The Associated Press is reporting that Judge Dinesh Gupta, who issued an arrest warrant against Richard Gere for kissing Bollywood leading lady Shilpa Shetty has been transferred.
To our readers in the West, this could not make any sense. Allow me to explain.
Firing people who work for the government is almost impossible. Political clout, support from unions and the fear of the religious back lash are the top reasons. Demotion is not a consideration in fear of the same reasons. So what is the solution? Transfer.
“Transfer to a waterless forest”, a very popular term used to threaten government employees who slip up and this is exactly what has befallen Judge Dinesh Gupta.
The public display of affection drew an outcry among Hindu hard-liners, with rallies against the actors held in several cities. But the judge’s arrest order also drew harsh criticism in India, with some lawyers saying it had no legal merit and made the country look ridiculous.
The Times of India reported Thursday that Gupta was transferred from his post in Jaipur to the small town of Kishangarh several hours away. The paper quoted High Court Commissioner C.P. Singh as saying the transfer was “routine,” but he noted that the order came from a state chief justice. Officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Our system could be corrupt and slow, but when we do hand out those punishments, we reap what we sow. You handed out an arrest warrant for a ridiculous cause and now you are being taken to the middle of nowhere. I hope the other Judges think twice before deciding to pounce on their “two minutes of fame”.
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