GJLDP has successfully entered the third year of its existence. The last two years enabled us and our readers to explain and understand intricate relationship between law, development and politics on various national and international issues. GNLU, to prepare lawyers and legal advisors who grasp the understanding of the whole society easily, induces an interdisciplinary education and research approach among the students. This reflects in our mission which offers holistic educational integrated law degrees with arts, commerce, social work, business administration and science & technology.
The issues and scams of corruption and the frustrations of all sections of the society and all three wings of the state - legislature, executive and judiciary have been the major worrisome area of attention for the entire civil society of India in 2011. We believe that the analysis focusing on, Can Lokayukta become the Hope of the Common Man, will put the whole debate in an interdisciplinary perspective. Human rights and rights of child, an issue which has found international attention since late 1980s and the failure of the government machineries to enact laws and establish monitoring mechanisms for protecting and promoting children is another interdisciplinary issue attempted in this issue of the Journal. While the analysis attempted in these articles show intricacies of the problems and inability of a role of one single sector of the society in solving the problem, it also reinforces our belief that the readers need to understand the multi-layer and multi-dimension as well as horizontal and vertical scope of the problems. Corruption, under different nomenclature, is bound to remain in the society, so overzealous actors are warned and advised to address the issues in such a way that the problem does not affect the full and integrated growth and development of all individuals in the Indian society, especially the common people. If the three wings of the state, in a collective and committed manner, can meaningfully reduce the menace, it will be a great service to the nation. Judges should not remain hypocritical in sitting with the members of the legislature and executive in frankly sharing and giving useful ideas. Similarly, the elected representatives must give due weightage to the judiciary's cry for eradicating the evil, otherwise, their goodwill be eradicated among the masses of the constituencies once and for ever. Although there are marked achievements in protecting and promoting the human rights and rights of child, India is far from ensuring what is due to all children. Last but not the least, role and responsibility of media itself has come under scanner in this year and the fourth pillar of the democracy itself has shown cracks in the integrity of the profession. Are we going through a maturity phase of the democracy or all the pillars of the democracy are showing signs of weaknesses? Who can hold accountable whom and why? Will India ever gain a status of non-corrupt democratic society? Will the elected representatives, members of the judiciary and executive do soul-searching at individual and institutional level to rehabilitate their images in the society? This issue of the GNLU Journal on Law, Development and Politics aims to provide an inter-disciplinary learning about possible answers to some of these questions. Much to expect!!!
Dr. Sairam Bhat and Ms. Smita Shrivastava
Gargi Chakrabarti
Sreya Ganguly & Ramya Sankaran
Vidyullatha Kishor
Dr. Priya Darshini
Dr. Priya Rao
Aditi Khosla and Nirali Sanghavi