Monday, January 2, 2017

Hail the Supreme Court!

News websites in the mornings were filled with two important stories, which exhibit the autonomy and integrity with which Supreme Court of India functions! I salute to these judges with the conviction that they run one of the most important pillars of our democracy. They surely represent the ethos of the Indian President, who recently requested all Indians to be argumentative and not intolerant.

Ok, let me mention those two decisions that I am referring here.

The first one, where Supreme Court ruled that the electoral process cannot  be driven by religion and caste. Candidates must not try to seek votes on the name of religion or caste. If this is construed and implemented properly, it will go a long way in changing the fundamentals of how the elections are won today in India. It will set-up norms to run for elections on the name of development, social justice and ensuring peace. I think, in a long run if the limitations of this judgment are covered from time to time; it will also help in changing the perception and behavior of public in general. 
Again, kudos to our judges, Supreme Court and the process that they went through to deliver this judgment.

The other one is in reference to the game that most of Indians including myself hold closest to our heart. It is with Cricket and its governing body BCCI. Board Chief and secretary were removed with an order in an immediate effect. I highly recognize the need and efforts on part of Supreme Court to bring in transparency and highest level of governance in the functioning of Cricket board. However to me the latest judgment and the episode for last few months has been to the extent of interfering in the private matters of a private organization. To me all of this seem unfair, and BCCI seem to be subjected to such a treatment because of the whopping amount of money that they deal with is unparalleled not only in India, but also in the world...In last 10-15 years, what BCCI has been able to achieve is, very few private organizations (and public ones to) can boast of. They have set-up India on the world road-map, and we have gained so much muscle power in the functioning of world cricket. Whats happening today is just taking our Cricket to where we were several years ago.
In all realities, BCCI is and has always been a private party, and must be governed by the standards applicable to other companies operating in India. BCCI must be brought to norms with what has been already set in our Law; and not with an intent to set an example.

Let us see, how these two events unfold in the course of time!