5 JUNE 2014: International community reacts strongly against Baduan rape case!!

Ø  The United States and the United Nations have been sharp in their condemnation of the rape and hanging of two girls in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh. While the U.S. State Department said it was “horrified” by the crimes, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticised the statements of Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh in an oblique reference, saying: “We say no to the dismissive, destructive attitude of ‘boys will be boys.’” The U.N. has been critical of India in the wake of the Delhi gang rape of 2012 and sent its Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, to prepare a report for the U.N. Human Rights Council in April 2014 that was very critical of India’s “systemic failures” in curbing sexual violence. The comments from the U.S. in response to a question, coming ahead of the visit of the Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal, are seen as part of the increasing attention in the U.S. to crimes against women.

Ø  In a bid to wipe out pendency and give relief to litigants, Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha has suggested to the Chief Justices of the High Courts that courts function all 365 days a year. In a recent letter to the Chief Justices of the High Courts seeking their response to the proposal, he said judges should be given the choice of holidays and vacations. About 60,000 cases are pending disposal in the Supreme Court and over 42 lakh cases in High Courts.

Shefali Duggal

Ø  U.S. President Barack Obama has appointed a top Indian-American fundraiser Shefali Razdan Duggal as the member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Ms. Razdan Duggal helped several millions for Mr. Obama’s campaign in the 2008 and 2012 presidential election campaigns.