Tea is one beverage that is loved by everyone from the President of India to me sitting in the comfort of my home and writing this review. If you are out of ideas, Tea is a drink, which refreshes you and the ideas come flowing out at a faster pace. Tea is made in different styles across India. Though different in style, one thing is common across everywhere – well-brewed tea is an unmatched refresher.

The book in question has used this marvelous drink as part of its title. One will assume that tea will be the centre of each of the story or anecdote; however, that is not the case. The author has used Tea in various forms in different stories – in some Tea is the protagonist and in others it plays a supporting role while in few others it has been used metaphorically.

The author portrays his experience in a very lucid and simple language and displays a sense of humor that is both pragmatic and pleasurable. The book covers trips, anecdotes and stories in varied lengths. Some trips are short while others are spread over few chapters. The book is not only about trips and tea – it is also about people. He describes various characters across the book – Doltu, a local Himachali lad, Mouneet, a friend and a whiz in computers, and Kapil from NR Cells (Railways) are some who grab attention. Besides, the author has devoted an entire chapter for his Guides across various locations in India – Uncle ‘Moustachioed’ Mukesh at Jaisalmer, the great S.N.Keshav Murthy at the Chennakesava Temple, and Ashutosh Tripathi at Khajurao – are the few about whom he has talked about at good length.

The experiences shared cover all the masalas that are involved in a Bollywood flick– drama, chill, thrill, comedy, action and adventure all are beautifully brewed together and served and presented beautifully.

When I had ordered the book, I had thought since it belongs to Travel genre, it would have some pictures; there is none. I was disappointed to an extent. However, -it is also important to realize that the book is more about style of writing and experiences and not the regular travel description.

Overall, an excellent book for a light read. The book will not take much of your time and you can read it in a go though it does not require to be completed in one sitting. It is a nice book, which can be read while traveling, or just before going to sleep, or waiting for your wife outside her office or wherever you feel like. You do not need to be in a serious reading mode while picking this up. So, grab your copy now and enjoy.

My rating 7/10.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

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The Bill seeks to:-

• Lay down judicial standards,
• Provide for the accountability of judges, and
• Establish mechanisms for investigating individual complaints for misbehavior or incapacity of a judge of the Supreme Court or High Courts. It also provides a mechanism for the removal of judges.
• The Bill requires judges to practice universally accepted values of judicial life. These include a prohibition on:

(a) close association with individual members of the Bar who practice in the same court as the judge,
(b) allowing family members who are embers of the Bar to use the judge’s residence for professional work,
(c) hearing or deciding matters in which a member of the judge’s family or relative or friend is concerned,
(d) entering into public debate on political matters or matters which the judge is likely to decide, and
(e) engaging in trade or business and speculation in securities.

• Judges will also be required to declare their assets and liabilities, and also that of their spouse and children. Such declaration has to take place within 30 days of the judge taking his oath to enter his office. Every judge will also have to file an annual report of his assets and liabilities. The assets and liabilities of the judge will be displayed on the website of the court to which he belongs.
• The Bill establishes the National Judicial Oversight Committee, the Complaints Scrutiny Panel and an Investigation Committee.  Any person can make a complaint against a judge to the Oversight Committee on grounds of ‘misbehaviour’.
• Initial complaints will be made to the Oversight Committee, and they will be referred to the Scrutiny Panel.
• A Scrutiny Panel will be constituted in the Supreme Court and every High Court. It shall consist of a former Chief Justice and two sitting judges of that court. If the Scrutiny Panel feels there are sufficient grounds for proceeding against the judge, it shall report on its findings to the Oversight Committee. If it finds that the complaint is frivolous, or that there not sufficient grounds for inquiring against into the complaint, it shall submit a report to the Oversight Committee giving its findings for not proceeding with the complaint.
• The Oversight Committee will consist a retired Chief Justice of India as the Chairperson, a judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the sitting Chief Justice of India, a Chief Justice of the High Court, theAttorney General for India, and an eminent person appointed by the President.
• If the Scrutiny Panel recommends investigation into a complaint against a judge, the Oversight Committee will constitute an investigation committee to investigate into the complaint. The inquiry committee will consist of not more than three members. It will have some powers of a civil court and also the power to seize documents and keep them in its custody.
• The investigation committee will frame definite charges against the judge and shall communicate the same to the judge. The judge shall be given an opportunity to present his case, but if he/ she chooses not be heard, the proceedings may be heard without him present.
• If the charges against a judge are proved, the Oversight Committee may recommend that judicial work shall not be assigned to the judge. It may also issue advisories and warnings if it feels that the charges proved do not warrant the removal of the judge. If the Committee feels that the charges proved merit the removal of the judge, it shall (a) request the judge to resign voluntarily, and if he fails to do so, (b) advise the president to proceed with the removal of the judge. In such a case, the President shall refer the matter to Parliament.
• A motion for removal of a judge can also be introduced in Parliament by members of Parliament. In such a case, the Speaker or the Chairman can either admit the notice, or refuse to admit it. If the notice is admitted, the matter shall be referred to the Oversight Committee for inquiry.
• The Bill exempts documents and records of proceedings related to a complaint from the purview of the Right, 2005. The reports of the investigation committee and the order of the Oversight Committee shall be made public.

Key Issues and Analysis

• The key issue is whether the balance between independence and accountability is maintained by the proposed mechanism in the Bill.  The Oversight Committee has non-judicial members which might impinge on the independence of the judiciary.
• The Bill penalises anyone who breaches the confidentiality of complaints.  It is questionable whether a penalty is needed for a frivolous complaint that remains confidential.
• The Scrutiny Panel has judges from the same High Court.  This is different from the in-house procedure of the Supreme Court.
• The Oversight Committee has non-judicial members.  The procedure of the Committee is not an in-house procedure of the judiciary.  It is not clear whether the power of the Oversight Committee to impose minor measures is constitutionally valid.
• The Bill does not mention whether a judge has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court against an order of removal issued by the President after Parliament finds him guilty of ‘misbehaviour’.

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Here’s an excerpt:

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The book has been divided into four parts. He tries to trace the concept of capitalism and economic development since the time of Arthashastra compiled by the great Indian political economist Kautilya or Chanakya (Note: Historians say that it was written by many political economists of that era and finally compiled under the name of Kautilya. But I like to believe that it was done by Kautilya or Chanakya, the prime minister in the court of Chandragupta Maurya as it gives value of antiquity) and moves to concept of Trusteeship as given by Mahatma Gandhi when he discusses the criteria for corporate social responsibility.

Arun Maira puts various questions on the validity of Capitalism in today’s world, which is trying to emerge from the implosion of 2008 recession.  However, he does not say that Capitalism is bad or Socialism is good. He has not passed the judgment on the debate and has left the debate open and poses question on business leaders and government which path they want to tread. It is obvious fact that one solution does not fits all and we can be strong when we say so in front of the larger world audience that include so called capitalist nations.

People are emerging and saying that capitalism has failed but has it really failed. There has never been a true capitalist economy in the world as every nation and organization has provided some kind of protection and bailout to its economic participants (organizations, nations, etc).Greece is a classic example. Therefore, neither blaming Capitalism is correct nor blaming Socialism nor Communism is right, as there has never been ideal capitalism or socialism anywhere in the world.

Arun Maira also discusses whether monetary rewards alone would be enough to satisfy needs of a person. When he states against that, I think of him as a new age Administrative Thinker who believes in humanism. Hope that he is included in the list of renowned Administrative Thinkers of the likes of Mary Parker Follet, McGregor, etc. I think he already is one.

Recently, I had also read Hello Bastar by Rahul Pandita. The book talks from the perspective of leftists and somehow passes the judgment that capitalism is exploitative. However, capitalist are concerned about the downtrodden, poor, and civil society as a whole is the fact proved by thinkers like Arun Maira. Hope that there are more thinkers and doers like him. He is a member of Planning Commission and hope that Planning Commission works for the welfare of the citizens and the private companies, NGOs and citizen organizations all work together towards the common goal.

Overall, the book is a wonderful read. I will recommend it to all.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!