National insecurity issue

Issue

Accountability needs to be set for lapses in the National Security.

Context

• Something is seriously wrong with our counter-terror security establishment, Parliament's Standing Committee on Home Affairs has reported regarding attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.
• It said that something is seriously wrong with our counter-terror security establishment,
• Its calls for more effective police action against cross-border trafficking, to ''effectively seal the border'' and for ''better intelligence and operational coordination''

Moment of Truth

• The truth is that the resources to do what the committee knows needs doing just do not exist.
• Funds are not available even for fuel and maintenance needs for Punjab Police patrol vehicles.
• BSF is desperately short of officer-rank personnel.
• IB and R&AW are over a third short of staff allocations.
• Throughout the security sector, training standards are being diluted, and specialist skills are in short supply.

Problem

Accountability can't be demanded unless security forces are given functional autonomy, and credible resources to go with it.

Legal system too expensive for most: Study

According to the nationwide ''Access to Justice'' survey, legal system in India is too expensive to access for most citizens in the country.

• The survey was conducted across 305 locations in 24 States between November 2015 and February 2016 to hear the voice and explore the profile of people making use of judicial system in India.

Important observations made:

• 90% of the litigants earn less than Rs. 3 lakh per annum and the median expected cost of litigation for this group is around Rs. 16,000.
• For most, the judicial system of our country is shut because they cannot access lawyers in the first place and the quality of legal aid is poor.
• Though legal aid aims to provide free legal services to the weaker sections who otherwise can't afford it, the survey found that that just 1% of the respondents make use of this service.
• Accountability of legal aid lawyers towards their clients and lack of communication between the two are serious concerns plaguing the system.
• The financial barrier is not just limited to accessing courts. The main reason individuals could not meet the conditions of bail was found to be lack of funds. Also, around half the litigants cited expense as a major deterrent for filing appeals in the High Court if their cases were not resolved in their favour.