#dnaEdit: Big news roundup of the week

Judges’ juggernaut
Chief Justice HL Dattu’s refusal to be part of National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) brings into the open the confrontation between the judiciary and the executive. Using legalese CJ Dattu argued that he would not participate in the NJAC until the Supreme Court disposes of the petition challenging the new law’s constitutional validity. Dattu’s position does frustrate the government’s bid to fill up the vacancies in high courts and even in the apex court. The SC — it seems — is holding out in a bid to retain its freedom to choose judges without outside oversight. Underpinning the NJAC Act is that judges cannot be a law unto themselves, and there is need to involve the legislature and executive in the process. The issue makes for interesting jurisprudential jousting and constitutional casuistry, which should delight those who love a good argument. 

Baltimore erupts in rage
Earlier this week, the US city of Baltimore went on a boil. After hours of rioting, the city’s streets resembled a virtual battlefield. Protesters and police repeatedly clashing amid spiralling tension over the unexplained death of Freddie Gray, who, died after suffering a fatal spinal injury in police custody on April 19. Media and authorities were quick to blame the handful of protesters who ran amok expressing their anger against continued targeting of black citizens. But a large number of community leaders worked among the rioters in the streets, urging restraint and peaceful resistance. But the larger question of race relations continues to hang fire. Racist police violence is a disturbingly routine phenomenon despite rising street protests and a vociferous public debate around the subject. Justice continues to be denied to the families of black victims. Their list grows longer even as the accused policemen continue to roam the streets freely.        

Minister blames farmers 
Politicians — we know — are afflicted by a chronic foot-in-the-mouth disease. Put another way — they are simply indifferent to public sentiment. How else can one explain the callous remarks made by Haryana’s agriculture minister, OP Dhankar? At a time politicians are making a beeline to woo farmers in distress, Dhankar has slammed them for taking their own lives.  “Suicide is a crime. According to Indian law, suicide is a crime. A person who commits suicide runs away from his responsibilities. Such people are cowards and the government cannot stand by such cowards or criminals,” Dhankar tells reporters. The spate of farmer suicides across the country — one of them taking place in the heart of the Capital, in full media glare — has pitched farmers’ distress at the centre of public discourse. Politicians are suddenly scrambling to endear themselves to farmers.  Wonder whether Dhankar has served himself up for some flak from the Prime Minister whose government is trying to get rid of the anti-farmer tag it has come to acquire.