The consistent efforts of the Supreme Court to cleanse the political turf of criminally tainted politicians has not yet borne fruits. The Court has advised that political parties should not give tickets to the tainted and that those facing criminal charges should not be inducted as Ministers.
India’s smallest state is a classic example. Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho is the prime accused in the 2001 infamous multi-crore Power scam case in which late Manohar Parrikar was the Complainant. Panaji MLA Babush Monseratte and Revenue Minister Jennifer Monseratte are the main accused in the 2008 storming and stoning of the Panaji Police Station. Besides, Babush Monseratte is also facing charges of having raped a minor girl. This is a disgusting state of affairs where those elected and entrusted to legislate good laws are themselves in violation of the law.
Politics cannot be a safe haven for those in breach of the law. On the contrary, those who make the law owe a higher degree of responsibility and accountability for their acts and must be ideal role models in society.
This has resulted in an erosion of the trust that people have in the political and judicial system besides in the laws made by people who do not adhere to the law and seen to be above the law.
