Commit a blunder, and when caught, evade it with a mere apology or an “oversight” excuse — this has become a standard method to test the waters of society. The same pattern is now evident as the Kerala High Court Advocates Cooperative Society printed its New Year diaries with distorted maps of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh in its prestigious annual diary. More shockingly, the omitted regions are shown as part of Pakistani territory and are marked with black dots, while other states are depicted in different colours.
The diaries were distributed in the early days of January. As soon as the issue turned controversial, the Cooperative Society began removing the map printed on page 66. This appears to be an escape route, at least for the time being.
Advocate R. Prashanthkumar, a senior functionary of the Abhibhashaka Parishad, the Kerala chapter of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivaktha Parishad, and also a Central Government Standing Counsel, has lodged a complaint at the Ernakulam Central Police Station. He has demanded the registration of a case against the Cooperative Society.
Generally, any printing work does not go to print casually. It passes through multiple levels of editing and fact-checking. Therefore, it cannot be brushed aside as a mere oversight or typographical error.
In his complaint, Adv. R. Prashanthkumar stated that such maps directly challenge the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The complaint seeks action under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1961.
It demands that an FIR be registered against the office bearers, including the president and secretary of the Society, and that the diaries already distributed be seized forthwith.
Such “distortions” have occurred repeatedly in Kerala, followed by routine apologies from those responsible. Authorities must exercise utmost caution and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Whether it is the CPM or Congress-led groups, both have repeatedly resorted to appeasement politics, pandering to one group or another, including radical elements. This is a serious issue, and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also holds the Home portfolio, is expected to take stringent action against the culprits. However, the track record of these two parties has consistently fallen far below the expectations of nationalists.
