[Assam] Even God will not be able to save this country - From the TOI

[Ram Sarangapani]

It is pleasantly surprising that the SC in India has been able to muster up
the courage to state something like this bluntly. Maybe times are a
changing.

--Ram

PS: there are some great comments from TOI readers - see link below.

_______________
 NEW DELHI: "Even God will not be able to save this country," a fuming
Supreme Court on Tuesday said while slamming the government for its refusal
to amend the law for launching criminal prosecution against those who
illegally occupy official houses. ( Watch
<http://broadband.indiatimes.com/videoshow/3330258.cms>)

"We are fed up with this government," the apex court said, adding "They
don't have the guts to differ with the opinion of the clerks."

"Even God will not be able to save this country. In India even if God comes
down he cannot change our country. Our country's character has gone. We are
helpless," a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi observed.

The apex court said PILs are being filed before it by people who are vexed
with the approach of the government on various issues.

"You complain about judicial activism when you are in power. When you are
not in power you come to us for remedy," the bench remarked.

The bench gave vent to its anger as the Additional Solicitor General
Amarender Saran bluntly told the court that the Union government has decided
not to amend Section 441 IPC (criminal trespass) for prosecuting squatters
of government accommodation in the country.

The government took the stance that the existing provisions provided under
the Public Premises Act was sufficient to evict those illegally occupying
government accommodation. Moreover, it claimed that out of 99,100 government
houses only 300-odd dwellings were under unauthorised occupation for which
had been made to evict them.

But this did not satisfy the apex court which said the government does not
have the guts to take on the offenders.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/opinions/3330091.cms