The election campaign for the Lok Sabha seats is in full swing, but so is the intense summer heat. It makes one wonder who decided on the election schedule without considering the extreme Indian summer. Was it a deliberate move to keep voters away from the polling booths?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for setting the election timetable after consulting with political parties. Therefore, all political parties share the blame for scheduling general elections during the peak of summer. Voters eagerly wait for five years to exercise their right to vote, but the extreme weather can prevent them from participating. This can turn the election process into a mockery of democracy.
The Constitution of India should have granted real autonomy and independence to the ECI to ensure effective implementation of decisions. The current practice of temporarily placing state machinery under ECI control has not produced desired results, as state officers may be reluctant to obey orders from a temporary boss.
To improve the election process, reforms are necessary, such as limiting the influence of money in politics, reducing constituency sizes, and empowering the ECI with an independent enforcement mechanism under its control.
In other news, the Supreme Court has urged the government to take a pragmatic approach to dowry offenses. A division bench highlighted the need to revisit certain sections of the law dealing with dowry harassment and emphasized the importance of material proof in such cases.
Additionally, a lawsuit has been filed in China against the Japanese government by families of women sexually assaulted by Japanese soldiers during WWII. The suit seeks compensation and an apology from Japan, but it may take a long time to reach a final decision.
The Telangana High Court has introduced free Wi-Fi for all visitors, providing an easy link for connection. Furthermore, in response to extreme heat in Telangana, the High Court has instructed subordinate courts not to pass adverse orders during summer vacation due to non-appearance of advocates.
