Does India Fail to Protect its Witnesses?
Tonight on Left, Right & Centre:
Does India fail to protect its witnesses?
Mahendra Chawla, a key witness in a sexual assault case against Narayan Sai, the son of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, was shot at and is battling for his life in a Panipat hospital. He's the sixth witness who's spoken against Asaram and his son to have been attacked. Two of them have died. The attack once again highlights a critical gap in our law enforcement and justice systems, that of witness protection. If the system doesn't offer them or their families safety and security, how can they be relied on to help provide critical evidence to prosecution lawyers? From RTI activists and eyewitness who testify to whistleblowers who blow open corruption and police informers, they have all become targets of the systems and individuals they have tried to take on for the sake of society. So we ask why laws to provide witness protection haven't been strengthened.
Do changes dilute Child Labour Law?
Changes to the Child Labour Act, which have been approved by the Union Cabinet, allow children above 14 to work in non-hazardous, home-based businesses during school holidays and outside school hours. What does this mean? And does it dilute a law that is meant to safeguard children from exploitation?
PM Modi heads to China - young voices speak out
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to China on his first visit to the country after assuming office, we talk to Indian and Chinese students at Peking University on everything from politics to Bollywood.
Does India fail to protect its witnesses?
Mahendra Chawla, a key witness in a sexual assault case against Narayan Sai, the son of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, was shot at and is battling for his life in a Panipat hospital. He's the sixth witness who's spoken against Asaram and his son to have been attacked. Two of them have died. The attack once again highlights a critical gap in our law enforcement and justice systems, that of witness protection. If the system doesn't offer them or their families safety and security, how can they be relied on to help provide critical evidence to prosecution lawyers? From RTI activists and eyewitness who testify to whistleblowers who blow open corruption and police informers, they have all become targets of the systems and individuals they have tried to take on for the sake of society. So we ask why laws to provide witness protection haven't been strengthened.
Do changes dilute Child Labour Law?
Changes to the Child Labour Act, which have been approved by the Union Cabinet, allow children above 14 to work in non-hazardous, home-based businesses during school holidays and outside school hours. What does this mean? And does it dilute a law that is meant to safeguard children from exploitation?
PM Modi heads to China - young voices speak out
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to China on his first visit to the country after assuming office, we talk to Indian and Chinese students at Peking University on everything from politics to Bollywood.
