The need for a Strong & Transparent Judiciary

Dr Asangba Tzüdir  

For those who have a deep concern for the many forms of corruption are the ones who truly hate corruption or those who are affected by it in one way or the other especially when due rights and privileges are denied to the deserving. More painful is when the money meant for ‘public good’ is siphoned slyly and misused in a manner most undesirable and unethical. But, who cares about ethics and morality when the juice is worth the squeeze. Thus, corruption manifests in various forms unimaginable and many continue to be victimized by corruption.  

When we look at the response to corruption, it generates mixed feelings because, corruption and politics seem to go hand in hand which is very discouraging in the fight against corruption and there are those at the helm of political affairs for whom the ‘truth’ is how they want it to be and not really the truth of the matter. The recent highway bandh called by CCoFA demanding a CBI enquiry into the fuel adulteration ‘scam’ shows mistrust in the judicial process engaged. But, what followed then, was Nagaland cabinet calling the bandh as ‘illegal’ and alerting the district administration and police to deal with any ‘untoward’ situation.  

One another level, Nagaland State MP to the Lok Sabha Neiphiu Rio appearing in court in relation to his education qualification also tells a lot about the psyche of the people affirming that politics and corruption goes hand in hand. That, a section of his support band including his lawyers came out in solidarity holding placards with words “Truth will prevail” and “Rio is the answer” is indeed a revelation, which only time will tell. On the face of this case, the defense advocate ‘claiming’ the case as ‘political vendetta’ as per news reports sheds light on the ‘politically connected’ nature of this case. However, the focus should rather be on the ‘truth’ and ‘falsity’ of Rio’s educational qualification.  

The clean election campaign is on the move headed by NBCC. The Church leaders have also adopted certain resolutions as action plan to address the issues related to corruption. NBCC Youth Secretary Vikuo Rhi has contextually termed that “elections has become a spiritual issue.” But sadly, so long as the many forms of politics (including petty Church politics) and corruption goes hand in hand, the fight against corruption cannot be facilitated in praxis.   In the fight against corruption, a free and strong judiciary system is an urgent need. Various incidents have repeatedly proved the inadequacy and inefficiency of the judiciary system in the state. The truth is for all to see but ironically, the truth lies concealed within a ‘masked and fabricated truth.’ We have seen denial of rightful justice to victims of rape; then there are the backdoor appointments and for these illegal beneficiaries the government has become the ‘mess’iah; and the many forms of corruption getting ‘normalized’ right under the nose of the law enforcing agencies, etc.  

With the intricately woven nature of corruption, the fight against corruption is becoming more challenging by the day to a level where hope seems to slowly dissipate. More than anything else, a free, strong and transparent judiciary system needs to be strictly put in place for people to see, an adequate system uncompromised and free from any political or social ties towards delivering truth and justice. In this strain, it calls for an ‘anti-corruption system’ that is committed to putting in place both preventive and enforcement measures which is blind to unnecessary external and politically factors and any other factors that may come in the way of truth and justice. More so, strong accountability and transparency mechanisms need to be espoused. Only then, an effective investigation of corruption can be tangibly put into good effect.

  Above all, the present trend of corruption should invoke our ‘morally responsible selves.’  

(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is Editor of Heritage Publishing House. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to the Morung Express. Comment can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)