CELEBRITIES’ CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS NEED REVIEW

 

CELEBRITIES’

CRIMES AND  PUNISHMENTS 

NEED REVIEW

The news that Sanjay Dutt stands punished with 5 years imprisonment for the offense of keeping fire arms is received with mixed response by various sections of public.

There are a few offenses pending trial/punishment against Salman Khan and a few other actors.

There are also a few Politicians against whom various offenses are pending. 

Now, Sanjay Dutt’s punishment is approved by the Supreme Court itself. But, there are news and views that he might be or must be pardoned by the Political establishment under various loopholes in the law. 

Sanjay Dutt is liked by many – and that cannot be faulted. I too am one of his Fans.I also do not want to see him go to Jail. I want to see him act in many good movies in future. But, there must be a punishment for keeping dangerous firearms procured illegally.

It is the same thing with Salman Khan. If Salman and others are later punished by the courts but pardoned by the Political establishment, the whole drama of offence, trial, punishment, appeal etc becomes absolutely farcical. The Political establishment should not resort to such gross violation of the system of Justice.

If the Political establishment right away pardons the person and releases him without any punishment, it is a definite and open invitation by every influential and affluent Celebrity to indulge in any crime and seek pardon through Political establishment. Such precedents are dangerous.

This is certainly not the way the crime and punishment system must work.

At the same time, for killing two black bucks in a jungle, sentencing a Celebrity to 6 years imprisonment also appears to be incorrect. 

But then, Celebrities also run over pavement dwellers and Pedestrians and kill them in their drunken moods & drunken driving! These are currently treated as mere TRAFFIC OFFENSES. This too is not correct. The Celebrity offenders in such cases don’t even pay justified compensations ordered by the Courts. This is horrible, by any standards.

The Indian system of justice must look more efficient, Just and fast. Equality of all in the eyes of the Law must be truly reflected in it.

I therefore suggest the following methodology.

Replace the scheme of imprisonment for 5, 6 or 10 years by a VERY SIGNIFICANT FINE as punishment. 

For instance, for keeping firearms procured illegally, EVEN IF INNOCENTLY, the person need not be sent to JAIL  for 5 years, but must be made to pay ONE previous years’ TOTAL TAXED INCOME as fine to the Government. There should not be any scope for pardon in such cases by the Political establishment

The fine must be paid within 3 months, failing which, his properties must be confiscated  and auctioned.

Ditto for killing the Black bucks in a forest.

For running over and killing PAVEMENT SLEEPERS, with his car, the Celebrity must be made to pay a fine of one year’s total income in respect of each such pavement dweller killed by him . He cannot just go up the pavement, run over the pavement sleepers/standees there, killing them or wounding them and get away with it. The worst of drunken driving should not lead the celebrity’s car onto a pavement and kill the people there.

Now, why is such a change in Law needed? Mr. X may be earning a few hundreds of  crores of taxable income every year. He must be a much more responsible citizen than all others. He must respect laws more and be a more law-abiding citizen. This applies to all Celebrities – and more so, to Politicians.

If he kills a few Pedestrians, the lives of the Pedestrians or pavement sleepers must look as important in the eyes of the law as that of the celebrity. 

If a Celebrity keeps illegal firearms or drugs illegally, he can become the cause of grave crimes. He must pay for the crime.

Ditto for killing and eating Black Bucks in a forest area.

But then, imprisoning the Celebrity for 6 years or even for life serves no purpose at all, in my view. 

It hurts the lives of many people whose income comes from his success.

In some cases, whole Industry / companies may suffer.

A small compensation ordered to be paid to the survivors also makes no real sense to the persons killed. Even that compensation is not being paid by the Celebrities.

Any punishment must therefore serve to open the eyes of the celebrities to the point that they are accountable for their crimes.

One year’s total taxed income per person killed, I feel, is a JUST and ADEQUATE FINE to be paid by a celebrity to the Government. About Rs.10 -20 lakhs from this can be paid to the kith and kin of each killed person (each) and the rest should become the revenue of the Government. If paid to Central Government, its budget deficit may perhaps be bridged with this revenue fully.

Likewise, for going to a forest area and killing 2 Black Bucks against the law, ONE YEAR INCOME must be the just and adequate fine. Instead, keeping each actor in Jail for 6 years or more, is a meaningless punishment. Let him act and earn but let him pay promptly and through is nose. He should feel the pinch of the crime and punishment.

ONE YEAR’S TOTAL INCOME is, in my opinion, an undiluted, just, quick and proper punishment. It may be a few hundreds of crores or a few lakhs. If the celebrity has run over 10 persons, let him pay 10 previous years’ total Income to Government as fine. 

For God’s sake, don’t look from the Celebrity’s own angle or from your own liking for him and his skills. 

His crime deserves a Just, adequate and fast punishment. It must apply to all celebrities. Readers may voice their support for such a measure. Let us tell Parliament to amend the Law in such manner, before granting any pardon on the Celebrities’ punishments.

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What are News Today? (07-Mar-2013) - SUPREME COURT TAKES UP CANING CASES IN PUNJAB & BIHAR SUO MOTO - GOVT STAFF TO PAY FOR DELAYS - ORGAN DONATION DRIVE BY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TN - REDUCING AGE FOR CONSENSUAL SEX TO 16

What are News Today?

(07-Mar-2013)

1.    SUPREME COURT CASTIGATES PUNJAB, BIHAR COPS FOR VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS :

It was very clear to every viewer of any TV Channel that the caning of the woman who went to complain about the misbehavior of a Lorry driver was  the MOST ATROCIOUS crime that the Police could commit. And, they did commit such atrocious crime. They are absolutely and totally unfit to be called POLICEMEN. Now, the Punjab Government was prevaricating in a manner as if the RIGHTS of the Policemen are at stake and not that of the woman who was abused by the lorry driver and assaulted by the Policemen. It is difficult to believe all this. But, these are clear, incontrovertible facts.

In olden days, if king doesn’t uphold dharma, people prayed to God. But now, we have a SUPREME COURT. However much the media may criticize the court for JUDICIAL ACTIVISM, the common man welcomes such ACTIVISM.  It has always resulted in common good. As the court has said several times, it is a DUTY  cast upon the court by the constitution and it is determined  to discharge that duty.

At least now, the Punjab Government must act fast. It should put the Criminal Policemen behind bars and prosecute them. This case is as bad as the DELHI RAPE CASE, especially because Police brutalized a woman, who went to complain against sexual harassment by a Lorry driver. The Lorry driver and his accomplices must also be apprehended and Jailed immediately. The media (specially TV channels)  is , as always, wrong, in indicating her, as DALIT WOMAN. If that be so, what about the castes of Policemen, the lorry driver and his accomplice? What of the (obviously Forward) caste of  the victims in Gopal Kanda case?  Media must avoid caste-slant in such news. A suffering woman is just that. Treat her as such.

Ditto – in respect of the caning of the TEACHERS in Bihar.

We must wholeheartedly thank the SUPREME COURT for its prompt action and condemn the two state governments for their INACTION and callousness. I wish the News papers put such items on Page.1 and  not on Page.14.

2.    SOON, GOVT STAFF WHO DELAY SERVICES MAY FACE FINES

The Union cabinet reportedly is considering a Bill to impose fines on Government servants who delay delivery of services – like Pensions, Pass Ports, caste certificates, Ration cards, and tax refunds.  Penalty is Rs.250 per day of delay  subject to a maximum of Rs.50000 per default. Such Positive steps need Page.1.coverage. Yes. TOI has put it at Front page as first news. Congrats to the Union Cabinet for a good Law. Congrats to TOI for putting it deservedly as Front page, first news.

3.    CATHOLICS PLEDGE ORGANS THIS LENT : JOY OF GIVING

This Lent,  the CATHOLICS CHURCH in Tamilnadu is on a mass organ donation drive. Up to Easter on March,31^st, Parishes across Tamilnadu state have been and will be  urging members  to donate Blood and  register themselves as ORGAN DONORS.  It is a commendable move by the Catholic Church.

 I know, many other organizations of other religions (like Hindu, sikh etc) are also conducting such drives. But, this one is organized directly by the Church and on a mass scale. Kudos to the Catholic Church of Tamilnadu. I urge all other religious organizations to follow suit and do better in this drive to save suffering humanity.

 The Tamilnadu Government can take the cue and send volunteers from its Health services department for House to House Organ donation campaign. Then, it will cover all people of Tamilnadu. May be, Tamilnadu can become the first state anywhere on earth, to organize this organ donation drive especially.  

4.    NIRBHAYA TO BE HONOURED WITH US AWARD (DT.6^TH)

US STATE DEPARTMENT has decided to honour  NIRBHAYA with a posthumous Bravery Award. Her family will receive the award in Delhi. She was the unfortunate victim of a mass rape and murder and deserves all sympathies. Her family deserves all support, financial and otherwise. Also, the true honor for her is  Justice Verma’s report and action thereon.  

Readers may differ here with me – but, I feel, if an award for BRAVERY is to be given, it should be for the Boy who stood by her till the end, without giving up and without running away.

5.    GOVT PLANS TO REDUCE AGE OF CONSENT TO 16 (DT:6^TH)

Government has now proposed to lower the age for consensual sex to 16 from 18. In my view, this is a meaningless, risky measure. I have already covered its implications in another Blog Post. What is meant by consensual sex?

How many times in a day or month, can a girl of 16 have consensual sex? Where are our ethics, morals etc going when girls of 16 indulge in such free sex? I am against this measure.

If sex is a major factor at age 16, permit marriage also at age 16. That too, with the person with whom the girl wants to have sex. Otherwise, it is a bad measure. I do not support a measure which permits sex with many, love with a few and marriage with someone not in either group.

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