The state government is insisting that the collegium — which is a group of eight senior judges — cannot alone decide the appointment of judges. Judges cannot judge themselves.

By Rajan Narayan

AND a few stray thoughts for yet another Saturday. For a Saturday following the week when the judiciary offered protection to double-engine growth. For a Saturday following the week when the digitalization of entrance tests and exams has made it difficult for students. For a Saturday following the week when there appear to be trouble between the government and the judiciary. For a Saturday following the week when the chief minister had made it clear that temples will be renovated while churches and mosque will not be taken up at the moment. For a Saturday following the week when the introduction of the India Premiere League for women has created fresh opportunities and abolished gender bias.
AND a few stray thoughts on the judiciary offering the only protection for double-engine growth. There are the dangers of double and triple engine governments. We are referring not so much to development as to the fact that there could be a conflict between two states which are both ruled by the BJP. Historically, Karnataka has been ruled by the Congress and only recently has come under the BJP.
During the tenure of the Congress in Karnataka there was no talk of the diversion of river Mhadei. Till the doubled-engine idea was invented the chief minister and government of Goa were adamant that they will not permit the diversion of the Mhadei river head waters. Then late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar relaxed the stand and offered to permit diversion only for drinking water purposes for thirsty Kannadigga people in Karnataka. With elections due very soon in Karnataka the state government and BJP are insistent on the diversion of the Mhadei river waters to Karnataka.
Neither the Congress BJP MLAs nor the BJP office bearers are willing to oblige Karnataka. The big shock was when Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in charge of the elections in Karnataka, rudely ruled recently that there would be no change in the decision to divert the Mhadei to Karnataka. The only weapon against such political manipulation is the Supreme Court which has thankfully for Goa issued an interim order that Karnataka cannot proceed with the diversion without the permission of the SC.

STUDENTS BOGGED DOWN
AND a few stray thoughts on the digitalization of entrance tests and exams which has made it difficult for students. Till the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns entrance tests and exams were held in the classroom. In view of the Covid-19 protocol it became impossible for students to seat together and answer exams. So the entire process of entrance tests and exams became digital.
Besides the digitalization the other major nuisance is the multiple choice question introduced both for test and for exams. In the first list neither students nor teachers were used to the concept of multiple choice questions. In the good old days you were supplied an answer sheet to provide replies. The students who benefit most from digitalization and multiple-choice question are those who are computer literate.
It is virtually impossible for students appearing for NEET or IITG to answer 50 or 100 multiple-choice questions in one hour. Unfortunately, things may worsen instead of improve. The new education policy has envisioned that the entire system will become digital from textbooks to entrance exams to the multiple choice final exams. Unless you become experts at Chatbot you are going to have a difficult time dealing with the new economic policy. There will also be the problem of content as the new BJP government is planning to introduce more and more traditional Hindu texts into the syllabus.

GOVERNMENT-JUDICIARY TROUBLE
AND a few stray thoughts on how there appears to be trouble between the government and the judiciary. Quite apart from the battle between the Narendra Modi government and the collegium on the selection and promotion of judges, other issues have also come out. The concern is that the BJP and Modi will completely saffronise the SC. The latest instance is the innovation of a Tamil Nadu judge Victoria Gowri as a judge of the SC. The SC collegium had strongly objected to the appointment of Gowri as an SC judge.
The tradition is that lawyers and judges who have very close ties with political parties should not be made judges. In the case of Gowri, she was the president of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Gowri is also been accused of making hate speeches against the minority parties in Tamil Nadu. Initially, the SC decided to cancel her appointment as the HC judge of Allahabad HC where she was serving and sack her. However, the SC gave her a ruling that Gowri was entitled to be judge of the SC.
There is of course another controversy about who were appointed state judges to the SC. There have been charges that the majority of the SC judges belong to the upper caste and lower castes don’t get an opportunity. Justice Gowri comes from a poor family and is the first lawyer from her village and taluka and is considered very loyal and straightforward.

TEMPLES FIRST!
AND a few stray thoughts on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant making it clear that temples will be renovated on fast track while churches and mosques will not be taken up at the moment. Pramod Sawant earlier announced that temples destroyed by the Portuguese would be renovated. So last weekend the Saptakoteswar temple in Divar island was rebuilt at the cost of several crore, the sacred pond here too was taken up for restoration. There are many other temples in Goa allegedly demolished by the colonial Portuguese government. Significantly, while the Sawant government is committed to providing funds for renovating temples, it has no funds for churches.

SPORTS GENDER BIAS GOING
AND a last stray thought on the introduction of the India Premiere League for women and how it has created fresh opportunities and abolished gender bias. The introduction of the Indian Premiere League (IPL) series which is an international tournament has now been extended to women. In the 2020 format of cricket, there are only 20 overs and the two competing teams would contest.
As in the case of the male IPS several companies and clubs from various parts of the country the Royal Challengers have joined the IPL. By the rules of the IPL, the teams are allowed to buy from the pool of players. What is heartening is that the poll of control for cricket in India has decided both women and men players will get the same match fees. In the auction for players by the various team for the women’s IPL top on the list is Smriti Mandhana for whom Rs3.4 crore has been offered. Smriti is a veteran who has been India’s women’s cricket captain for over a decade. Recently, India won the under-19 World Cup for women. This led to a huge reward from the BCCI amounting to Rs50-Rs10crore. Since most of the girls are from poor backgrounds sports is now the new avenue for upward mobility for sportswomen. Good news, indeed. Women should go for it and excel in sports.