SACW | 25 April 03
Harsh Kapoor
aiindex@mnet.fr
Fri, 25 Apr 2003 04:45:26 +0100
South Asia Citizens Wire | 25 April, 2003
#1. Bangladesh: While secularists slumber (Mahfuzur Rahman)
#2. India: Judgement Day - War and Peace (Jang Aur Aman) Vs
Censorship (Anand Patwardhan)
#3. Pakistan: Abdullah Malik 1920-2003 (Arif Azad)
#4. India: Suggested Format for Filing a Complaint [FIR] on Hate Speech
#5. India: Letter to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan re the arrest of
hate peddler (Dr. Jawaid Quddus)
#6. India/ Kashmir: comment re remarks by Kashmir leader on 'Moral degradati=
on'
#7. Book Announcement: [India] "Bail Not Jail" - A Handbook on Bail
By Rakesh Shukla
#8. Upcoming Seminar on "Hindu Code Bill : New Light on an Old
Debate" (Univ of Delhi, 26 April)
#9. Far Right at Work in India :
- Togadia to lead trident distribution in Delhi
- Sena 'declares war' on 'dangerously low' jeans
--------------
#1.
The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
25 April 2003
Opinion
While secularists slumber
Mahfuzur Rahman
Something astonishing happened at the national airport in Dhaka,
capital of Bangladesh, home of 130 million Bengalis. A huge neon sing
appeared atop the newly constructed extension to the airport. It read
Zia International Airport. In Arabic. The Daily Star of Dhaka
reported the story on April 12, just as Bengalis were beginning
preparations for celebration of the Bengali New Year. The newspaper
also reported that the sign was erected about a month earlier. It is
still there in its full glory.
One could be forgiven if the news reminded him, as I was, of the
words of the seventeenth century Bengali poet Abdul Hakim a free
translation of which would be: Born in Bengal, and yet Bongobani they
scorn Who begot them then; to whom were they born?
It will of course be argued that the Arabic sign was used alongside
the Bangla and the English, and therefore no insult to Bangla was
intended. But why on earth was the sign put up at all? No traveller,
including those from the Middle East, needs it. For all foreign
travellers the sign in English is enough. What, then, was the motive
behind the innovation?
Whatever the motive, it could not have been frivolous. According to
the Daily Star report, the sign was put up there "at the instruction
of some top policymakers". An official of the Civil Aviation
Authority of Bangladesh told the -- perhaps exasperated -- Star
reporter that people should be "happy" to see the sign in question. I
cannot imagine that happiness of travellers is among the highest
priorities of the folks at the civil aviation authority. But one can
have a pretty good idea about the motive behind the decision to
flaunt an Arabic sign on an airport of a Bengali nation: it is to
make the country look more like an "Islamic" country. Never mind that
a Bengali speaking can be as good a Muslim as an Arab. But for some
that would not be enough. They would want the Bengali Muslim to be
Muslim in their own image.
=46or a perspective in the matter it is necessary to step back in
history. The process of Islamisation of public life in Bangladesh is
not new. It started long ago, within a few years of the birth of the
nation. Initiated under state power, it was pushed along by a variety
of forces, some all too open, others less visible and seemingly
innocuous. The omission of secularism as a fundamental principle of
state policy from the first constitution of the country, and the
enshrining of Islam as the state religion, are well-known landmarks
in that process. They were a great source of strength and inspiration
to forces of Islamisation in the country.
The battle cry for further Islamisation has grown louder over the
years. The secular tradition has been challenged and secular laws
broken with impunity. Two High Court judges, who had ruled that the
=46atwa, such as those sometimes handed out by the village religious
leader, was unlawful because it violated basic human rights, have
been proclaimed apostates by national religious leaders. Not only has
there been a proliferation of political parties and caucuses
demanding the creation of an Islamic state; such demands are already
being accompanied by threats of violence. Shadowy political groups
openly call for the violent overthrow of secular democracy and
establishment of Islam- ic rule.
But there is a myriad other ways in which the process is fed every
day. When, for example, the Prime Minister of the country tells her
countrymen, as the present leader of the opposition in Parliament
once did in the aftermath of a devastating flood, that God tests His
servants' patience through such calamities, she acts like a religious
sermoniser and not a political leader. She brings into public life
what is a matter of private faith. She also, perhaps unwittingly,
strengthens the process of Islamisation of the ethos. When soldiers
beat up people for not fasting, as a group of them did during Ramadan
last year, and are not punished for it, they too contribute to the
process. So does a minister when he says in public, as the present
minister of home affairs did so soulfully a few months ago, that
human life belongs to God and it is He, and not human society, who
decides what to do with it. The minister, pilloried later, was
consoling the bereaved parents of a child killed in a criminal action.
Some actions purported to be Islamic do not have political goals. But
many of them certainly have. Some are results of ignorance that is
exploited for political ends. Some are clothed in innocence. A
satisfactory taxonomy of the phenomenon will be long and complex. The
decision to put up a neon sign in Arabic on the national airport of
Bangladesh should, however, be easy to describe. There has been a
series of steps over the years at various levels of our national life
that can only be described as attempts to nudge the nation away from
its Bengali ethos towards the goals of political Islam. The neon sign
in Arabic on top of the airport in Dhaka is one such nudge. And it is
sharper than most people seem to realise.
There have been protests, in the relative safety of letters columns
of newspapers, that is. Silence pervades elsewhere. Most secularists
remain in deep slumber.
Mahfuzur Rahman, a former United Nations economist lives in New York.
______
#2.
Judgement Day - WAR AND PEACE (JANG AUR AMAN) Vs Censorship
24 April 2003. The Honorable Justices H. Gokhale and R. Desai of the
Bombay High Court delivered their final verdict in the matter of the
censorship of the film "War and Peace".
It may be recalled that the Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC) had ordered 21 cuts in this anti-war, anti-nuclear documentary
film. The cuts included demands to delete footage depicting the
assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse, all mention of the
Tehelka arms scandal, all statements made by Dalits and all speeches
by political leaders.
We appealed to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) who
reduced the cuts to two and also asked for an "addition" to the film.
Aggrieved by these interventions we approached the Bombay High Court
for redress. Following his petition, the CBFC shockingly filed a
petition challenging the order of their own higher body (the FCAT)
and demanding that all 21 cuts be re-imposed.
On 5th April during the course of arguments, the Honourable judges
asked the CBFC if they had ever in their history appealed against the
orders of their own higher authority. The answer came in the
negative. The judges then inquired as to what special interest the
CBFC had in the matter of "War and Peace" that had prompted them to
challenge the order of the FCAT. When no coherent reply was
forthcoming the judges asked if the CBFC wanted to withdraw their
petition. The CBFC withdrew their petition challenging the order of
the FCAT.
What remained in contention were the orders passed by the FCAT. The
following are some excerpts from the judgement delivered by Justices
H. Gokhale and Ranjana Desai in the matter.
Excerpts from the Judgement
" In the present case, the petitioner is trying to espouse
the cause of peace and against war. It is in this context of making
of this documentary that the above three scenes are incorporated
therein. It is a matter of his legitimate right to decide as to what
should be included therein and we have no hesitation in saying that
neither of the two cuts recommended are in any way justified. The
Petitioner has only recorded a demonstration in one scene and then
the speech of a Dalit leader in another. It was his choice to include
both these scenes and even what is stated by the demonstrators or in
the speech of the Dalit leader, is not conflicting with the theme of
the documentary. Similarly as far as the addition recommended is
concerned, the Petitioner submits, and in our view rightly, that the
same was totally uncalled for."
=8A=8A.. " Before we conclude, we would like to record the oft stated
proposition that an issue may be one but there are many facets of
looking at it. It is quite possible that the persons in authority
today may feel that what they see is the only correct facet of it
though it may not be so. It is only in a democratic form of
government that the citizens have the right to express themselves
fully and fearlessly as to what is their view point towards the
events which are taking place around. By suppressing certain view
point, it is not only the propagator of the view point who suffers
but it is the society at large and equally the people in authority
who suffer. This is because they fail to receive the counter view and
it may eventually lead to an immense damage to society due to
erroneous decision at the hands of the persons in authority in the
absence of the counter view. That apart, the freedom of speech and
expression is important not merely for the consequences that ensue in
the absence thereof but since the negation of it runs as an
anti-thesis to basic human values, instincts and creativity. It is
high time that the persons in authority realize the significance of
freedom of speech and expression rather than make and allow such
attempts to stifle it."
I am deeply grateful to Advocate P.A. Sebastian who fought the case
in the Bombay High Court, to Ms Nitya Ramakrishna and M.S. Ganesh who
earlier represented the film before the FCAT in New Delhi and to the
thousands of well wishers across the country and globe. We believe
that this judgement will be a shot in the arm for all democratic and
secular forces and for artists, writers, journalists and filmmakers
in particular as it re-establishes the right to freedom of expression
as guaranteed by our Constitution.
Anand Patwardhan [Mumbai, India]
______
#3.
The Guardian (UK)
=46riday April 25, 2003
Abdullah Malik
Arif Azad
The journalist and historian Abdullah Malik, who has died aged 82,
embodied qualities that are increasingly rare in today's
military-mullah-controlled Pakistan - tolerance, scholarship,
secularism, faith in democracy and social justice, and fearless
outspokenness on behalf of all these values.
Born in Lahore, he cut his journalistic teeth on a student magazine
while attending the local Islamia College. Though raised in a deeply
religious environment, and after a brief association with the
anti-imperialist and religious Tehreek-e-Ahrar (Movement for
Liberation), he joined the Communist party of India (CPI), remaining
an unwavering adherent of communist ideals until his death.
In the 1940s, he worked on the CPI newspapers Qaumi Jang (War of
National Liberation) and People's War, helping to advance the cause
of independence. After partition, and following the closure of the
CPI newspapers - and his three-month incarceration in Lahore fort
prison - in 1951 Malik became a reporter on Imroze (Today), one of
the daily newspapers founded by the Marxist freedom fighter Mian
Iftikhar-ud-Din.
In the late 1960s, Malik briefly served as London correspondent for
Imroze and the Pakistan Times. He was jailed in 1971 by the military
dictatorship of General Yahya Khan for opposing military action in
East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. He was one of the few West Pakistani
intellectuals who openly sympathised with the Bengalis' independence
aspirations.
Malik's trade union activism triggered his dismissal from Imroze - at
the time, the paper was owned by a military-installed owner. Soon
afterwards, with two other sacked colleagues, he set up Azad, a
national daily newspaper which folded after the military action in
East Pakistan.
A compulsive writer, Malik then carved out a career as an influential
columnist and historian. He kept a meticulous diary, and produced
scholarly works on history and politics. He did not, however, allow
his fiercely held convictions to come in the way of friendships with
people of opposing views, a position evidenced by his long
association with the rightwing Nawa-e-Waqt (Voice of the Times).
The collapse of the Soviet Union deeply affected Malik, and led him
to delve deeply into Pakistan's history. General Musharaf's military
takeover prompted him to write a brilliant book on the history of
coups resulting from the Bonapartist and praetorian tendencies of
Pakistani generals. His historical understanding of the phenomenon of
coup-gemony (defining the coup-happy mindset of these beyond-the-law
senior officers) made him deeply sceptical of the current dictator's
motives regarding the restoration of democracy.
His wife predeceased him; he is survived by two sons.
=B7 Abdullah Malik, journalist and historian, born October 10 1920;
died April 10 2003
______
#4.
Communalism Combat (India)
April 2003
Suggested FIR on Hate Speech
There are at long last some indications that a few states at least
are awakening to their constitutional duty to control the insidious
saffron agenda of systematically spreading hatred against religious
minorities as a prelude to violence. A countrywide action in this
regard by concerned citizens and groups could go a long way in
checking the burgeoning hate industry
The Citizens for Justice and Peace, Mumbai, and other concerned
citizens from Mumbai have recently petitioned the Supreme Court of
India with the object of curbing hate speech. The apex court has
issues notices to the two accused - Gujarat chief minister, Narendra
Modi, and the VHP's working president Ashok Singhal. The court also
directed the governments of Gujarat, Maharashtra (where the
complaints were filed) and Punjab (where Singhal made his offensive
speech) and the police machinery of these states to investigate
whether the offences were committed and report back to the court.
Citizens and activists need to be on a constant alert as regards hate
speech and writing. As many readers of CC will be aware, there are
laws against this sort of abuse that are faulty but which we need to
invoke, and use in order that a sustained campaign can be built for
their reform and revision.
The first step towards acting on hate speech is to be alert in order
to monitor/ tape/video-tape the entire text of such a speech.
Sections 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) oblige the
state to prosecute those guilty of such violations. Section 295 of
the CrPC is also a section that can be invoked whenever there are
deliberate attempts to disrupt communal harmony.
Thereafter, it is imperative to file a first information report
(FIR). Experience shows that in the current political climate the
police does not register an FIR and begin an investigation, even
though duty bound to do so, unless it has clear political directions.
Hence it is important for concerned citizens or organisations to
register a complaint (either in person or by registered post) and,
thereafter, if the police does not act, approach the courts to ask
that such offences get investigated.
Reproduced below is the format in which the complaints were filed by
a member of the Citizens for Justice and Peace, Mumbai and others
which activists might wish to use:
To,
The Duty Officer in-charge
=8A=8A=8A=8A=8A=8APolice Station
City/District=8A=8A=8A=8A=8A
State =8A=8A=8A=8A=8A=8A=8A=8A..
Subject: Complaint/FIR against (FULL NAME OF ACCUSED/ ORGANISATIONAL
AFFILIATION AND DESIGNATION/ADDRESS OF ACCUSED) under Sections 153A,
153B and 505 of the Indian Penal Code
1) The text of the speeches made/pamphlets distributed etc need to be
detailed, especially those passages that clearly offend sentiments
and create a communal atmosphere.
2) State that after they were published/telecast, the statements have
not been denied by the accused.
3) Point out that the above statements are a grave threat to peace
and the unity and integrity of India. Especially so, in view of the
sensitive communal atmosphere after the Gujarat carnage which left
tens of thousands of people (a majority of them Muslims) homeless,
more than a thousand killed and innumerable women raped. That these
statements violate S.153-A, 153-B, 505(1) and (2) of the Indian Penal
Code. (Section 501(1) and (2) are also sections on Hate Speech and
therefore strengthens the case).
4) Mention that S.153-A of the Indian Penal Code states:
(1) Whoever-
a) by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible
representation or otherwise, promotes, or attempts to promote on
grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste
or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feeling of
enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial,
language or regional groups castes or communities, or
b) commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony
between different religious, racial, language, or regional groups or
castes or communities and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the
public tranquillity,
c) =8Ashall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three
years, or with fine or with both.
5) Mention that S.153-B of the IPC states:
(1) Whoever, by words either spoken or written or by signs or by
visible representations or otherwise, -
(a) makes or publishes any imputation that any class of person
cannot, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial,
language or regional group or caste or community, bear true faith and
allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established or
uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, or
(b) asserts, counsels, advises, propagates or publishes that any
class of person shall, by reason of their being members of any
religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community,
be denied or deprived of their rights as citizens of India, or
(c) makes or publishes any assertion, counsel, plea or appeal
concerning the obligation of any class of persons, by reason of their
being members of any religions, racial, language or regional group or
caste or community, and such assertion, counsel, plea or appeal
causes or is likely to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or
hatred or ill-will between such members and other persons,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years,
or with fine, or with both.
6) Relevant extract of Section 505 reads as under:
" (1) Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement rumours or report=
s,
(a) =8A..
(b) with intent to cause or which is likely to cause fear or alarm to
public or to any section of public whereby any person may be induced
to commit an offence against the state or against the public
tranquillity, or.
(c) with intent to incite or which is likely to incite any class or
community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or
community:
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extent to three years
or with fine or with both.
(2). Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statements or report
containing rumours or alarming news with intent to create or promote
or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion,=8A
=8Afeeling of enmity, hatred or ill will between different religious,
racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities shall be
punished with imprisonment which may extent to three years or with
fine or with both."
7) As per the above statements of (FULL NAME OF ACCUSED), the
minority community in various parts of India is likely to feel more
insecure and threatened by these statements. Besides, such statements
are bound to generate communal disharmony or feelings of ill will,
enmity and hatred between different religious groups. It is also an
act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between
different religious groups and is likely to disturb the public
tranquillity. The above statements also amount to imputing that
Muslims do not bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of
India or uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India. The statement
also propagates and asserts that Muslims be denied or deprived of
their rights as citizens of India. It lastly amounts to an assertion
concerning Muslims which is likely to cause disharmony or feeling of
ill will between Muslims and others. The statement also is likely to
provoke some Hindus to commit offences against Muslims and also
amounts to alarming news which is likely to lead to all the above.
8) As per the 1991 census, Muslims constitute 12.12% of the
population of India. The Hindus constitute 82.00%. Muslims constitute
a minority religious community in most of the states.
9) Such wide-scale, alarming and false attack on Muslims, their
population and their religious schools leads to an apprehension that
such statements could create and contribute to an atmosphere of
causing communal carnage elsewhere in the country, and that the
minority Muslim community could face widespread persecution.
10) As declared by the Supreme Court of India, secularism is part of
the basic structure of our Constitution and these statements of (NAME
OF ACCUSED) attack the very fabric of our Constitution.
11) I am making this complaint in my capacity as a citizen of India
and under my fundamental duty to uphold the Constitution of India as
laid down under Article 52 of the Constitution. The offence is likely
to have an all India impact and as such falls also within your
jurisdiction.
12) (NAME OF ACCUSED) has committed an offence under S. 153A, S. 153
B and S. 505(1) and (2) of the Indian Penal Code. Hence, cognisance
should be taken of this complaint by treating it as an FIR, the
matter be investigated into, and necessary action, including arrest
and prosecution, be taken forthwith against (NAME OF ACCUSED).
13) Please keep the undersigned informed about the developments and
let me know immediately about the steps you propose to take against
(NAME OF ACCUSED). We have already applied for sanction of the
necessary authorities but you are also requested to apply for the
necessary sanction. Copies for the applications for sanction are
enclosed for your ready reference.
Sincerely,
Name and signature of complainant.
_____
#5.
Subject: Letter to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from Dr. Jawaid Quddus
April 18, 2003
To: Shri Ashok Gehlot,
Chief Minister of Rajasthan [India]
Dear Mr. Gehlot:
Congratulations on being the first person in all of India to have the
guts to arrest Mr. Togadia. You are a true deshbhakth . Others in the
past have tried to do this only to succumb to the threat of violence
by the Sangh Parivar. The RSS says that Togadia is not anti-national.
Certainly Togadia is as much a nationalist as are Giriraj Kishore,
Modi, Sudarshan, the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP goons. No one
leader, even those who claim to be truly secular, so far has had the
guts to stop these deshdrohis from destroying the very fabric of what
India is all about. A beautiful land is being converted into a land
of lawless goondas and all those responsible for enforcing the
constitution either watch helplessly or applaud. Togadia and his
likes continue their viscous agenda of bringing about a Hindu Rashtra
in India. They have had the gall to announce publicly over and over
again that they will do so by repeating the 'Gujarat experiment' all
over India. Unfortunately for India, so far not only have they done
this with impunity, they have at times, also acted as advisors to
various government officials.
Even the Prime Minister of India sees fit to invite them to the PMO
and discuss strategies for a 'better' India. Any one who preaches
hatred, threatens violence, publicly claims that he and other members
of his group were physically involved in the destruction of Babri
Masjid and the killings in Gujrat, is a deshdrohi. No surprise there!
It is a well known fact that members of the Sangh Parivar who worship
the Bhagwa flag, take their oath of allegiance over that flag, refuse
to hoist the National tricolour at their headquarters and other
buildings cannot be deshbhakths. Guru Golwalker, their messiah, while
addressing a Gurupurnima gathering in Nagpur on July 14, 1946 had
very clearly announced to the whole world "We firmly believe that in
the end the whole nation will bow before this saffron flag".
Indians, true deshbhakths owe allegiance only to the national flag,
allegiance to any other flag or entity is not consistent with
nationalism. In addition, these groups claim India to be a Hindu
Rashtra, and as per news reports, have even put up signs in Gujarat
townships proclaiming as such. A concept that is a direct violation
of the constitution, and an insult to our forefathers such as Shaheed
Bhagat Singh, Gandhi, Sheikh Bhikari, Ashfaqullah Khan,Gandhi, Nehru,
Tagore, Azad and many others. Togadia, as well as all the members of
the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the entire Sangh Parivar should be banished
from the face of the earth before they destroy India.
The sooner we Indians realize this the better. If these facist groups
are let loose they will create a dharam yudh and complete the
destruction of India. No one in their right mind can expect the
minorities to continue to face the genocidal 'experiment' that was
carried in Gujrat over and over again and not retaliate. They will be
forced to do just that one day, and when they do then chaos will
prevail. After all, everyone has the God-given right to self-defense.
Togadia and his goonda cohorts should not win. If they do, then India
will lose and Pakistan will win by default. We will then do to
ourselves what Pakistan can only dream of doing to us!
Mr. Gehlot, you have the support of all peace-loving Indians. It is
imperative that Mr. Togadia and all others involved in this
conspiracy of hatred be punished to the full extent of the law.
India=EDs honour and future will depend upon leaders who have the
courage to do the right thing. I hope that you are one such leader.
Sincerely,
Jawaid Quddus,
M.D., Ph.D.
3007 Palmer Drive,
#1 Janesville,
WI 53546 U.S.A.
Copy to: Smt. Sonia Gandhi, President Congress (I)
Mr. R. K. Nair, Rajasthan Chief Secretary
Mr. C.K. Mathews, Secretary, Chief Minister, Rajasthan
_____
#6.
Kashmirimages.info
Papa do not preach, leaders are on the job
Srinagar, April 24: The remarks made by Hurriyat leader Muhammad
Yasin Malik regarding, what he says, flesh trade in the Valley has
generated a fresh debate. Not that Malik is not entitled to make such
observations as a responsible citizen of the State but the way he
talked about the class divide saying girls from rich families are
behind this trade has shocked one and all.
When shoe-laces speak, wise fall silent. This has been, and indeed
continues to be the tragedy with the leadership born out of chaos.
Our recent history has come round a full circle. But even when the
rhetorical idealism has run its course, pragmatism is nowhere in
sight. Instead those having achieved some degree of profile during
the past 13 years of turmoil are busy in the battle for relevance.
Little wonder the people with mediocre intellectual faculties and
frustratingly low entry-levels take pride in occupying the front row
and rubbing shoulders with the otherwise fertile brains tragically
rendered sitting ducks by the situational volatility.
Evolution is better than revolution. However, this simple reality
failed to garner even the feeble consideration when hundreds and
thousands of young men volunteered to don the mantle of 'Khudaai
=46oujdar'. Virtue and morality, which were nevertheless the
characteristic behavioral trait of majority, were forced down the
gullet of all by sheer force. Old heroes desecrated, new figures
cropped up around whom were woven fabulous fables to evoke
recognition.
Those who resisted change were severely dealt while the rest simply
fell in line and followed every diktat without raising a brow. Mind
took rust in forced rest but money and muscle enjoyed a sweep. With
an entire breed of have's rendered obsolete, a relatively higher
number of havenot's filled in the vacuum.
Quiet flows the chequered Jehlum and silent scratches the historian's
pen. Mind mortgaged to fear, money and muscle came to determine the
course for the carbon to blacken the white sheets of pulp.
Adaptability for sheer survival it was and is but those thrown up by
the situation think otherwise. They call it voluntary coercion. They
are judges, their decree absolute truth. Questions over-ruled.
Today new generations read about Tashwan in history books but on
ground the place exists nowhere. Although one cannot over-rule the
existence of this oldest profession anywhere on the globe, but at
least better placed are those places where the practice has neither
the legal nor the social sanction.
And the quantum of existing immorality must be tackled strategically
with intellectual acumen and rational foresight. It needs sensible
sagacity and cerebral depth to understand the reason, which
unfortunately is not within the domain of suppressed sexuality.
Coupled with gender chauvinism it blurs the vision of reality so much
so that the social dynamics too escape the eye.
But here the aim is to impress and not to express. Leaving aside the
political issues if sermonizing morality and preaching virtue can
attract audience' attention, the bet is asking attraction.
______
#7.
NEW RELEASE: Order Now
"Bail Not Jail" - A Handbook on Bail
With a note on Attachment of Property
By Rakesh Shukla, Ll.M, Advocate Supreme Court
"Those who believe in the inherent value of human rights must also
act up to the presumption of innocence and consequential freedom to
be free during trial. Indeed the absence of this humanism in judicial
practice has lead to large-scale imprisonment of undertrials. This is
gross injustice and illiberal praxis. In this sense, the book on bail
is a felt necessity in the hands of the lawyers and the laity. Every
person charged but not found guilty, must stand trial as a free
man.": from the foreword by Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer
This handbook on bail, in simple language and easy-to-read format
livened up with illustrations, is an invaluable resource for
activists and lawyers working in mass organizations and progressive
movements. The major problem faced by movements for social change is
the harassment caused by implication in criminal cases. Even where
the demands are the implementation of existing laws pertaining to
minimum wages, contract labour abolition or debt relief, people
struggling are arrested and kept in jail for long periods. In these
fabricated criminal cases the primary purpose of imprisoning
activists is to crush the struggle and aid and abet the exploiting
vested interests of the area. This timely handbook provides easy to
follow guidelines on how to deal with the legal system with regard to
bail.
Contents :
Law with regard to bail and anticipatory bail
Summary of important Supreme Court and High Court judgements with the
main points given in bold type for easy reference
=46ormats for applications for release on bail in bailable and
non-bailable offences as well as for anticipatory bail
List of bailable and non-bailable offences with details as to
punishment, courts by which triable are also annexed.
Law and procedure regarding attachment of property of a person
declared as a proclaimed offender by a court.
"Bail Not Jail" - A Handbook on Bail With a note on Attachment of Property
By Rakesh Shukla, Ll.M, Advocate Supreme Court
Published by: The Other Media
Pages: 144
Price: Rs 100
[Please pay by M.O, D.D. or cheque in favour of 'The Other Media'.
=46or outstation cheques, please add Rs 50.]
=46or copies:
Rakesh Shukla
213, New Lawyers Chambers, Supreme Court,
New Delhi 110 001
Tel: 23070473; 9818383669; 0120- 2430644; Delhi - 95120-2430644.
E.mail: grade@vsnl.com
The Other Media,
B-14, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi 110 049.
Tel: 26561743, 26562651.
E.mail: admin@del3.vsnl.net.in
_____
#8.
Seminar on "Hindu Code Bill : New Light on an Old Debate"
You are cordially invited to a discussion on "Hindu Code Bill : New
Light on an Old Debate" to be held on Saturday 26th April at 11 a.m.
Mr Arvind Jain, writer and leading lawyer of the Supreme Court has
agreed to introduce the subject.
Venue :
Seminar Room, Deptt. of Linguistics, Arts Faculty, Delhi University, Delhi
Organised by :
Women's Rights Organisation (W.R.O.)
Anjali, Anu, Vandana, Roopali and others
Contact 011-27872835/27857875
_____
#9
[ Far Right at Work in India ! ]
The Indian Express, April 24, 2003
Togadia to lead trident distribution in Delhi
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=3D20852
Sify News, Fri, Apr 25, 2003
Sena 'declares war' on 'dangerously low' jeans
By Vinay Krishna Rastogi in Lucknow
http://news.sify.com/cgi-bin/sifynews/news/content/news_fullstory_v2.jsp?BV_=
SessionID=3D@@@@0285539704.1051272985@@@@&BV_EngineID=3Dcadchdejdgljbemgcfkm=
cgedni.0&article_oid=3D13020210&category_oid=3D-20605&page_no=3D1
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
SACW is an informal, independent & non-profit citizens wire service run by
South Asia Citizens Web (www.mnet.fr/aiindex).
The complete SACW archive is available at: http://sacw.insaf.net
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not
necessarily reflect the views of SACW compilers.
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