IN A democratic country like India, everyone enjoys certain privileges under the Right to Information Act. It states: Information means any material in any form including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material, held in any electronic form and information, relating to any private body, which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force."

But does this imply that these rights are absolute, which can be used to the extent of thwarting the privileges of another national? The Aarushi murder case offers an excellent example of the commotion that can be created if this tacit understanding isn’t there. The Uttar Pradesh police, seems to have baffled the entire nation by their behaviour and stand in the case, and don’t seems to have any sense of ethics and professionalism.

With the striking divulgence of the e-mails of Aarushi and her father by the UP police, the public is trying to estimate the extent of moral degradation that has surfaced.

Since the beginning of this case one can seriously doubt these policemen regarding their responsibilities, which should come with the mammoth task that lies in their hands of deciding the fate of several individuals.

Initially, as soon as Aarushi’s body was found, instead of involving the forensic department for investigation, a quick and foolhardy judgment, declaring the most obvious person (missing from the scene of crime), Hemraj, as the guilty of the crime, was taken so as to quickly close the file. But, due to the twist, which came in with the second murder, they could not do away with the file in hand.

As if all this was not enough, they went on to commit such a deplorable blunder by disclosing the personal mails of the people involved under the tag of investigation. Media has played an equal role in aggravating the already existing mayhem. It seems to have gone absolutely haywire focussing on aspects, which would fetch them just a few extra topics of gossip to the serious neglect of the actual crime.

All throughout, the government seems to be watching like a dunce, the news stories about its incompetence, that have been flooding the media.

"Dude...the usual crap...," that’s the response; just like this article would in all probability get. Herein, how does one expect the individual who is not guilty of crime to retain complete integrity of mind amidst such chaos and hopelessness?

The severity of the situation can be estimated by the fact that even a minor who is now dead, is being doubted and trifled with. One cannot be sure of peace even after death. The case, as it can be viewed now, has too many perspectives to it to clearly understand how to prioritise among these and eventually come to a sound verdict with perfect analysis and research.

The usual outcome of such cases is that they are somehow closed by a somewhat acceptable verdict or are dragged on for years, neither of which has the potential to ensure a foolproof verdict.

I, myself, am at a loss for an answer to this question: Are these people who direct a case to this situation of despair, worthy of belonging to a respectable cadre or deserve prestige in society? Do these so-called judges of fate even realise what humanity means? The government just waits and watches till the destiny of the innocent is doomed.

At present, we all know the fact that although these ideas appeal to the human soul, we do nothing but confine ourselves to the expression of pity and indignation. How does that help? The cause of humanity seems to be no longer worth all the trouble and sacrifice, which it demands of us. If the entire nation falls victim to such an indifferent attitude who would be there to support the naive individual who doesn’t have any knowledge of such proceedings? Frankly, are we not supporting the guilty over the innocent?