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Crimes of Omission
27th May 1999 Aseem Asthana @bom4.vsnl.net.in
Hello, The Jessica Lal murder and the drowning of the boy in the pool in Saket swimming pool have one thing in common. It in that the public opinion in both these cases is, as always, directed at the wrong issues. It is known that in both cases the activities of the bar/pool were being carried out for a long time without the necessary licences. Action is now being sought against these illegal activities. But what about the accountability of the government staff which is charged with the responsibility of going around checking that such visible violation of regulations does not take place. One regularly hears of overloaded buses and trains meeting with accidents but no action is taken against those who are paid the taxpayer's money to regulate these things. Crimes of omission, unfortunately, do not have the same culpability as crimes of commission. Thou shalt not kill thou needn't strive officiously to keep alive. But what in case you are paid by the taxpayer to be doing so? Obviously the other party is paying you better. What a shame. Alok.
