Aug 05 2008
Even God cannot save this country: Supreme Court!
“Even God will not be able to save this country.” This is the statement pronounced by a fuming Supreme Court on Tuesday stated while criticizing the government for its decision of not amending Section 441 IPC (criminal trespass) for prosecuting squatters of government accommodation in the country.
A bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi uttered its anger as the Additional Solicitor General Amarender Saran bluntly told the court that the Union government has decided not to amend Section 441 IPC (criminal trespass) for prosecuting squatters of government accommodation in the country.
The apex court also added, “In India even if God comes down he cannot change our country. Our country’s character has gone. We are helpless.”
Furious on the refusal to amend the law for launching criminal prosecution against those who illegally occupy official houses, the bench of justice said, “We are fed up with this government. They don’t have the guts to differ with the opinion of the clerks.”
The government took the stance that the existing provisions provided under the Public Premises Act was sufficient to evict those illegally occupying government accommodation. Moreover, it claimed that out of 99,100 government houses only 300-odd dwellings were under unauthorized occupation for which had been made to evict them.
The apex court was upset with the centre for not doing anything about illegal occupants of government houses and refusing to bring in harsher laws.
The court said PILs are being filed before it by people who are vexed with the approach of the government on various issues.
“You complain about judicial activism when you are in power. When you are not in power you come to us for remedy,” the 2-judge bench remarked.
