Editorial 1: Perfunctory panacea
Introduction
33 scientists will be awarded the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), the government’s revamped approach to independent India’s long tradition of annually awarding scientists with promise. The government has done away with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) awards.
About the erstwhile Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards (SSB)
- It was awarded to scientists under 45 by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
- It comprised a certificate, a cash prize and some additional monetary benefits.
About the revamped Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar (RVP)
- The RVP replaces it with a medal and a certificate and, renaming it the Vigyan Yuva-SSB.
- There are also other RVP awards — the Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Ratna and Vigyan Team awards.
- Vigyan Team Awards will be for scientists over 45 who have made distinguished contributions in science and technology over their entire career as well, as for teams of scientists and technologists with exceptional contributions.
- Total number of awards, under all categories is capped at 56.
- This year those selected for this year are fewer than the ceiling.
The Current Status of the Awards
- Team Awards: The team award has been conferred on the Indian Space Research Organisation’s ‘Chandrayaan-3 team’, which certainly has over three members.
- The field list of the Awardees: Spans from astrophysics to agriculture, and this is not unique to the RVP.
- Dominance of Centre: Most awardees are from centrally funded and elite set-ups in India’s scientific and research institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, CSIR and atomic energy institutions.
- Bringing the Awards under one umbrella: Ministry of Home Affairs and heads of science departments concluded in 2022 that there were too many awards being given out by individual scientific departments and that it was necessary to trim them and raise their ‘stature’ to national awards.
Conclusion
While distinguished scientists have always received the Padma awards, its intention was to encourage them to stick to research, whose outcomes are not always immediately tangible and whose impact is not immediately assessed. Much like Olympic medals, Nobel Prizes continue to elude Indian scientists. The national awards are not a substitute or catalyst for the Nobels. The government should strive and support the science and scientific community by raising the budgetary allocation and making scientific research more rewarding in India.
Editorial 2: Rule and exception
Introduction
The Supreme Court of India’s order granting bail to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is a reminder to judges that they cannot deny bail as a form of punishment. It is also a reminder that the fundamentals of bail law are quite simple.
The Norms of a Bail
- Documentary evidence: Bail is the norm when a case turns mainly on documentary evidence.
- Denial of a Bail: Only if the suspect is at a flight risk and is unlikely to appear before the court for trial, or is in a position to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence.
- Trial possibility delayed: The trial not beginning anytime soon or that it may be a protracted one is also a circumstance warranting grant of bail.
The Delhi Liquor Policy Case
- Case of Delhi’s Deputy CM :Mr. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI and then the Enforcement Directorate in early 2023.
- Case of Delhi’s CM: Arvind Kejriwal’s turn came this year, but he managed to get interim bail in the ED’s case concerning money-laundering charges, while he is still in custody in connection with the CBI’s corruption case.
- The Supreme Court Order: The order Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan: of has done more than pave the way for Mr. Sisodia’s release after nearly a year-and-a-half in prison.
- Prolonged Delay in Trial Proceedings: It has foregrounded the principle that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act(PMLA) cannot be stated in the way of a person’s conditional release if there is a prolonged delay in the trial proceedings.
- Judges “Play Safe” Approach: The Bench highlighted the tendency among some judges to ignore the principle that bail is the rule, and not the exception.
- ED’s Assurance: In Mr. Sisodia’s case, ED assured that the trial would be completed within 6-8 months, the Court had allowed him to apply for bail again if the trial progresses too slowly or is protracted.
- Court’s Ignorance: Both the trial court and the Delhi High Court paid no heed to the Supreme Court’s pointed reference to the need for speedy trial, but dismissed his application on merits and claimed that any delay in the commencement of the trial was attributable to the various petitions he has filed.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s order granting bail to Manish Sisodia serves as a crucial reminder that the principles of bail law, emphasizing the presumption of innocence, and the right to liberty, must be upheld by the judiciary. Judges should guard against a likely loss of public trust in the judiciary’s ability to protect the liberty of citizens and ensure fair trial ∫ and needless pre-trial imprisonment.
