A series of judgments from the Supreme Court of India in the last few months has suddenly jolted the Government from deep slumber. In the 2G spectrum case, in which Telecom Minister A. Raja was the main accused in a mega-crore scam, the Court wondered “how is he continuing in the Cabinet when the CBI is probing serious charges against him?” Following this observation, A. Raja quit office and in February this year landed in Tihar Jail along with the other high profile accused.
In March 2011, the Supreme Court quashed as illegal the appointment of P. J. Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner because of a charge sheet pending against him in Kerala. The Court also laid down guidelines for future appointments to this post. P.J. Thomas had been cleared for appointment by the Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh but had not taken any action when it was brought to his notice the pending case.
Three more judgments were pronounced this month. The judge hearing the multi-crore black money laundering case pulled up the government for the laggardly pace of investigations. The judge wondered aloud “What the hell is happening with this country?” and made headlines all over the country. The Court appointed a special investigation team to probe and monitor steps being taken to bring the black money back to the country.
In another case, the Supreme Court ordered disbanding and disarming of the special police officers called “Salwa Judum” formed in the anti-naxal operations in many states. It called the arming of tribals by the state as unconstitutional.
In yet another case, the Supreme Court quashed the Mayawati government 2007 notification to acquire land in Greater Noida accusing the state of a sinister campaign to grab land of poor farmers.
All these judgments have come against a background of administrative inaction, in efficiency, graft or worse. The public has suddenly become happy that judges have come down heavily on our elected representatives.
The writing is there on the wall. It is up to our elected representatives to wake up and read the writing on the wall.
Or face the consequences.
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