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Enactment of the Jharkhand Domestic Policy will be the real litmus test for the BJP’s claim of catering to the needs of the tribals of the state. On March 13, the Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das assured that his government would table a draft domicile policy during the ongoing budget session and ensure the new policy is in place within two months. Notwithstanding Das’ assurance, the state BJP leaders are in the state of stupor. They are scared of outbreak of ethnic violence.

When the wife of the chief executive of India’s biggest public sector health insurance company recently visited a private medical specialist to rid herself of sudden severe headache, she had no clue about the procedure she was about to go through at the clinic and thereafter. The dutiful doctor, knowing her background fully well, refused to take any chance. She was made to undergo a whole lot of tests, including MRI, for the next two days before she felt the headache was gone. But, that was only a temporary relief. The final medical bill of Rs. 20,000 that she received after the thorough check up was threatening to cause her another headache. Employees of a good number of public sector undertakings are entitled to reimbursements of medical expenses for self and the spouse until death. This has opened a new opportunity for private healthcare providers in India though the total market of such cases is still very small. In most other cases, medical bills are picked up by patients or their guardians. And, that is becoming the biggest headache of the country’s poor as well as self-supported middle class.

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh is passing through a very serious crisis. The crisis is not only constitutional but also moral. According to the constitutional provisions administration of a state is run by the governor on the advice of the council of Minister. But at present the police which is under his control has lodged a First Information Report against him. The governor, on his part has moved the State High Court with the request that the FIR against him should be quashed. Obviously governor's petition is against his government. Thus the state police has initiated criminal charge against the governor and the governor has taken legal step against the state government. Thus it can be construal that he has filed a petition against himself.

If the Indian government wanted to become the laughing stock of the world, it couldn’t have done so more instantly and effectively than by banning the BBC documentary India’s Daughter on Delhi’s December 2012 gang-rape. Not only was the film watched by millions the world over; it became a cause celebre for feminists, defenders of free expression and even progressive Hollywood actors.

If the BJP was confident of winning the next year’s Assembly polls in Assam, it is doing everything that it should not do. Recently, Pradyut Bora, a member of the BJP’s National executive and a former convener of the party’s IT cell, resigned, criticizing the style of functioning of the Modi-Shah duo. Modi, he says, has damaged the party’s democratic image while Amit Shah was individualistic and authoritarian.

Several combined initiatives of the Union Government of India, the state governments, and the judiciary at the apex and High Courts to reduce delays and expedite disposal of cases have failed to deliver justice to the beleaguered litigating people of India over the years since Independence in 1947. The result has been manifold increase in the pendency of cases. As of now, there are over 3.5 crore cases pending in our courts with more than 4000 vacancies of judicial officers (magistrates/judges) in subordinate judiciary comprising 14,249 sub-divisional and district courts across the country. Situation in High Courts is equally worrying. The number of vacancies at any time is high.

LUCKNOW: After completing three years in the office on March 15 this year, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced that during remaining two years, his government would finish ongoing projects.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab politics has entered a new phase. A close look at the happenings indicates all-round decline in the norms. If the current trends persist, it may not take long before the situation becomes chaotic. Due to their intra-party and inter-party squabbles, the mainstream political parties are facing testing times. Topping the list are Akali Dal and its ruling partner BJP with the Congress closely following them.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam’s expression of ‘deep concern’ over the unfortunate incidents in the State Assembly on Friday, March 13, 2015, and his decision to send a report to the President on the unprecedented developments have sent the UDF Government into a tizzy.

Even a casual observer of the Indian scene would have noticed a diminution of the ardour of the Hindutva camp in recent weeks over spreading their ideological message.