Prisons should not be seen as dumping grounds or as institutions of rigorous punishment

Parole is a legally protected term. It has been explained by the courts from time to time. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the meaning and the purpose of granting parole. A parole is defined as conditional release of an individual from prison. It is conditional on good behaviour and regular reporting to the authorities. Such a release is hard-earned and can be obtained only after spending a substantial amount of time behind bars. It is a form of contingent pardoning, to be treated as a mere suspension of the sentence for the time being while keeping the quantum of the sentence intact. A life sentence, on the other hand, seeks to keep a convict behind bars for the rest of his/her life. In my work as a prison researcher, I have come across hundreds of aged prisoners serving life sentences. One such case is that of Dr Habib. The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act was invoked to convict the 92-year-old Habib. He had been living in a prison cell for 24 years without being granted parole. The appellate court is yet to decide on his case. The man has lost his sight and hearing ability. He cannot chew or digest prison food and soils his clothes regularly. He is nursed by other inmates.After his request for parole had been rejected multiple times, his case partner, Ashfaq, moved the Supreme Court, which made it abundantly clear in the Ashfaq judgment (SC Civil Appeal No.10464 of 2017) that the nature of offence does not determine whether an individual will not show signs of reform in the future. Justice A.K. Sikri noted: "whether there can be any presumption that a person who is convicted of serious or heinous crime is to be, ipso facto, treated as a hardened criminal. Hardened criminal would be a person for whom it has become a habit or way of life and such a person would necessarily tend to commit crimes again and again. Obviously, if a person has committed a serious offence for which he is convicted, but at the same time it is also found that it is the only crime he has committed, he cannot be categorised as a hardened criminal. In his case consideration should be as to whether he is showing the signs to reform himself and become a good citizen or there are circumstances which would indicate that he has a tendency to commit the crime again or that he would be a threat to the society. Mere nature of the offence committed by him should not be a factor to deny the parole outrightly. Wherever a person convicted has suffered incarceration for a long time, he can be granted temporary parole, irrespective of the nature of offence for which he was sentenced. We may hasten to put a rider here, viz. in those cases where a person has been convicted for committing a serious offence, the competent authority, while examining such cases, can be well advised to have stricter standards in mind while judging their cases on the parameters of good conduct, habitual offender or while judging whether he could be considered highly dangerous or prejudicial to the public peace and tranquillity..." Based on the above judgment, the Rajasthan High Court granted Dr Habib parole for 20 days. He went home for the first time in 24 years and returned to prison a couple of days earlier just to keep his records clean. Conviction does not mean that an individual has been written off from society. Temporary release from prison has to be considered as an opportunity afforded to the convict. Parole not only benefits the prisoner and the prisoner's family but is also necessary for society at large. This is because justice is not premised on the idea of revenge and prisons do not exist to satisfy the collective conscience. Also, by putting an individual behind bars for the purpose of reform and then refusing to end the sentence is to defeat the purpose of a correctional institution as a whole. The implications of a life sentence thus need to be examined.Inhuman conditions prevail inside Indian prisons. What reform process can such a prison offer? Reform cannot be imposed upon anyone. During the process of incarceration, facilitating a convict to make use of parole can result in the convict taking the onus of initiating the process of reform.The demand by civil rights activists for life sentences without parole can have horrific social repercussions because it reiterates revenge as a form of justice. To demand a life sentence sans parole is to reassert the need for a retributive form of punishment in an inherently violent society.Crime does not thrive in isolation. It can be traced back to social conditioning and the prevailing political environment. There is no easy solution for heinous offences; neither can incarceration heal society or prevent crime. Prisons, it must be argued, should not be seen as dumping grounds or as institutions of rigorous punishment. 1677492 1695607 DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Telegraphhttp://www.subzerotyler.com/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/143200/Default.aspx

What China has and hasn't done to address US trade gripes

China analysts say the pace of market-driven change has quickened a tad as a result of Donald Trump's trade war. 'There's more of a trajectory today than we've probably seen since the 3rd plenum of the 18th party congress'' in November 2013, according to Jacob Parker, senior vice president at the U.S.-China Business Council in Washington. China's leaders at that time laid out plans for the biggest expansion of economic freedoms since at least the 1990s, only for subsequent implementation to underwhelm. In a January 2017 speech at Davos, President Xi Jinping again raised expectations of a new era of reform. A year later at the same venue, his top economic adviser, Vice Premier Liu He, said China would surprise the world with its reforms. More than a year and a half since Liu spoke, there has been no surprise. China is widely seen doing too little opening, too late to match its heft as an economy striving for global dominance, despite continued pledges to do more. Here's the state of play in four crucial areas where the two sides remain at odds: Forty% of European companies say China has improved market access, according to a business confidence survey by the European Chamber of Commerce in China published in May. A revision of the negative list for foreign investment in June 2018 was the biggest step forward, reducing the number of sectors that were restricted or prohibited, along with timelines for removing ownership caps in the financial services and car industries, the EU Chamber said. The most recent progress came in July, when Premier Li Keqiang said China will bring forward by a year to 2020 plans to remove foreign ownership limits on financial companies from securities to futures and life insurance firms. Still, the American Chamber of Commerce in China said in a paper this year that market access restrictions still affect more than half of its members, with challenges particularly acute in technology and research and development-intensive sectors, where over 75% of its members report issues. While many U.S. companies acknowledge China's efforts to improve intellectual property protection laws and their enforcement in recent years, especially with respect to trademark and brand protection, they still feel China's safeguards come up short, said AmCham. An amendment to the Trademark Law in April that increased compensation for infringements 'got at specific issues of concern for foreign companies,'' said Parker. An intellectual property appeals mechanism introduced at the Supreme People's Court level was also positive, he said. Still, China points to surging royalty payments for intellectual property rights as evidence it's heading in the right direction. China was ranked 52nd out of 125 countries last year by the International Property Rights Index, unchanged from the previous year but up from 55th in 2016. The Chinese government denies allegations that it strong-arms foreign companies into parting with their technologies as 'utterly unfounded.' Still, there's been a rapid-fire series of legal changes that appear designed to help it reach a trade deal with the U.S. A new foreign investment law scheduled to take effect next year will ban administrative agencies from forcing technology transfers. It also includes the possibility of criminal penalties for officials who disclose or leak trade secrets gleaned from regulatory approvals. The law was approved in March after just a matter of months, a process that usually takes years. A revision to the Administrative Licensing Law approved in April also prohibits officials from disclosing trade secrets and confidential information. That still isn't enough for U.S. officials, who say China has committed to changes before but not followed through. The EU Chamber reported in May that the new foreign investment law 'contains broad terms and vague language throughout' that create 'uncertainty that damages business confidence.' This is arguably the thorniest issue of all because China's ambition to catch up and challenge the world in high-technology industries is founded in its state-led and state-financed industrial policies. The government's policy tone has shifted as attitudes of some foreign nations toward China harden. In his March work report, Premier Li promised 'competitive neutrality'' so that state and private companies would be 'treated on an equal footing'' and given equal market access. Policy makers also are finessing the way they present their plans to the world. As a result, the Made in China 2025 blueprint, a subsidy-driven plan to turn the country into a global powerhouse of advanced technologies that riled the Trump administration, has disappeared from public view. So far though, there's scant evidence that China's changed its subsidy-driven approach to industrial advancement. On the contrary, Xi has urged China to double down on efforts to promote self reliance. 'In the wake of China's tremendous growth in size, global reach and competitiveness, it must increasingly meet the levels of economic openness of other advanced economies,'' said Daniel Rosen, a partner at Rhodium Group LLC, a New York-based economic-research firm that specializes in China. 'That has simply not been happening.'' (The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text) DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. 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Follow these 11 rules to make sure your child is eating healthy

When a child is young, he/she is more adaptable and open to learning new things, which is the time when parents can teach them the importance of healthy eating. Evidence has also indicated that dietary habits acquired during childhood persist throughout life and are tough to change. Here are some positive feeding strategies: Replace fried foods with healthy snacks such as baby carrots, whole wheat pancakes, spinach and banana muffins etc. Try adding a twist to monotonous unhealthy recipes. Instead of giving regular muffins, bake ragi muffins at home for children. Choose healthy sources of protein such as paneer, cheese, lean meat, nuts and eggs. Avoid feeding too many sweetened beverages (especially bottled). Encourage them to drink plenty of water or prepare homemade refreshing beverages such as lemonade, mint shikanji, etc. Involve your child in menu preparation and planning. It is very important to involve your child in these activities as they learn healthy eating habits more efficiently by practically doing things themselves. Offer comparable choices to your child, such as regular or frozen yogurt, carrot sticks, wholegrain pancakes. Use the hungriest time to feed the most nutritious meal followed by small and frequent meals. When a child is back from school, give him/her a wholesome lunch rather than milk or unhealthy snack. Restrict eating to dining table/ kitchen. You'll save your children countless calories from mindless munching in front of the TV. Foods marketed as low-fat or fat-free can still be high in calories. Likewise, foods touted as cholesterol-free can still be high in fat, saturated fat and sugar. Check nutrition labels to find out the whole story. If the cookie jar is full, your children will probably clamour for cookies. But if there aren't any cookies in the house, fresh fruit or raw veggies may seem more appealing. Ask your children to make towers out of whole-grain crackers or make funny faces on a plate using different types of fruit. Use a tablespoon of peanut butter as glue. Make shapes out of paneer slices, whole-grain bread. Eat diced fruit with chopsticks. Give snacks funny names. Make it easy for older children to help themselves. Keep a selection of ready-to-eat veggies in the refrigerator. Leave fresh fruit in a bowl on the counter. Store whole-grain cereal in an easily accessible cabinet, and stock fruit canned or packaged in its own juice in your kitchen. Make sure your children's snacks are age appropriate. Never give foods that pose a choking hazard - such as nuts, raisins, whole grapes or popcorn - to children younger than age four. Practice and teach your child to wash hands before consuming any meal. Let your children catch you munching raw vegetables or snacking on a bowl of fruits and nuts. Be patient. Your children's eating habits may not change overnight. Look for positive changes over weeks or months. Practice family meals - take out special time for food, sit together on the dining table and consume meals together. Don't bribe or reward your kids with unhealthy/ restricted food. 'Parents should give less sugar, more vegetables and bitter flavours in baby food' (The writer is Chief Clinical Nutritionist, Clinical Nutrition and Dieticians Department, Fortis Gurugram.) DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Indian Expresshttp://ctendodontists.org/UserProfile/tabid/84/userId/762595/Default.aspx

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TV Rewind | Sharp Objects: Amy Adams aces a challenging role

As we meet Camille, we find out that she is an alcoholic who has been self-harming for several years and has also spent some time in a psychiatric facility. Camille is scared of living in her childhood home and as we delve deeper, we find out about the years she spent in that house. Her demons, metaphorically, still reside there and her mother Adora makes sure she never forgets them. Sharp Objects is a murder mystery as the town has witnessed two murders under suspicious circumstances. The murders turn into a personal battle for Camille as she lost her sister as a child and still blames herself for the mishap. Amy Adams is a chameleon on screen and the way she embodies Camille is a treat to watch. Camille is a grown-up now but she still hasn't confronted her mother. Her sister's death has damaged her for life but her sharp mind has never left her side and Adams conveys all of this without using many words. Patricia Clarkson as Adora is the scene-stealer here. Her eerie, dominating presence sends chills down your spine every time she appears on screen. She makes Adora a necessary evil in Camille's life and she does it so effectively that her presence is enough to intimidate the viewers. Another stand out character here is Amma played by Eliza Scanlen. The teenager is Camille's step sister and Adora's youngest daughter. She is a rebel and reminds Camille of her younger days. Amma is introduced as a bratty teenager but her troubled life makes you root for her. Even though she seems like a well-wisher, there's something about her that assures you that all's not well with this young woman. The eight-episode saga starts strong and with limited episodes, you know there is an end to this story. But unfortunately, there are a few episodes in between when the show starts to feel like a drag. The silences speak but sometimes, it starts to feel a little too self-indulgent. The show was nominated for three Golden Globes in the categories - Best Miniseries or Television Film, Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film for Amy Adams and Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film for Patricia Clarkson. Clarkson won the award for her performance as Adora. The show has been nominated in the same three categories at the Primetime Emmy Awards and the results for the same will be announced on September 22, 2019. Sharp Objects is a murder mystery and is presented as a psychological thriller. The eight-episodes are pretty tight when it comes to storytelling. So, if you are looking for an intense series that could swallow your weekend, this is certainly the right fit. TV Rewind Patrick Melrose AHS Murder House Arrested Development Two and a Half Men Girls The Good Wife Dead Set Dexter Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip The Office Parks and Recreation Fringe Broadchurch Seinfeld Lost Mad Men Sex and the City Sharp Objects is streaming on Hotstar. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Indian Expresshttp://echometer.com/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/505386/Default.aspx Among them is Hiranyakasipa, a seemingly big project about which the actor has been talking in LA too. ... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Deccan Chroniclehttp://southmainalliance.org/UserProfile/tabid/57/userId/639307/Default.aspx

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Jeep captured from Pak in 1971 stands as 'war trophy' in Army camp near Leh

Once fitted with a recoilless gun, this US-origin jeep now travels across India as a prized possession of the Regiment, which has ensured the almost 50-year-old vehicle moves like a well-oiled machine. "We captured it during the Jarpal war and it was used by the Pakistani army as a part of their attack plan at Shakargarh border, in Jarpal area of Pakistan. So, it was named Jarpal Queen. From that war, India has two Param Vir Chakra medals," said Colonel (retd) J S Dhillon. The two Param Vir Chakra awardees were Colonel Hoshiar Singh from the Grenadier Regiment and Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal from the Armoured Regiment. "It is a ''war trophy'' and was shown to VIP guests and was also used during guard of honour for senior officers. It is in great condition and runs very smoothly," said Colonel Dhillon, a Sena Medal recipient who was commissioned in the 3 Grenadier Regiment in 1982 and now heads the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg, under the Ministry of Tourism. He said the ''Jarpal Queen'' had gone wherever the Regiment has been stationed. Jaipur, Kupwara, Simla, Poonch, Meerut, Ferozepur... the list is long. In 1988, when the Regiment was in Ferozpur in Punjab, the jeep was registered with the Punjab transport department for it to be driven on the road. "We took a number, insured and registered it. As far as I can recall, except the regiment''s UN mission to Eithopia, the jeep has gone everywhere with them," said Colonel Dhillon. The jeep has also been witness to numerous border skirmishes with Pakistan, particularly during the regiment's stints in Jammu and Kashmir. A full-scale war broke out between India and Pakistan over East Pakistan in 1971. It ended with surrender of 90,000 Pakistani troops and led to the creation of Bangladesh. ... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Deccan Chroniclehttp://benoit.gaillard.aricie.net/UserProfile/tabid/2042/userId/7892/Default.aspx

DKS custody and grey shades in politics

Secondly, DKS is not exactly known for Gandhian values. He seems to have had a premonition of what was coming his way too. His tweets-Twitter being our public-personal broadcasting service-and his last speech in the Assembly could be seen as a chronicle of a jail-term foretold. Nonetheless, the reaction was fierce. In his home ground Kanakapura, some 60 km from Bengaluru, buses were torched, highways blocked and it's like an unofficial bandh. In the rest of the state, his party, listless just days ago, has suddenly found a cause to hit the streets. Politics in India seems to be run by Robin Hoods. Whatever be the nature of charges, if a politician's ground-level PR is in place, he's a hero of sorts! His supporters call it pure political vendetta. Many others are equally (or more) guilty of shady transactions, they say, but stay untouched under the protective umbrella of the ruling dispensation. Note, there's no claim of clean politics, only a comparative scaling of grey shades. The Congress needs to ponder how DKS became the face of the party in a state that had leaders like S Nijalingappa and Devaraj Urs. The state BJP, meanwhile, is curiously muted. After all, DKS is from the powerful Vokkaliga community... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The New Indian Expresshttp://wiznotes.com/UserProfile/tabid/84/userId/251207/Default.aspx

Love Action Drama movie review: Dhyan hits bullseye

Love Action Drama shows why it has prevailed almost a decade as a favourite combo for many movie-goers. Through LAD, Dhyan, the younger brother of Vineeth Sreenivasan, adds his name in that combo, and we may see more from them. In this Dhyan Sreenivasan directorial, Dinesh (Nivin Pauly), a wealthy young man who gets rejected by his childhood lover, finds his true love in Shobha (Nayantara), a Malayali girl brought up in Chennai. But before winning her heart, Dinesh has to change his sluggish way of living and quit two addictions, smoking and heavy drinking. Will he succeed in doing that? Will his friend Sagar (Aju Varghese) be able to help him? Nivin Pauly, who has had a slow start to the year with mediocre movies like Mikhael, makes a big leap forward with this rom-com. After the success of Oru Vadakkan Selfie, fans of Nivin Pauly's comedy roles didn't have much to celebrate. To an extent, LAD can satisfy them and seeing the usual suspects of Nivin-Aju-Vineeth in one frame would be huge for them. The film's storyline is pretty simple and at times predictable, but altogether they could bring back the good old slapstick comedy successfully. And funny one-liners from Aju, like in Malarvadi Arts Club, Thattathin Marayathu and in Oru Vadakkan Selfie, make a comeback in this movie. Dhyan's direction is above average and the film hardly offers any boring or dead sequence. Nayantara's ethereal grace and suave acting in these types of rom-coms is a treat as always. Vineeth Sreenivasan, Sreenivasan, Renji Panicker and Mallika Sukumaran prove to be a well-balanced cast with their performances. Delicious visuals in Chennai and decent music make it a worthy one-time watch. ... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Deccan Chroniclehttps://justpaste.it/3tgmd

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