A new trend is emerging in our ‘plaisir’ country and I am sure that we shall get the rest of the world to stop and take notice. Facebook – pronounced by some not in the way that it should be but as an anatomical part of the human body- is being used as a platform for people in trouble to apologise. Whether or not that social medium was designed for that is not for me to say. It is likely that the apologizers hope that the authorities will act on such apologetic statements which are open to the world to put an end to all legal processes. That may be the modern way of dealing with sensitive issues, and social media is appropriate for that purpose.

As though this was not enough the Commission set up to ensure that equality of opportunity is not an empty slogan accepted a communiqué to close a file on someone who happens to be a Minister in the present Cabinet. Naturally the communiqué was made public so that everyone had knowledge of it. The reaction of the Commission on the Equality of Opportunity was instantaneous. The communiqué was gospel and it put an end to what had been a high profile case. I believe that the Commission should be known in the future as the “Commission on Equality of Opportunity by Communiqués”.

All those who have cases pending before that Commission should rush to publish communiqués so that they are treated equally by that Commission. The Commission will have no other option but to act on all communiqués as it must treat equally all people who are in trouble before it. In the event that the Commission fails to act on its own precedent, then it will really be asking for an immediate disbanding. If it was set up for that, that is the death knell.

By the way the scandal which is swirling around Dr Patil Medical School provides another opportunity for a case to be resolved by the publication of a communiqué. Mr Raj Bappoo, who is alleged to have involved his ministerial wife into obtaining favours, is in fact in no trouble at all. I had to find out what the law says about this. First, whatever communication there is or is suspected to have been between Raj and Sheila is privileged, and it cannot be disclosed, and there is no law that will force either of them to disclose whatever exchanges they may have had. Second, should there be any other difficulty, Raj has the other option of publishing a communiqué. This mode of resolving all sorts of problems in our country is gaining in respectability, and there are compelling reasons for him to adopt that mechanism. Third, should any of the two previous options fail, Raj can resort to blaming all the Regulatory bodies that failed to do what they are paid from public funds to do. In any case he is in the clear. And so is his wife.

I will be on the lookout for a communiqué…