro Modi image of this actor. Too many tongues, too much junk.

Today a regular bail has been granted to Salman Khan by Honb’le Bombay High Court. I am putting some questions which are hitting in my mind regarding this high profile case. For media ,this may be a high profile case being a better news value, but for Judiciary , it is criminal trial .Like any other trial, here is also complainent , accused and witnesses. Every one is on equal footing except the chair.  

Some points to be noted and need to be introspection.

I. Whether the High Court would have entertained the interim bail petition of any convict at 4.30 pm on the very day of the conviction (Heavens were not going to fall).

2. Whether the High Court would have entertained the interim bail petition of any convict without a copy of the conviction order.

3. Whether the Trial Court would have stayed open and waited for the bail order till 7 pm.

4. Whether the High Court would have been inclined to entertain and hear the regular appeal on the "last day" just before the vacation, and also go on to grant out-of-the-way relief even by noon.

5. Not-so-pertinent queries were raised by the HC judge hearing the case(which exhibited a soft corner towards the convict), and then granted excessive reliefs.

Are these questions are not hitting your minds too ?

A different aspect of the story is, what happened to those who have been killed and injured by the criminal act by the accused ?

I don't know, what they are doing and how they are surviving ?

Why not media tried to shoot their latest whereabouts ?

How those poor people are surviving ?

The footpath dwellers always reminds me a filmi song of famous film Shree 420, '' Ramaiyyaa wattaa waiyaa. '' It proves, Bombay has a history of footpath dwellers. Raj Kanpur showed the miseries of these peoples and he gave a new twist to Indian Cinema sixty years ago, and Abhijit, a lesser known singer comments in derogatory and abusing language about these persons. I thought an artist must have a kind and sensitive heart. But Abhijit's remark proved me wrong. He is not only emotionless but a senseless person. He may be a talented singer but he lacks the basic human qualities.

Why not the entire fan club of Salman have organised any show for poor victims of his road raze ? To organise a charity show is not a new concept. But the poor victims are not in their priorities. They are destined to born, to live and to die in shameful and inhuman conditions.

The celluloid focussed , only where they get money or name. Barring some exceptions, it is the fact. I will use two lines from a film also,

'' Adhere mein Jo baithe hain, nazar un par bhi kuchh daalo,

Are wo roshani waalon, Are wo roshani waalon. ''

Ravindra Patil I am your fan !! You have exposed the clebrity worship syndrome and rich man's influence on judiciary.

Hon'ble Judges, are you listening Your Lordships !!

Let there be light for them also !!

शांतता , कोर्ट चालू आहे !! - विजय शंकर सिंह

मुझे सलमान खान से हमदर्दी है .वह एक प्रतिभासम्पन्न अभिनेता और अच्छे इंसान हैं . हालांकि उन्हें मैं व्तक्तिगत रूप से नहीं जानता हूँ . लेकिन जिस त्वरा से सलमान खान को सत्र न्यायालय द्वारा दोषी ठहराने के बाद उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा तुरंत उसी दिन ज़मानत स्वीकृत कर दी गयी है से , इस सामान्य प्रचलित धारणा को ही बल मिलता है क़ि कानून ताकतवरों के लिए हैं . उच्च न्यायालय ने यह कार्य अपने अधिकारों के अंतर्गत किया है . लेकिन मा न्यायालय की कृपा से वंचित ही क्यों वंचित रहते हैं ? यह बात मेरी तरह बहुतों को भी खटक रही होगी . संजय दत्त को जिस तरह पेरोल दी जाती है , और सलमान खान को जिस तरह आनन फानन में ज़मानत दे दी जाती है , उससे न्याय हुआ है भले ही आप साबित कर लें पर न्याय होता हुआ दिखा नहीं है 

समरथ को नहीं दोस गुसाईं !! तुलसी दास इसे 450 साल पहले कह गए हैं। और यह बोध वाक्य अक्सर सच साबित हुआ। आज भी हुआ , जब एक सज़ायाफ्ता अभियुक्त सलमान खान को मा उच्च न्यायालय बंबई ने ज़मानत दे दी। एक आदमी की मौत , कई घायल , 1998 से चलता हुआ या यूँ कहें घिसटता हुआ मुक़दमा , तीन दिन पहले जब अपने अंजाम पर खुदा खुदा करते हुए आया तो , थोड़ी तसल्ली हुयी ,कि  क़ानून के सामने सभी बराबर हैं। पर यह भरम तब टूटा जब आनन फानन में , बड़ी अदालत ने सज़ायाफ्ता मुज़रिम सलमान खान को पहले दो दिन की और अब नियमित ज़मानत दे दी। जेल वाले इस फ़िल्मी चुलबुल पाण्डे  के दीदार को तरसते ही रह गए। अदालत के किसी निर्णय पर टिप्पणी नहीं की जाती है और की भी नहीं जानी चाहिए , अगर निर्णय न्यायपूर्ण नहीं है तो उस से बड़ी अदालत में उसे चुनौती दी जा सकती है। यह भारतीय आपराधिक न्याय प्रणाली की स्थापित प्रक्रिया है। इस पर मेरा सिर्फ यह कथन है कि , शांतता , कोर्ट चालू आहे !! 

इस मुक़दमें ने कई सवाल खड़े किये हैं। मैं इस पर नहीं जा रहा हूँ , अभियुक्त ने बचने और अभियोजन की पूरी थ्योरी को झुठलाने और मन गठंत साबित करने की पूरी कोशिश की। हर अभियुक्त अपने बचाव की जुगत ढूंढता है , हैसियत के अनुसार वकील तय करता है , और अभियोजन के जाल से निकलना चाहता है। सलमान ने भी ऐसा ही किया। पर गवाह नहीं टूटे , जो दस्तावेज़ी सुबूत थे , उनकी काट बचाव पक्ष नहीं दे सका , अंत में यह कहने की कोशिश की गयी कि गाड़ी उनका ड्राइवर चला रहा था , उन्होंने शराब नहीं , बकार्डी , एक ऐसा पेय जिसमें अल्कोहल की मात्रा काम होती है , पी राखी थी , और सलमान के पास ड्राइविंग लाइसेंस था। पर डाक्टरी जांच में , अल्कोहल की मात्रा पर्याप्त पायी गयी , ड्राइविंग लाइसेंस , काल बाधित मिला , और ड्राइवर का बयान झूठा साबित हुआ। अंततः सुबूतों के आधार पर सत्यमेव जयते ही साबित हुआ और सलमान खान दोषी पाये गयी। अंततः पांच साल की कारावास की सज़ा हो गयी।

नियमतः , सज़ा सुनाये जाते ही , अभियुक्त को अदालत में ही हिरासत में ले लिया जाता है और उसे तत्काल जेल भेज दिया जाता है। अभियुक्त बाद में अपने को ज़मानत पर छोड़े जाने या सत्र न्यायालय के आदेश के विरुद्ध अपील दायर कर सकता है और यह उसका वैधानिक अधिकार है। लेकिन इस मामले में सज़ा सुनाये जाते ही , पहले से ही तैयार वकीलों ने अंतरिम ज़मानत के लिए मा उच्च न्यालय में अपील दायर कर दो घंटे में ही , दिनांक 8 मई तक के लिए ज़मानत प्राप्त कर ली। आज 8 मई को , उसके नियमित ज़मानत की सुनवाई हुयी और उसे ज़मानत मिल गयी। जो चीज़ सबसे अधिक खटक रही है वह है ज़मानत की अर्ज़ी का अत्यंत उदारता पूर्वक निस्तारण और साफ़ साफ़ दिख रहा है कि इस खेल में कुशल और दक्ष वकीलों की फ़ौज़ और एक न्यालय के  उदार रुख ने सलमान खान को पांच साल की सज़ा मिलने के बाद भी , कारागार जाने से बचा लिया। ज़मानत किस आधार पर दी गयी और सज़ा के बाद ज़मानत देने या न देने के क्या प्राविधान और परम्पराएँ हैं पर मैं नहीं जाना चाहता। फिलहाल सलमान खान ज़मानत पर रिहा है और उनकी अपील अदालत में लंबित है।

न्याय की देवी के आँखों पर पट्टी बंधी रहती है।  यह मुद्रा प्रतीकात्मक है और इस का अर्थ है कि न्याय की तुला में कोई पासंग नहीं है। देवी के पट्टी बंधे आँखों के सामने सब बराबर हैं। क़ानून की किताबों में भी ऐसा  कहा गया है। पर यथार्थ इसके विपरीत है। न्याय व्यवस्था की यह अजीब विडम्बना है  कि जो भी धन , जन , बाहु बल से समर्थ है वह क़ानून के प्रावधानों को अपने पक्ष में व्याख्यायित कर लेता है। पर इन सब के  बावजूद भी ,राज्य व्यवस्था  के त्रिअंगों में न्याय पालिका की साख सबसे अच्छी है। इस एक उदाहरण के आधार पर पूरी न्याय व्यवस्था को ही कठघरे में खड़ा कर देना उचित नहीं होगा। मेरे कुछ मित्र मेरी इस बात से सहमत नहीं होंगे पर मेरा यह मानना है कि , अक्सर जब चारों तरफ अंधकार छाया रहता है तो , विशेषकर सर्वोच्च न्यालय प्रकाश की एक किरण बन कर सामने आया है। लेकिन यह साख और मज़बूत हो इसके लिए न्याय पालिका को खुद ही पहल करनी होगी। इस मानले में जो जल्दी बाज़ी की गयी है , वह निश्चित रूप से संदेह की ऊपर इंगित करती है। विलम्ब से मिला न्याय , न्याय नहीं है , यह सच है तो, अत्यादशीक त्वरा से मिला न्याय भी न्याय का हनन है। इसी मामले में अन्य मामलों की तरह एक, दो तारीख पद कर , सारी बहस के बाद अगर ज़मानत ही स्वीकृत होती तो कोई भी अंगुली नहीं उठती। लेकिन ऐसा साफ़ दिख रहा है , वकीलों और न्यायमूर्ति के बीच कोई सुप्त दुरभिसंधि है , कि येन केन प्रकारेण , सज़ायाब को जेल नहीं जाने देना है। मा सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में इस सम्बन्ध में एक याचिका भी दायर की गयी है।

 न्याय के बारे में एक अत्यंत प्रसिद्द उक्ति है, न्याय न सिर्फ होना चाहिए , बल्कि न्याय होते हुए दिखना भी चाहिए। अगर न्याय हुआ है और वह परिलक्षित नहीं हो रहा है तो उस से जो भ्रम फैलता है , उस से न्यायपालिका की साख पर बहुत विपरीत असर पड़ता है। पूरे समाज को दंड नहीं दिया जा सकता है। पर समाज में ऐसे तत्वों को जिन्होंने अपराध किया है और जिनका अपराध दंडनीय है , उन्हें साक्ष्य मिलने पर दंड दिया जाता है। यह दंड न सिर्फ दिया जाता है बल्कि प्रचारित भी किया जाता है , जिस से समाज में भय फैले और इस दंड भय से समाज की व्यवस्था बनी रहे। अन्यथा दंड विहीन , या पक्षपात पूर्ण न्याय व्यवस्था , अराजकता को ही जन्म देगी और अंततः समाज का विनाश ही होगा। न्याय व्यवस्था पर यह गुरुतर दायित्व है और दो दिन पहले दिए गए अंतरिम ज़मानत में प्रदर्शित जल्दबाज़ी से न्याय पालिका की साख को धक्का लगा है। सोशल साइट्स पर जो प्रतिक्रियाएं आ रही हैं , उनसे तो यही लगता है।

( विजय शंकर सिंह )