Unbreakable bonds
It is said that a few relations on Earth never die, and friendship is one of them. Inter-personal friendship and friendship between societies and nations are key to foster global goodwill and peace. Harmonious relation between peoples of the world is threatened by many factors, some negotiable, some not. People-to-people understanding and peer support, that usually cement friendships at all levels, stand to be broken by poverty, violence, prejudice and hatred. Global conflicts and ill-will would be things of the past if people and communities of the world stand as one. In a similar vein, exchange of people between countries, through tourism, education and employment, should buffer friendship between different countries. The General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) in 2011, recognised July 30 as ‘International Friendship Day’ or ‘World Friendship Day’ to build bridges between communities to usher in peace.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Guarding justice
The rule of law is the foundation of every democratic society. Citizens approach revenue courts with the expectation that their disputes will be decided fairly, impartially and in accordance with law. Revenue courts exercise significant powers over matters such as mutation, land records, tenancy, mundkar rights and other issues that directly affect property rights. Therefore, the quality and legality of their decisions are of immense public importance. While appellate and revisional remedies exist, they are often expensive and time-consuming. Many citizens lack the financial resources to pursue prolonged litigation. As a result, orders containing legal or procedural errors may remain uncorrected for years, causing unnecessary hardship and loss of public confidence in the justice delivery system. The state government should consider constituting an independent legal monitoring committee comprising retired judges, experienced legal practitioners and senior revenue officers with impeccable integrity. The committee’s role would not be to interfere with judicial independence or alter judicial decisions. Instead, it could examine judgments and orders from the perspective of legal consistency, adherence to statutory provisions, principles of natural justice and procedural fairness. Where recurring legal errors or systemic deficiencies are identified, the committee could recommend corrective administrative measures, improving training and institutional reforms. Such a mechanism would promote greater accountability without compromising the independence of revenue authorities. It would also help identify recurring issues, encourage uniform application of the law and reduce avoidable litigation before higher forums.
Paul Pereira, Majorda
Conflicting wings
In India, several airlines have failed, some are struggling to operate, a duopoly exists by Tata Group and Indigo and in last December, thousands of flights were cancelled by Indigo due to a shortage of pilots. These issues have created a need for additional airlines to assist people in terms of more flights and destinations and competitive pricing. Presently, Adani Airports Holdings Limited operates eight airports and GMR Airports Limited operates four airports. As per the existing laws, these companies cannot own more than 10% stake in any airline. But the Centre now plans to bring in a policy to allow these entities to operate their own airlines. There might not be a sudden disruption if these operators come on board, as presently there is a global shortage and a long wait list for new aircrafts from Boeing and Airbus. Yet, Adani and GMR may manage to obtain aircrafts, through purchase, lease or takeover from some of the defunct airlines (Indian and foreign). If so, will there not be a conflict of interest because of their dual roles as airport and airline owners? Favourable time slots, destination overlaps and other facilities may get skewed by the new airline owners.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Excessive force
The horrifying scenes witnessed in Bihar’s Siwan district on July 25 should shock the conscience of every Indian who values democracy and the rule of law. A viral video showed a Bihar Police constable firing an AK-47 assault rifle during a student protest against recurring examination scandals. This was not a counter-insurgency operation. It was a protest by young people demanding fairness in public examinations and accountability from those responsible for repeated question paper leaks. The Bihar government responded by suspending the constable and ordering a departmental inquiry. Suspension, however, cannot be the end of the matter. An AK-47 is not a weapon ordinarily entrusted to a policeman for crowd control. It is issued for dealing with terrorists and heavily armed criminals posing a grave threat to life. A constable cannot simply decide to use such a weapon on his own. The obvious questions remain unanswered: Who authorised him to carry the rifle? Who permitted its use against student protesters? Three persons sustained bullet injuries, including a 15-year-old boy who was not even participating in the protest but was caught in the crossfire.
Yash Pal Ralhan, Jalandhar
