The inhumane trauma inflicted on our valiant Jesuit Priest Stan Swamy by the dark forces of vindictive regime is a very chilling warning for all of us, and the darkest blot on the conscience of humanity. It is unbecoming of any sensible system that he should have been ill-treated the way he was and that too at the age of 84. The Judiciary which symbolises the ultimate hope of protection against the powerful apparatus of the State, sadly failed to us miserably by not rising to its constitutional mandate, by not saving him from the torment he was going through and from the clutches of death.
Fr Stan Swamy’s pilgrimage on earth may have ended but he will live in our hearts forever. A soldier of solidarity he was who so bravely and with courage championed the cause for a more humanitarian society. He stood for simplicity and empowerment of the exploited while always being a friend of the poor and downtrodden.
The Constitution of India envisages a free, fair and independent Judiciary. The highest standards of judicial independence must be ensured by warding off even the faintest trace of governmental influence on the judiciary. It has to be ensured that judicial accountability is maintained at all times with every Judge conforming to the highest standards of uprightness and integrity solely to the Rule of Law.
Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer had said “Even so, the creed of judicial independence is our constitutional ‘religion’ and, if the executive use Article 222 to imperil this basic tenet, the Court must ‘do or die’.
On account of our legal system having failed to deliver timely justice, Fr Stan died a Martyr sacrificing his life in the battle against injustice. He will be missed more particularly by our less fortunate brethren who he tirelessly served all his life with passion and care. His pending bail application died a natural death, but Fr Stan is finally free to now serve in the Kingdom of God.
May we never connive in another such suffering and death of another human in our land or beyond.
May Rev. Fr Stan Swamy’s departed Soul rest in eternal peace.
