<p>The overwhelming view was that the judgment should have come earlier. </p>.<p>It has come as a matter of great relief for many the Supreme Court ruling that sleep is a fundamental right of an Indian and Section 19 of the Indian Constitution covers it. Not that it has changed my status as sleep has never been a problem with me but many whom I met whole heartedly welcomed the judgment. The overwhelming view of these people was that the judgment should have come much, much earlier. But better late than never, chorused all of them.<br /><br />‘I do not feel guilty at all now’ said a snoozing Indian and went back to enjoy his new found fundamental right. Needless to say that he was one of those government employees who came to the office to take rest after a stressful day at home. The president of the govt. employees’ forum was now very confident that the staff would not be violating any service rule if he or she was found sleeping in the office.<br /><br /> ‘Many of my forum members find the file pushing job very boring if there is no incentives under or above the table. Hence they sleep off. Isn’t it better that whiling away time?’ he asked. ‘Our bosses sleep over many a file. Is that also covered by the apex court ruling?’ he wanted to know. I said I would get back to him after consulting legal luminaries.<br /><br />Many college students, particularly from government colleges, wanted to know if they could invoke the same ruling and seek amnesty if they were found snoozing in a class. ‘Some of the lectures and many lecturers are boring and put one to sleep in no time. We were feeling guilty after we woke up or were woken up. Now we all feel relieved’ they said in unison and dashed off to the nearest pizza parlour to celebrate the event.<br /><br />Many legislators, famous and not so famous for their extra-legislatorial activities, felt the same way like the students. ‘Tell me, how can one keep awake if some narrate in detail drought, water scarcity, crop failure, school problems etc. It is the same old story and it will lull anybody, including the Speaker, into sleep. Now whenever such a debate is on I will exercise this fundamental right. If the media highlights this it will be contempt of the highest court of the land’ he said in one breath and took out his latest mobile that had several video clippings.<br /><br />It was now the turn of a former prime minister to speak. ‘I had and have full faith in our judiciary. I now feel fully vindicated,’ he said. ‘I never reacted all these days when my pictures were splashed in newspapers and on TV screens showing me dozing off on the dais. I was the butt of several jokes and a treat for lensmen. But I knew one day the court will come to my rescue. My patience has paid off,’ he said with satisfaction. Did I notice a smirk on his lips?<br /> </p>
<p>The overwhelming view was that the judgment should have come earlier. </p>.<p>It has come as a matter of great relief for many the Supreme Court ruling that sleep is a fundamental right of an Indian and Section 19 of the Indian Constitution covers it. Not that it has changed my status as sleep has never been a problem with me but many whom I met whole heartedly welcomed the judgment. The overwhelming view of these people was that the judgment should have come much, much earlier. But better late than never, chorused all of them.<br /><br />‘I do not feel guilty at all now’ said a snoozing Indian and went back to enjoy his new found fundamental right. Needless to say that he was one of those government employees who came to the office to take rest after a stressful day at home. The president of the govt. employees’ forum was now very confident that the staff would not be violating any service rule if he or she was found sleeping in the office.<br /><br /> ‘Many of my forum members find the file pushing job very boring if there is no incentives under or above the table. Hence they sleep off. Isn’t it better that whiling away time?’ he asked. ‘Our bosses sleep over many a file. Is that also covered by the apex court ruling?’ he wanted to know. I said I would get back to him after consulting legal luminaries.<br /><br />Many college students, particularly from government colleges, wanted to know if they could invoke the same ruling and seek amnesty if they were found snoozing in a class. ‘Some of the lectures and many lecturers are boring and put one to sleep in no time. We were feeling guilty after we woke up or were woken up. Now we all feel relieved’ they said in unison and dashed off to the nearest pizza parlour to celebrate the event.<br /><br />Many legislators, famous and not so famous for their extra-legislatorial activities, felt the same way like the students. ‘Tell me, how can one keep awake if some narrate in detail drought, water scarcity, crop failure, school problems etc. It is the same old story and it will lull anybody, including the Speaker, into sleep. Now whenever such a debate is on I will exercise this fundamental right. If the media highlights this it will be contempt of the highest court of the land’ he said in one breath and took out his latest mobile that had several video clippings.<br /><br />It was now the turn of a former prime minister to speak. ‘I had and have full faith in our judiciary. I now feel fully vindicated,’ he said. ‘I never reacted all these days when my pictures were splashed in newspapers and on TV screens showing me dozing off on the dais. I was the butt of several jokes and a treat for lensmen. But I knew one day the court will come to my rescue. My patience has paid off,’ he said with satisfaction. Did I notice a smirk on his lips?<br /> </p>
