A very helpful post. One thing that is interesting in the way that FIR can be weaponized by citizens against other citizens. Setting aside the substantive issue in the law, the recent Texas abortion statute that allows for "bounties" for citizens that report abortions seems to show an eagerness over here to allow citizens to take the power of state into their own hands against other citizens. It outsources costly surveillance and coercion to a wide network of motivated partisans.
Yes, there are certainly parallels to the Texas law. However, the big difference is that the FIR process was initiated to force India's notoriously hidebound, corrupt, casteist, and sexist cops to take the complaints of lower caste Indians and women facing domestic violence seriously. Once an FIR is registered, the cops are obligated to investigate the complaint and file a report. So its a case of a well intended law totally backfiring (as happens often). It was a drastic measure as FIR weakened probable cause and due process protections for the accused and created a weapon for malign interests. But it was meant to deal with a genuine problem with India's unresponsive justice system. The Texas law however is a drastic attempt to subvert normal legal channels that work reasonably well. So there is nothing redeeming about it.
A thought provoking and insightful post showing the true plight of free thinking journalists, activists and non conformists in regressive India today.
Under the current autocratic leadership of PM Modi and his government, the “sinister” treatment (inclusive of misusing FIR & issuing death threats etc) meted out to these courageous citizens for exercising their fundamental Right to freedom of speech and expression, is nothing short of degrading and frightening…to say the least….
On the other hand, more power to the brave and gutsy journalists like Rana Ayyub who continue to fight the good fight and deliver, despite it all…👏🏽👏🏽
A very helpful post. One thing that is interesting in the way that FIR can be weaponized by citizens against other citizens. Setting aside the substantive issue in the law, the recent Texas abortion statute that allows for "bounties" for citizens that report abortions seems to show an eagerness over here to allow citizens to take the power of state into their own hands against other citizens. It outsources costly surveillance and coercion to a wide network of motivated partisans.
Yes, there are certainly parallels to the Texas law. However, the big difference is that the FIR process was initiated to force India's notoriously hidebound, corrupt, casteist, and sexist cops to take the complaints of lower caste Indians and women facing domestic violence seriously. Once an FIR is registered, the cops are obligated to investigate the complaint and file a report. So its a case of a well intended law totally backfiring (as happens often). It was a drastic measure as FIR weakened probable cause and due process protections for the accused and created a weapon for malign interests. But it was meant to deal with a genuine problem with India's unresponsive justice system. The Texas law however is a drastic attempt to subvert normal legal channels that work reasonably well. So there is nothing redeeming about it.
A thought provoking and insightful post showing the true plight of free thinking journalists, activists and non conformists in regressive India today.
Under the current autocratic leadership of PM Modi and his government, the “sinister” treatment (inclusive of misusing FIR & issuing death threats etc) meted out to these courageous citizens for exercising their fundamental Right to freedom of speech and expression, is nothing short of degrading and frightening…to say the least….
On the other hand, more power to the brave and gutsy journalists like Rana Ayyub who continue to fight the good fight and deliver, despite it all…👏🏽👏🏽
Completely agree!