Legal issues are a crucial aspect of a country’s governance and the welfare of its citizens. In India, there are thousands of legal issues that need to be addressed and debated, many of which are pending before the Hon’ble Apex Court. However, despite being the 4th biggest economy in the world, India still lags behind in providing basic infrastructure and social services, especially in rural areas where more than 70% of the population resides. The lack of education, road connectivity, public transportation facilities, and higher education institutions affects the lives of billions of people residing in rural areas. Unfortunately, the Indian judiciary has been focusing on issues that have little impact on the majority of the population, rather than prioritizing these pressing issues.
One of the most significant issues in rural areas is the lack of access to education. While the Indian government has made significant strides in providing free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14 under the Right to Education Act, the quality of education remains a major concern. Children in rural areas often have to travel long distances to attend school, and many schools lack basic amenities such as toilets, electricity, and adequate teaching staff. This makes it challenging for children to receive the education they deserve, which has a significant impact on their future prospects. It is crucial that the Indian government takes steps to improve the quality of education in rural areas by increasing funding for schools, recruiting more qualified teachers, and improving infrastructure.
Another critical issue that needs to be addressed is the lack of proper road connectivity in remote areas. In many rural areas, the roads are unpaved and poorly maintained, making it challenging for people to travel to nearby towns and cities for work or other purposes. This also makes it difficult to transport goods and services, which affects the local economy. The government needs to invest more in improving road connectivity in rural areas by constructing new roads, maintaining existing ones, and providing better public transportation facilities.
In addition to these issues, the lack of electricity supply is another significant problem that needs to be addressed. Even today, in most parts of rural India, electricity is supplied for less than 10 hours a day. This not only affects the daily lives of people but also has a significant impact on local businesses, as they are unable to operate effectively without electricity. The Indian government needs to prioritize the electrification of rural areas by increasing investment in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
While these issues are pressing concerns for rural India, the Indian judiciary has been focusing on issues that have little relevance to the majority of the population. For example, the Supreme Court of India has recently heard a case on same-sex marriage, which affects less than 1% of the Indian population. Despite the fact that 99% of the population is against same-sex marriage, the Chief Justice of India and a five-judge bench heard the case. This raises questions about the priorities of the judiciary and whether they are focused on issues that affect the majority of the population.
Furthermore, the judiciary’s role in lawmaking has been a subject of debate in recent times. While it is the Parliament of India that has the right to make laws, the Supreme Court of India has increasingly been making laws through its judgments. This has led to a conflict of interest between the judiciary and the legislative branch of the government. The judiciary should restrict itself to interpreting the law and not overstep its boundaries by making laws.
Another issue with the Indian judiciary is the tendency of judges to make comments that are not relevant to the case at hand. This practice has become all too common and needs to be addressed. Judges should restrict themselves to the facts of the case and not make comments that are irrelevant and unnecessary.
Conclusion
India is a vast and diverse country that faces numerous challenges, particularly in its rural areas. These challenges range from lack of basic infrastructure to poor access to education, healthcare, and public services. While the Indian judiciary has an important role to play in addressing these issues, it is imperative that they prioritize cases that impact the majority of the population. The judiciary should focus on interpreting the law and not overstep its boundaries by making laws. Judges should also avoid making comments that are not relevant to the case at hand. The Indian government needs to invest more in rural infrastructure, improve road connectivity, and ensure reliable electricity supply to improve the lives of people in rural areas.
