Of loops and holes

So Kaizad Gustad finally got bail. After a month or more. I agree he took a series of reckless decisions that ultimately resulted in Nadia Khan's death, but somehow, I find myself empathising with him. He did try and get Nadia to the hospital in the hope that her life would be saved. Had he followed the official procedure, Nadia would have died right there, on the tracks. Our laws and procedures are so old, so archaic, so anachronistic, but no Government ever thinks of amending them. There is absolutely no chance that anybody's life can be saved if the regulations are followed.

Personal experience: My grandfather suffered a fatal heart-attack after he alighted from a suburban train. He was dead by the time the Railway Police got there. Of course, they traced us and called us, but it was a good five hours before all this happened. Even after we reached there, his body was still lying on the platform. All material possessions were gone - save his watch and officework papers - without trace. After we completed the formalities - four hours - and were ready to take possession of the body, the police disappeared. Nobody to tell us or help us to take the body out of the station. No stretcher, no people, no ambulance.

It took over ten hours from the time of death, to move his body out of the station premises. The police personnel who dealt with us had disappeared. The new lackey on duty did not know - or care - about what we were asking him. He flatly refused to help because "everything that needed to be done from our side has been done." We were, in effect, free to do what we wanted. And no, we couldn't get the ambulance into the station premises. That would require permission from the railway authorities and since the bumpkin who handled our case was off duty, he couldn't do anything.

Another case: A friend was returning home from work by the company bus a few days ago. At an intersection - adjacent to a Police Station - the bus hit a car. The bus driver was at fault, and the car was rendered immobile; it had been pushed onto the road divider. The driver of the car got down and climbed into the bus. Then ensued a beating. All perfectly OK so far: Bus driver at fault, car with family, at risk, driver angry, all fine.

But the driver of the car stalled all traffic at the intersection for a good twenty minutes. The police station was just across the intersection. The driver happened to be connected to - or was - a Shiv Sainik/goon. The police didn't intervene, didn't try to clear up the traffic, despite being just across the road. Their excuse - after they finally arrived: they were not the Traffic Police and therefore their jurisdiction did not extend to attending traffic-related matters.

With this attitude, why shouldn't I wilfully lie, if it means I can hope to save someone's life? Sure, catch the offender for his transgressions, but leave it for later, right? All that came of the subsequent media publicity is that the shortcomings of our legal system were conveniently - and quietly - hidden away. Just because Kaizad Gustad guaranteed instant publicity to the police department, everyone jumped on him.

I can guess what would happen if it were you or me out there.