Taming collegium system; Disenfranchising migrants; Flying coffins
Opinion Watch
Taming collegium system
After building up a narrative against the existing Supreme Court Collegium System on appointment of judges in the higher courts, Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju has written to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud to place a government nominee in the coveted group. This was provided for by the National Judicial Appointments Commission, which was sent to the dustbin by the Supreme Court previously.
The Pioneer in an Editorial has welcomed the letter of Rijiju, arguing that this may pave for the resolution of the deadlock. The daily reminded the issues raised by Rijiju in the Rajya Sabha such as the ‘popular’ dislikes for vacations in judiciary, opaqueness of the Collegium System, and the irony of judges appointing judges. The daily has counselled the Supreme Court and the government to sit together and find an amicable way out on the issue, while recalling that Justice Chandrachud has shown willingness to address concerns on the Collegium System. The daily also mentioned that there has been a coordinated build-up of the campaign on the part of government to fan the narrative against the Collegium System.
Judiciary is indeed most lethargic to reform, and lordship seeks to lord over own territory without anyone looking. The Right to Information Act, which has already been given a burial by the Central and the state government by resorting to denying information, should have been accepted by the apex court. The plea to include a government nominee may make the Collegium System coming under indirect interference of the executive, which may have consequences. The best case would be for the Supreme Court to embrace full transparency, disclose norms for picking up judges.
Disenfranchising migrants
Migrants are seldom a political class, as they hardly capture the attention of the politicians. They run the economy, but live in shanties. In times of crises, they are kicked out, as had been the case during the national lockdown, announced with four-hour notice. The political parties, which are status quoist by nature, have largely spurned the Election Commission move for remote voting for the migrants.
The Economic Times in an Editorial has called the objections of 16 parties against remote voting for the migrants unfortunate. The daily asked the parties to take part in discussion and offer suggestions to make the system robust. The business daily has called the opposing parties’ claim that the definition of a migrant worker will be problematic illogical. It also attacked Congress-led parties for opposing the remote voting, accusing them of disenfranchising the migrants.
The Opposition parties show signs of paranoia with the electronic voting machines (EVMs). Migrant mobility is now being pushed by India in all talks of the free trade agreement. To claim that defining a migrant is troublesome is indeed hilarious. In fact, it takes ages for a citizen without influence to get a voter card made. Opposing move also confirms that the politicians are no change agents in the country. There are 140 million migrants in India.
Flying coffins
The Asian Age in an Editorial has called the Nepal crash of Yeti Airlines plane at Pokhara Airport a blot to the aviation safety. The daily said that the 15-year-old ATR turbo-prop aircraft evolved from the bullock cart of the aviation industry, but is still flying for regional connectivity within a country. The daily claimed that the ill-fated aircraft may have run into an engine stalling issue, which may have led to uncontrollable tilt, sending the aircraft into the Seti River gorge.
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