Today’s article is little difficult to write
owing to the complexity and different facets of the issue discussed. While I write this, I am very much aware of the fact that I neither have any background in law nor am I an expert in judiciary. Being a proud citizen of this great democracy, this article is onerous
responsibility to express anguish and concern that is
deeply resonated in so many people around me.
In lavish spectacle of events last week, Mr. Sanjay Dutt was sentenced five years of imprisonment, for possessing prohibited weapon, AK-47, without license. Ever since this judgment was pronounced, the chairman of the press council of India, Justice Markandey Katju, members of parliament, Mrs. Jaya Bachchan, Mr. Digvijay Singh and a few other parliamentarians from the congress party and some prominent people from Bollywood are creating lot of noise making an appeal for pardon for mr. Sanjay Dutt. The media, as usual, has joined the circus and the gruesome incident of 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts has been reduced to nothing but a farce, showing complete disregard for loss of more than 250 precious lives and the magnitude of the horror it created for the victims and their families! The entire focus of this tragic case is shifted to Sanjay Dutt, courtesy, his political and Bollywood clout and media. I wonder, if we really honour human life?
In lavish spectacle of events last week, Mr. Sanjay Dutt was sentenced five years of imprisonment, for possessing prohibited weapon, AK-47, without license. Ever since this judgment was pronounced, the chairman of the press council of India, Justice Markandey Katju, members of parliament, Mrs. Jaya Bachchan, Mr. Digvijay Singh and a few other parliamentarians from the congress party and some prominent people from Bollywood are creating lot of noise making an appeal for pardon for mr. Sanjay Dutt. The media, as usual, has joined the circus and the gruesome incident of 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts has been reduced to nothing but a farce, showing complete disregard for loss of more than 250 precious lives and the magnitude of the horror it created for the victims and their families! The entire focus of this tragic case is shifted to Sanjay Dutt, courtesy, his political and Bollywood clout and media. I wonder, if we really honour human life?
There are issues that one can't help notice since judgment of Mr. Sanjay Dutt's case was pronounced last week. In fact, there is nothing new happening that has not happened before when it comes to high profile celebrity being involved in some crime. The way media has run the story so far and people making ruckus over clemency for Mr. Sanjay Dutt is truly appalling.
My first objection is, why are we even discussing the judgment to this length? Why there is so much talk about clemency and how Mr. Sanjay Dutt has suffered"enough, already"? Interestingly, people who plead for clemency seem to have conveniently forgotten the impact such talk can have on others who have proven guilty or the ones who have already served the punishment for their equally heinous crimes. The very premise of the argument that mr.Dutt should be given special consideration and pardoned and the reasons cited for the same are insanely shocking. More shocking is the stature of people involved in this tamasha. I hope, they realize that here, the crime for which mr.Dutt is being punished is of extremely grave nature. Their dear "Sanjubaba" wasn't a five year old kid who had stolen a toy gun! He had AK47, which he procured by illegal means without license! The investigations also proved that mr.Dutt was in touch with some underworld people who were involved with Mumbai bomb blasts. Do people pleading for Sanjay Dutt's pardon even know what they are talking about and its implication? There is difference in sympathizing and trying to use the perceived power of one's celebrity value and make an attempt to influence, obfuscate real issue. The so called power that comes with celebrity status also demands exercising discretion which is invariably always forgotten. How dare anyone make mockery of our judiciary? Its a dangerous trend that should not be tolerated.
My first objection is, why are we even discussing the judgment to this length? Why there is so much talk about clemency and how Mr. Sanjay Dutt has suffered"enough, already"? Interestingly, people who plead for clemency seem to have conveniently forgotten the impact such talk can have on others who have proven guilty or the ones who have already served the punishment for their equally heinous crimes. The very premise of the argument that mr.Dutt should be given special consideration and pardoned and the reasons cited for the same are insanely shocking. More shocking is the stature of people involved in this tamasha. I hope, they realize that here, the crime for which mr.Dutt is being punished is of extremely grave nature. Their dear "Sanjubaba" wasn't a five year old kid who had stolen a toy gun! He had AK47, which he procured by illegal means without license! The investigations also proved that mr.Dutt was in touch with some underworld people who were involved with Mumbai bomb blasts. Do people pleading for Sanjay Dutt's pardon even know what they are talking about and its implication? There is difference in sympathizing and trying to use the perceived power of one's celebrity value and make an attempt to influence, obfuscate real issue. The so called power that comes with celebrity status also demands exercising discretion which is invariably always forgotten. How dare anyone make mockery of our judiciary? Its a dangerous trend that should not be tolerated.
My other objection is that with media. Where does one draw line between activism by media and trial by media? Media's role is to serve as catalyst in bringing out the facts without making any attempt to influence them. But in some high profile cases, the media coverage comes across as biased, inadequate, sensational, inaccurate, unfair, misleading, irresponsible and damaging to public interest. I am not saying all the stories covered in media are in that light but in times when media houses are becoming power houses and considering the filthy money involved in it and its requirement for profit just like any other business model for survival makes one question its professional integrity. Media's role is to assist in evaluating the significance of the events covered and NOT pronouncing judgments and indulging in trail for sake of attracting eyeballs.
The media sometimes interferes by being intensely involved in high profile cases thus creating sensation, provoking atmosphere of public hysteria thereby in the process diluting the very seriousness of actual issue/crime. Isn't it high time the media is punished for sensationalizing issues and indirectly influencing matters of governance, judiciary by creating public hysteria? Isn't it time for some stringent laws for media?
The article 19(1) (a) of the Indian constitution, grants Indian citizens right to freedom of speech and expression. The freedom of media is a necessary outcome of the right to freedom of expression that involves right to receive and impart information that serves as catalyst for any democracy. However this article is often misinterpreted at convenience as the freedom granted is not absolute. It is bound by the sub clause (2) of the same article and more importantly, the right of freedom of speech and expression does not allow the freedom of committing contempt of court.
The judgment on Mumbai bomb blasts has barely provided any closure for the lives lost. Let's not allow anyone to make a joke of this horrendous crime case. And let's remind those appealing for clemency for mr.Sanjay Dutt that it is not some Bollywood flick of rise and fall of some great star that they are talking about. It is a real life tragedy where an adult committed a heinous crime of possessing and destroying a dangerous weapon, AK 47. And no, it does not matter which family he belongs to or the fact that he is a great Bollywood star. In eyes of Indian law, he is as guilty as any other criminal indulging such unpardonable crimes. If mr. Sanjay Dutt is really so "good hearted" in real life as he is being portrayed in media by the political and Bollywood lobbyists, then it is high time he displayed some "gandhigiri" and served the punishment with dignity.
Enough of rhetoric! It is time to honour those who lost their lives in Mumbai 1993 bomb blasts.
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