LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Invasion of privacy

The recent implementation of the regressive Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by the Uttarakhand government, especially the rules almost criminalising live-in relationships, is not only illegal but also falls foul of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees an Indian citizen the ‘right to life.’. As per extant laws, failure to register a live-in relationship will attract a jail term besides monetary penalties. The very idea of registration negates the freedom of choice that’s at the core of such relationships. For live-in couples renting a home, landlords have been mandated to collect all information on his/her prospective tenant’s previous relationships; how absurd is that? How are past private choices of adults the business of landlords or the government? Can this pass legal scrutiny? UCC rules say that landlords must, on pain of being fined, gather proof from tenants that they are single. Government fiats can’t just appoint citizens as quasi-vigilantes. The Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered in 2018, said, “Even if a man or a woman is not competent to marry under personal law, they have the right to live together outside of marriage.” In a judgment delivered in 2010, the apex court’s judicial bench explicitly mentioned that live-in relationships fall within the ambit of the right to life. Alarmingly, the UCC also entails that the registration details be shared with the local police station; also, any change in phone number, address, or religion must be immediately updated. Basically, you have to lay bare your private life to the state and police or face consequences. Apart from the question of the legality of this diktat, who is to guarantee that the cops won›t harass couples who have chosen to live together outside of marriage? The UCC is just another attempt by the state to have a stranglehold on the private lives of citizens.

Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim

Sustain edu standard

During the Covid-19 pandemic, school-going children were one of the badly affected sections of the country as extended lockdowns, inaccessible internet, and a general fear psychosis pushed them as well as their parents to the wall. However, post-pandemic, school education appears to be looking up in a few states. Foundational skills, so critical for children up to Class II to catch the basics and numeracy, have shown remarkable improvement in several states. The heartening feature of the ‘Annual Status of Education Report 2024’ (ASER) lies in the fact that the trend has been more pronounced among primary school children. However, enrolment in government schools in the 6-14 age group has fallen. Without an infrastructural boost and recruitment of adequately qualified teachers, all gains made between 2022 and 2024 stand to peter out.

Ganapathi Bhat, Akola

Reining in strays

The director of Animal Husbandry has reportedly issued a stern warning to government scheme beneficiaries against allowing cattle to wander on roads and public areas. It said the wandering animals will be impounded and sent to non-government organisations (NGOs), and the entire subsidy will be recovered by the Animal Husbandry Department. A notification was issued earlier that action would be initiated if bovines purchased under the Kamdhenu Scheme are found wandering on the roads and other public places. It was also mentioned that farmers who have received benefits under other schemes, such as the milk incentive or dairy equipment scheme, will face permanent disqualification and blacklisting from all government facilities if their animals are found wandering. Through these measures, the government aims to ensure stricter adherence to animal management practices and enhance road safety. Stray cattle on the roads in Goa cause accidents, which can result in serious injuries or death for both animals and humans. It is often next to impossible to spot cattle during the nighttime in the absence of streetlights. Tagging fluorescent collars to the cattle can be of some help. The Goa government has established goushalas (cow shelters) to provide a safe place for abandoned cows. People need to report stray cattle roaming on the roads to the goushalas.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Bonanza for Bihar

As usual, the Union Budget 2025-26 has made a big announcement for Bihar, where assembly elections are due next year. Populism can be fiercely competitive when it comes to poll-orientated freebies because all parties indulge in this culture of giving away what is taken by way of taxes from the rich and the middle classes.  Bihar received significant attention in Nirmala Sitharaman’s 8th Union Budget, with substantial investments in agriculture, infrastructure, education, and regional connectivity. Sadly, the FM did not even mention the names of other states that are in dire need of funds.  Keeping the flock together is sacred coalition dharma, and this is what is being upheld in this extreme liking for Bihar in two successive Budgets, foregoing the PM’s oft-quoted slogan, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”

Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai