Madras High Court Acknowledges Judicial Corruption, Rejects Film Ban Request The Madras High Court recently addressed allegations of judicial corruption, stating that dishonest judges have existed and continue to do so. The court explicitly rejected a petition seeking to ban the Tamil film Karpai (Kruppu), which portrays the Indian judiciary as corrupt. The court emphasized that while the legal system faces challenges, it cannot be entirely dismissed as a "holy cow" or untouchable entity. The court’s ruling followed a petition filed by lawyer R.S. Tamilvendan, who argued that the film’s depiction of the judiciary as corrupt and dysfunctional harms public trust in the legal system. The petitioner claimed that the film’s portrayal of judges and court procedures as deeply flawed could damage the reputation of the judiciary. However, the High Court dismissed the request, stating that the film’s exaggerated portrayal of corruption is a common trope in Tamil cinema. The court acknowledged that judicial corruption is a reality, citing statements from former Chief Justice of India S.P. Bharucha, who had previously claimed that approximately 20% of judges are corrupt. The court also referenced the views of legal experts like Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan, who have long criticized the judiciary’s integrity. However, the court clarified that it does not endorse the sensationalized narratives often presented in such cases. In its order, the court highlighted that it is aware of numerous instances of judicial misconduct and has taken administrative actions to address such issues. Justice G.R. Swaminathan and Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, the judges presiding over the case, stated that while the legal system is not perfect, it cannot be entirely discredited.#madras_high_court #prashant_bhushan #r_s_tamilvendan #s_p_bharucha #shanti_bhushan
Ramping up the fight against cervical cancer India has launched a national vaccination program to combat cervical cancer by including the HPV vaccine in its immunization schedule, Mission Indradhanush. Starting in March, all 14-year-old girls in the country will receive a single dose of Gardasil-4, produced by the pharmaceutical company MSD. This initiative aims to reduce the significant burden of cervical cancer, which remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Indian women. The country reports approximately 120,000 new cases annually and nearly 80,000 deaths, contributing substantially to global cervical cancer mortality rates. However, concerns about the accuracy of incidence data persist. The introduction of the HPV vaccine has reignited debates about its safety and efficacy. Critics, including Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, have cited arguments from the 2018 book HPV Vaccine on Trial by Mary Holland and others, which questions the vaccine’s long-term benefits. The book highlights commercial interests driving its global promotion and raises concerns about higher reported deaths among vaccine recipients compared to cervical cancer fatalities. Rumors, such as claims that the vaccine causes infertility, have spread through social media, fueling public skepticism. Assessing the HPV vaccine’s effectiveness is complicated by the long latency period of cervical cancer, which typically develops decades after HPV infection. The disease often manifests around age 50, meaning vaccines administered to adolescents may take decades to fully evaluate. When Gardasil was first approved by the FDA in 2006, clinical trials followed participants for only three to five years, despite the development program spanning from 1998 to 2006. This limited follow-up has drawn criticism.#india #mission_indradhanush #msd #prashant_bhushan #gavil
