The New Nation - Internet Edition

There is a demand that the teachers alleged to be involved in the 20-22 August case should be treated with sympathy. Not a bad demand, because, the teachers in our society are presumed to be beter being. They are so considered from past for our value system.

But the question remains these days from reality on the ground that if all teachers are good beings in all respect although the majority could be so nice and good not only in their class room teaching performance but also in other issues of social responsibility.

The question however, remains unclear if in a free society there should be 'some are more equal than others', just as one of the great writer George Orwell has told us to ponder.

Freedom, democratic rule and specifically rule of law maintain that all are equal in the eye of law. That is why due process of law in free society went further ahead in prescribing for the accused quite a few crucial safeguards for defense in the court of law, one, 'anybody is innocent unless proved guilty', two, 'let one hundred guilty go unpunished than an innocent punished'.

We had them essentially from the British legal maxims in the 'due process of law'. Thus it is certain that the due process itself would do whatever is considered fit depending on gravity of the offences. If the present government would wish to show some sympathy to anybody at this stage of the due process of law, that would clearly be interference in the judicial process that we have long been fighting against any such undue interference.

M.T.Hussain

Ibrahimpur

Dhaka.