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IN FOCUS |
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 PERSPECTIVE
Kalpana Rajaram
Judicial Accountability and Reforms:
Need of the Hour
Several factors lead people to be concerned regarding judicial accountability. One issue is the long delay in getting justice done. Cases go on and on, and the pendency of cases run into lakhs in the high courts, and even crores in the subordinate courts. The reason touted is the low ratio of the number of judges to population—a mere 13 to a million. But equally responsible (if not more so) are other factors: the long adjournments granted by judges, the unnecessarily lengthy arguments by the lawyers, the delays after the hearing before the judgements are delivered, and the lengthy judgements by the judges themselves where a brief crisp one would do as well, or even better. The long delay in judgements has disillusioned people—specially of the less influential and poorer classes: it is at least an important factor (the other being corruption among the law enforcers) in encouraging some groups to take the law into their own hands and indulge in delivering swift and cruel punishment to perceived criminals. This is a dangerous trend and is liable to damage the fabric of democracy and vitiate rule of law. |
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WORLD |
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Global Food Crisis:
Problems and Solutions
A deepening food crisis at the global level has engulfed millions of people worldwide. It is difficult to imagine whether the current crisis will ease up or grow worse over time. But it is certain that this has drawn the attention of the world community in general and the policy makers in particular to the crucial issue of the future of agriculture.
UN Meeting on AIDS:
The 2008 United Nations High-level Meeting on AIDS was concluded on June 11 in New York. The meeting was attended by stakeholders from across the global AIDS response, including leaders from national governments, civil society groups and United Nations agencies. |
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OPINION |
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India on the Rise
Anoop Verma
The immediate problem is, who is to be the president—even if that is a ceremonial post? There seems to be an ominous divergence of views on the matter. If the Maoists want the posts of president and prime minister, will Koirala and his Nepali Congress (the second largest group in the Assembly) accept things quietly? Finding a presidential candidate acceptable to all is a difficult challenge. Even if Prachanda seeks to be moderate, will his supporters agree to acquiese? There are factions within the Maoists which even now prefer violent action to get their goals, and seldom are they ready to compromise. There are fringe elements among the conservative Hindus who are not quite happy about losing the only ‘Hindu rashtra’ status, and may create trouble. |
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ANALYSIS |
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Social Identity of the Urban Slum Dwellers
Amit Rahul
The process of social transition has implications for acculturation, adjustment and integration of migrants with the natives within the confines of the slum and with other migrants. The studies on slum life have pointed out that life in a slum centers around traditional and effective value systems.
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CRICKET MELA |
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IPL’s Cricket Bonanza
Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 44-day-long cricketing saga ended on June 1, 2008 with Rajasthan Royals’ dramatic last-ball victory over the Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the finals played at D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai. This inaugural edition of DLF-IPL Twenty20 Tournament, billed as one of the most exciting cricketing extravaganzas till date, was a grand narrative of immeasurable excitement, breath- taking passion and matchlessly superb individual as well as team performances, and of course, not without a certain dose of
controversy.
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NATION |
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e-Gazette Launched.
On June 30, 2008, an e-Gazette was launched by the Union Minister for Urban Development, Jaipal Reddy, as part of the modern state of art
e-governance concept. The minister stated that launching of e-Gazette will empower citizens and bona fide users as knowledge is power.
India and Argentina on the Doha Round.
India and Bulgaria Review Security Ties.
Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar 2005.
Food Safety and Quality Year 2008-09 Launched.
Unified Commanders’ Conference 2008.
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MEDIASCAPE |
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IIMC to be Upgraded:
While delivering the 41st convocation address at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in New Delhi in June 2008, Union minister of information and broadcasting P.R. Dashmunisi announced that the IIMC will be upgraded as an international media university.
Attack on Loksatta Editor.
Police-Media Crossfire in Ahmedabad.
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INSIGHT |
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Domestic Helps
Vidya Bhaskar
The last few years have witnessed a rise in crime committed by domestic helps which has strained the employer-domestic help relationship and has made life less safe and secure for the urban residents. Are we talking of a sudden change in the employer-help relationship or something that has gradually occurred owing to many reasons? In fact, one may say that the present state of affairs is a direct result of the emerging urban scenario and lifestyle driven by materialism, greed, lack of moral values and little regard for human values.
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Archive |
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