The Brave Pedestrian

Justice (Retd) Swatanter Kumar is like MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN – amazing wizardry, plus massive legal muscle acting like bouncers to protect him from media glare. On 10 January 2014, former Supreme Court Judge Swatanter Kumar was named by the media as accused of sexually exploiting a law intern. The intern, with the help of senior counsel Harish Salve and Indira Jaising, and advocate Vrinda Grover, filed a PIL on 14 January. The prayer: Supreme Court must reconsider its policy of not inquiring into the allegations against judges. With lightning speed, WITHIN SIX DAYS, Delhi high court passed a temporary order in the Rs 5 crore defamation suit (CS(OS) 102/2014) slapped by Swatanter Kumar against Indian Express, Times Now and CNN-IBN (and, for good measure, the anonymous intern, the Indian Express reporter and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting). The order restrained the media from publishing or telecasting the allegations levelled on Swatanter Kumar, or even using his photos. A...

To feminists, patriarchal systems (such as Khap Panchayats) are like red flags to a bull; they react with great fury and indignation. But feminists seem pretty OK with the judiciary, the baap of all patriarchal setups. It would seem that their rebelliousness is for media consumption, When they meet with a REAL archetypal patriarchy, they become silent bystanders, or even defenders of the patriarchy. Interesting, na? Like  ·  Comment  ·  Share

Even firebrand journalists avoid reporting on or writing editorials on the glaring foibles of the judiciary, because being held in contempt jeopardizes their career. And of course because media houses don't give them any opportunities to criticize the judiciary, in the first place. It is considered too risky... and media houses, after all, are commercial ventures and not crusaders. Like  ·  Comment  ·  Share