The point about the redundancy of outdated laws and the need to retire or modify them is well understood.
However, one cannot help wonder whether the present genre of lawmakers we have will agree with us when we say this. After all, we have reached such a stage of degeneration where several laws have not just lost their teeth in effectively addressing the people's needs, but also one where bills sometimes are conceptualised, drafted and voted into law not for the good of the people whom they are purported to be standing for, but for guarding or even promoting the corrupt interests of the ruling classes/vested interests !!
We must have a parliamentary committee working full time to weed out useless, outdated laws and those conferring wide discretionary powers to the Law Enforcements. On a monthly basis they must publish removal of such laws in the National newspapers. We cannot have centuries colliding in matters of common law and create a nuisance and ooportunities for Official scamsters.
Whoever said the laws in this land makes 'sense'? Besides, who even bother to obey the laws anyways. As for 'Speed Laws - first there should be proper lane demarcation on all streets and highways - it's not uncommon to see five or six lanes of traffic on a road meant for only two lanes (each way), this including bull carts, mopeds, buses, cars, trucks, bicycles, and even pedestrians? No wonder India has one of the highest, if not the highest road fatality in the world. Then again, with a population in excess of one billion, life seems real cheap or more precisely, of little value.
Mr Ninan, FYI : In US in many places the speedlimit is 65 mph (104 kmph) and it is a familiar sight to see the traffic, especially the ones on the left-most lane driving at 85 (136 kmph) or above!
RE:Nothing new
by sibby mathews on May 01, 2007 06:24 PM Permalink
However, it is also true that motorists violating the speed limit on US roads are regularly intercepted and booked (especially on the eastern coast) and perhaps more importantly, that there is no chance for the violator to escape by paying a bribe amounting to a fraction of the applicable fine !! This perhaps is one of the most vivid reminders of the chasm that exists between two societies in terms of the quality of life for the common man.
Speed Laws are of no use. Buses continue to jump redlight at speed of 80.
Innocent motorists are challaned for no rhyme or reason. It's a previlage.
Speed of 50 Km is recommended by IIT. Probably the law-geek says since it gives response time to brake if any foreign body comes ahead.
Probably they must be expecting bulls and cows on the road and numerous cyclists. So you see it is a social mingling area. Every entity has a right to be social. That's what a road(& even a highway)is for-Diplomatic.
RE:We are our masters' slaves!
by goodman adam on Apr 28, 2007 09:42 PM Permalink
Ninan is right.Rules here are v complex which only GO against the common man.And these dont favour govt. BUT the person who is Boss at that time like IT officer ST officer Traffic personnel or Police man.It doesnt help govt at all.All these people think others are Chor.Traffic speeds are set keeping rickshaw or 3 wheeler in mind that these can cross ur way anytime and u cant brake at 80 kmph and NONE can stop rickshaw, auto, cows etc from crossing ur way
RE:We are our masters' slaves!
by V S on Apr 29, 2007 09:14 PM Permalink
you are right. Indian culture is still very boss centric as it is borne out of a casteist system of higher vs. lower caste. Anyone who has power tries to misuse or abuse his power.
I agree with writer of the article. 99% of the laws that are made in India are drafted in such a way that no matter the citizen cannot help but break the law.. and then you have some tobacco chewing , wannabe dressed govt officer (who has possibly got the job due to his OBC/reserved category status) walking into your office, talking to you in his didgusting vernacular accent and telling you "I am only following the procedure, I dont make the laws, I am only there to check whether its implemented or not" ( whereas the guy is only interested in ripping you off.
RE:Rules are not for people but for the govt officers
by prashant choudhary on Apr 29, 2007 08:19 PM Permalink
Also Mr. Vijay, there is nothing disgusting in "vernacular accent", I live in US, and here people are proud of their accent, Haryanvis are proud of our language and accent, Please go back to West Punjab and speak your Imported accent with your Jihadi Punjabis
RE:Rules are not for people but for the govt officers
by Vijay Bhatia on May 03, 2007 04:39 PM Permalink
mr prashant i guess u have only read the line pertaining to the accent.. we are more than happy to speak to them in the national language but in order to show that " we too can speak english" they blast off with the accent. regarding punjabi and pakistani.. well i would not like to get into that.. FYI im not a punjabi nor a delhi-ite and yes corruption is not caste specific.. i mentioned that coz what i usually come across
RE:Rules are not for people but for the govt officers
by prashant choudhary on Apr 29, 2007 08:12 PM Permalink
Mr. Vijay, I see a hint of racism/ castism in your comment. That govt. servant may as well be a Punjabi Bhatia and be even more corrupt and shrewd(as punjabis typically are) than any OBC/SC/ST in Delhi. Thats the way this country is,If you don't like Delhi, why don't you go back to West Punjab/ Pakistan and fight for your Hindu-Punjabi's rights there first with your Muslim-Punjabi brethen.
RE:Pune-Mumbai expressway
by Raj K on Apr 28, 2007 10:25 PM Permalink
Yes, it is correct.. my boss is a foreigner who always make fun whenever see that. Embreaasing.. are we developing?.
RE:RE:Pune-Mumbai expressway
by Prakash Desai on Apr 29, 2007 05:25 PM Permalink
Do not talk about your or any "foreign" boss working in india. ALL of them still treat you like slaves and consider inferior to them. I hate EVERY foreign "boss" IN INDIA. Go to his/her country atleast once, and you will find hundreds of things worse than india (I am making this comment after living and visiting seven countries in fifteen years) Do not tolerate insult from a foreigner on our soil. Live life in our country as it comes, and try your best to improve. Somebody laughing on you in your own country is your insult. If he is not comfortable, why he is in india? let him go back to his country.
RE:Pune-Mumbai expressway
by V S on Apr 29, 2007 09:16 PM Permalink
If the foreigner laughs at your stupid laws he is merely pointing the obvious. There is nothing wrong in being truthful . You could argue the foriegner is impolite when he laughs but really anyone with some civility would laugh at the stupid laws in India.
