Mumbai

We read, via Sify, that some Mumbai-residents are taking the government to court for what they say is the failure of the government to protect their lives and property during the recent rains.

Good. This is exactly what we had argued for when we had accused our society, and its proxy our government, of Cheapening Lives To Reduce Their Cost. We closed there by saying:

Is there a solution? Well, for one, if we had a robust tort system, it'd be a good start. Maybe we can't avert dying in bunches but we can impose really harsh cost on whoever is responsible. This will surely increase the cost of our lives but it will enhance their value as well.

Perhaps Mumbai will take a lead in this. We hope the people of the city will sue for serious damage and extract a precedent-setting punitive award from the government. Sure, it isn't all the government's fault, but they are at least partly to blame and we know their address. So, Mumbai, how about serving your government a tsunami of summons? Don't settle for the pathetic compensation packages they will offer. Beat them in court and show India a new way of doing things.

[Sify link courtesy The Acorn]