ध्वंस

“स्वास्थ्य क्षेत्र के विशेषज्ञों और अन्य देशों के अनुभवों को ध्यान में रखते हुए, देश आज एक बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय करने जा रहा है। आज रात बारह बजे से पूरे देश में, कृपया ध्यान से सुनें, सम्पूर्ण देश में सम्पूर्ण लॉकडाउन होने जा रहा है। हिंदुस्तान को बचाने के लिए और उसके प्रत्येक नागरिक की सुरक्षा के लिए आज आधी रात से लोगों के घरों से बाहर निकलने पर पूरी तरह प्रतिबंध लगाया जा रहा है।”

यादव परिवार के घर कहलाने जाने वाली बंजर-सी चारदीवारी पर भारत के प्रधानमंत्री के यह "बुलंद" शब्द बिजली की तरह कड़कड़ाते हुए गिरे। तीन जनों का यह जवान परिवार मुंबई की चमक दमक और बड़े परदे वाले सितारों से परे, एक छोटी सी खोली में अपनी रातें गुजारा करता था। दिन का आशियाना तो अपने-अपने कामकाज में व्यस्त हो कर जैसे-तैसे निकल जाता था, सिर्फ उन अंधेर भरी रातो से कवच धारण करने के लिए यह पाँच हजार रुपए महीने के किराए की खोली का इस्तेमाल होता था। ज्यादा माल-समान उनके पास था नहीं, आखिर जरूरत से फालतू खरीदने की हैसियत ही कहाँ थी। न उनके मां-बाप की हुआ करती थी और न ही उनके बच्चों की होने वाली थी, थी तो बस एक उम्मीद कि जैसे अभी ऊपर वाला इम्तेहान ले रहा है, वैसे ही समय आने पर आशीर्वाद की वर्षा भी करवाएगा। बेहतर जिंदगी की ये झूठी उम्मीद अभिषेक और सुशीला यादव को अपने आठ वर्षीय बेटे गौरव के साथ पश्चिमी उत्तर प्रदेश के गांव से मुंबई शहर तक खींच लाई थी। खैर, इस दंपत्ति को भी यह अहसास होना, अलबत्ता धीरे-धीरे, शुरू हो चुका था कि यह चौदह-बाय-बारह का कमरा (जिसमे एक पैखाना और रसोई भी शामिल थे) उनके जीवन में कोई उद्धार नहीं ला पाएगा, बल्कि और सड़ा कर छोड़ेगा। परंतु अब उनके पास और उपाय क्या था सिवाय इसी जिंदगी में पिसे चलते-चले जाने के। कर्जा सिर पर चढ़ा ही रखा था और फिर गांव छोड़ के भी इसलिए ही तो आएं थे कि अपनी छोटी सी जमीन पर फसल बो कर काम नहीं चल रहा था। यह उनके लिए एक बड़ा असमंजस का मुद्दा बन चुका था और इसी विषय पर सोच विचार करते हुए अभिषेक और सुशीला दिन भर की थकान मिटाने के लिए नींद की तरफ करवट ले लेते थे। अभिषेक रोज सुबह मजदूरी ढूंढने के उद्देश्य से निकलता और भीड़ में विलप्त हो जाता था जबकि सुशीला पास की ऊंची इमारतों में बसे लोगों के घरों में रोजमर्रा के काम करती थी। उन घरों में काम करते वक्त वो अक्सर सोचती थी कि उसके पति ने भी कभी इस इमारत को खड़ा करने में अपनी मजदूरी का योगदान दिया होगा। इस से आगे बढ़कर यह सवाल भी उसके मन में उठता था कि जब इन घरों को बनाने का काम भी उन्ही लोगो का था, और बाद में इनकी देख-रेख तथा साफ-सफाई भी उनके जिम्मे आ पड़ती थी, तो फिर रिहाइश का आनंद कोई और क्यों उठा रहा था? ऐसा कैसे हो सकता था कि सारा खून पसीना एक करने के बाद भी फल किसी और को मिल रहा था? सुशीला ने ये सवाल अब तक अपने आप से कई सौ बार पूछ लिया था, पर कोई ढंग का निष्कर्ष नहीं निकाल पाई थी।

Discovery: Day Four

June 27

7:45

They had reached Meher's place in Greater Noida at around six in the evening, falling only a tad bit behind schedule in the end. They weren't mindful of that delay at all in light of the magnitude of revelations it had led to, together with the intensification it had brought about in their bonding. It was blissful enough that they had been spared the onslaught of navigating through peak hour traffic by dashing across Delhi in the nick of time. Inside Meher's living room, however, the absence of what one would have expected to be a marketplace of reminiscences from the past two years appalled the participants. Meher and her partner Utsuk failed to clutch at the nerve of this travesty and the lamp of enthusiasm burning ferociously in their minds dimmed slightly. Not fancying the design of ruminating over the affairs of their day, Vidhi and Akshaya decided to call it an early night shortly after an eerie dinner where conversation comprised mostly of ceramic dishes being clanked upon mercilessly by steel cutlery.

Victim's Right to Prefer Appeal: Tilting Scales in Favour of Victims?

(June, 2021)

Abstract - The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 was amended in 2009 to confer upon victims the right to prefer appeal. This was done in pursuance of recommendations made by several high-level Committees on reforms in criminal law and in wake of an increasing focus on victimology. While the introduction of this right had become necessary for enabling victims to pursue justice independent of the State’s reluctance, the absence of any requirement of leave for appeal has given rise to a substantial controversy. Whether there was any legislative intent in doing away with this requirement wasn’t clear, but the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in Mallikarjun Kodagalli v. State of Karnataka put to rest all confusion when it directed that the requirement of leave for appeal to be preferred by a victim is not necessary. This paper undertakes comprehensive research on the relevant developments in criminal law that led up to the 2009 Amendment and traces the judicial history of cases concerning questions on the applicability and procedural aspects of this new right. The researcher argues that the Mallikarjun Kodagalli verdict, although liberal in interpretation, ends up tilting the scales of justice in favour of the victim rather than balancing it with the accused.

Ramblings: On Peepli Live and the Migrant Exodus

May 23, 2020 (Old): In the aftermath of Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of a nationwide lockdown with a token four-hour notice, a whole lot of controversies have emerged regarding the arbitrary attitude of the government and the consequential mismanagement of the entire health crisis that is brewing in the country. From faulty mathematical modelling and ineptitude of government agencies, to moral bankruptcy and police brutality, we have covered it all in the past sixty days. However, the most depressing issue of them all is the way in which the government has treated its migrant workers. The indifferent and undignified treatment of innocent migrants, plunged into an uncertain battle for survival, is a tell-tale signal of the burgeoning class divide in our society.

Curse of the Omnipresent Cookies - A Legal Analysis

Introduction

In cyberspace as it exists today, there is hardly any website which does not depend upon the usage of a cookie functionality. From an e-mail client and streaming platform to blogs and gaming portals, almost all of them incorporate the use of cookies for very basic operations that users can carry out on these websites. In fact, over the last couple of years, we have all observed that a pop-up outlining the cookie statement comes up whenever we open a website. In order to proceed with browsing, we have to agree to the use of certain necessary cookies whereas other additional ones can be refused. It often gets confusing for web users to decide whether they should allow cookies from the website or not since the policy clearly mandates that the cookie will effectively track the data that is generated by users. Further, a doubt also arises in a user’s mind as to which cookies are really necessary and which ones are not useful to their browsing experience. So, what are cookies?

Discovery: Day Three

 June 26

10:30

The duo woke up late in the morning after all of yesterday's fatigue and feasted on a hearty breakfast to prepare for the day's drive. They had planned to reach Meher's place in Delhi well before sunset by embarking upon an uninterrupted four-hour drive to Agra and then another three hours to their destination for the night, halting periodically only for restroom breaks or to switch drivers. Whereas Vidhi was eager to be back behind the wheels after missing out for an entire day, Akshaya was pleased to let her drive to her heart's content while she gazed at the landscapes and processed her thoughts in peace. Vidhi had already taken the car out to get it refueled nearby and by the time the clock-tower struck eleven, they were ready to rock and roll ahead.

Discovery: Day Two

June 25

06:00

"Can you believe it? We've managed to successfully wake up early for two days in a row!" Akshaya exclaimed.

"I can now back myself up with proof beyond any reasonable doubt in declaring that sunsets are definitely more romantic than sunrises," Vidhi groaned.

"Nooo, early mornings are so peaceful. We just need that little push, or shove in your case haha, to step out of bed and get going about the day."

"What's so good about this morning, huh? I could have easily slept for another hour..."

"For starters, the best part is that since you're too worked up about mornings, I'm the one who gets to drive," beamed Akshaya radiantly as Vidhi squinted hard towards her.

Discovery: Day One

June 24

00:15

"Can't sleep?"

"Not at all, I'm so excited for tomorrow!"

"Clearly... your excitement is pretty infectious too, I've got to give you that."

"Awww, did I just elicit a compliment out of you Vidhi?

"It's one for the history books, darling."

"Darling? My, my! What has gotten into you babe?"

18-20: A Rambling Tale Of Love

I never knew myself to be one of those people who would fall prey to the myth of love at first sight. After all, to me, love seemed to be nothing but a folly. I would often observe my friends, who I knew to be quite susceptible in being deceived by the ploys of love, and pester them with questions on how they could fall into the same trap repeatedly. How could they be so vigorously drawn in, time and again, by the fantasies and folklore of 'happily ever after'. It seemed so mysterious, funny even, why people were so enthusiastic about wasting time on gaining fleeting moments of happiness that were concomitant to love.

But then, logic is not really one of the essential ingredients for stirring the concoction of love, is it? We've all known people who go absolutely crazy and defy all norms of common sense in their pursuit of love. Those who think that the sole meaning and purpose of their existence is to search for and bear the fruits of love. People who would scorn at a life devoid of love and label it as one not worth living. A couple of years ago, a penny for my thoughts on the subject would have fetched you nothing but smug laughter. Time has played its tricks on me, however, and I've now seen myself drown hopelessly, but joyfully, in the vast sea of love.

Attempt to Murder: Short Story

As she came close and leaned over to land a gentle kiss on my forehead, beads of perspiration trickled from her body onto mine. They rolled down my cheeks and slowly dissipated within me, symbolic of the part of her that would always reside in my heart. As she kissed my forehead, numerous strands of her thick, dark hair formed a curtain around our heads. I had often found comfort from the deepest troubles when I ran my hands slowly through her flowing hair. In fact, her hair worked such a charm on me that I would start pouring out the most mundane thoughts to her. She was the perfect listener, soaking in all the love, hate or anger that my thoughts had to offer. Whatever trials, travails or tribulations that I encountered, she was always there... just as she had been there now for the past one week, waiting patiently for me to wake up and talk to her. When she got up and prepared to leave for the night, suppressing a sob every now and then, I longed to call out and tell her how much I yearned for the warmth of her hug.