In the wake of the Delhi rape
case the demand for effective deterrent punishment is being strongly pursued. A
tenacious follow up is essential for this. However, there are chances that all
the changes in laws may prove to be ineffective in face of the somnambulist
functioning of the bureaucracy and corrupt nexus of politics and
administration. There is hardly any need of evidence for this sad state of
affairs; the all pervasive decline is proof enough.
In these conditions why not
declare dereliction of duty to be a punishable offence? The legal luminaries
can formulate the whole range of punishments with simple but effective
procedures. There are chances that heavy pecuniary punishment will bring about
considerable improvement provided it starts at the top and then comes down.
