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‘Criminal’ States: ONE THIRD ARE MINISTERS, By Insaf, 6 Aug, 2016 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 6 August, 2016

‘Criminal’ States

ONE THIRD ARE MINISTERS

By Insaf

 

Would one get a job with a criminal record? Never, but shockingly over 34 per cent criminals adorn the Treasury Benches in various States. Bluntly, out of 609 Ministers analysed from 29 State Assemblies and two Union Territories, 210 have criminal cases against them, according to the latest study by the Delhi-based think-tank Association of Democratic Reform (ADR). Moreover, of these, 113 Ministers have been charged with murder, kidnapping, and crime against women. Pertinently, Maharashtra tops the list criminal-Ministers with 18, followed by 11 from Bihar, Telengana and Jharkhand vie for third place with 9 each, Delhi boasts of 4 and Uttarakhand of 2 Ministers.  More scandalous, it seems crime pays whereby not only are the 210 criminal mantris crorepatis but their average assets total Rs 9.52 crores, while Ministers with no criminal cases possessions is Rs 8.10 crores. 

This is not all. Of these 609 State Ministers, 462 (76 per cent) are crorepatis.  In fact, the Council of Ministers in Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Puducherry are 100 per cent crorepatis, 97 per cent Karnataka Ministers and 92 per cent from Rajasthan, Goa, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh have declared assets over Rs 1 crore. Interestingly, 20 Andhra Pradesh Ministers account for the highest average assets of Rs 45.49 crores, next comes Karnataka’s 31 Ministers with Rs 36.96 crores and seven from Arunachal Pradesh with average chattels of Rs 32.62 crores. However Tripura bucks the trend with the lowest average assets. Twelve Ministers have average assets of a mere Rs 31.67 lakhs. Undeniably, India’s aam aadmi is being ruled by amir mantris!

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Blow For Gujarat

The BJP Government in Gujarat was hit by a double whammy: One, prior to the leadership change following the sudden resignation of its first woman Chief Minister Anandiben Patel Chief and two, the Gujarat High Court quashing the ordinance providing 10 per cent quota for the economically backward among the unreserved category, promulgated to pacify the agitating Patel community who were demanding quota in jobs and educational institutions under OBC quota. Terming it “inappropriate and unconstitutional", the Court held that it would breach the 50 per cent quota cap set up by the Supreme Court. Clearly, bad news for the Saffron Sangh as it grapples with multiple challenges, including Patidar quota stir, ahead of next year's Assembly polls. All eyes are now on the Supreme Court as it hears the State Government petition soon.

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UP Has 10.45 Judges per 10 Lakh

Justice delayed is justice denied, an adage which underscores the appalling condition of our judicial system and the snail’s pace cases progress. Deplorably, India has just 18 judges per 10 lakh people! While Mizoram has the highest judge-to-population ratio at 57.74, in Delhi it is 47.33, UP 10.54 and Bengal 10.45 judges per 10 lakh people. Worse, in 24 States, High Courts face a shortage of 477 judges despite an increased strength of 1,079. Predictably, the subordinate courts the backbone of our justice delivery system in States have a sanctioned strength of 20,502 but there are only 16,070 judicial officers serving therein, a shortage of 4,432. Alas the 1987 Law Commission report which had recommended 50 judges for a population of 10 lakhs continues to gather dust. Whither justice?

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Delhi is LG’s Territory

The AAP Government’s campaign for full statehood to Delhi faced a major setback with the Delhi High Court ruling that the Capital continues to be a Union Territory. Adding insult to injury it stated that the Administrative control would continue to rest with the Lieutenant Governor. Undeniably dashing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s decisions to probe alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Delhi and District Control Association and the CNG fitness scam. The first was directed at Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who had headed the DDCA and the later against former Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit. The Court also set aside the appointments of nominee directors to the three power distribution companies, directions to Electricity Regulator DERC to pay compensation for disruption of power supply and revision of circle rates and stamp duty. AAP leaders are in quandary as Kejriwal is busy meditating in the cool climbs of Dharamshala. of meditation.

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Tamil Nadu For Prohibition

On the heels of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tamil Nadu’s Amma Jayalalitha emphasized that she was serious about bringing in total liquor prohibition in the State. Further taking a pot shot at her predecessor DMK’s Karunanidhi she lambasted him for lifting the dry law in 1971. This opened the flood gates of shops that sold arrack, todi and Indian made foreign liquor. Predictably, angry DMK led by Leader of Opposition MK Stalin walked out of the State Assembly followed by the Congress and IUML legislators. The war of words continues.---INFA

 

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

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