By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 27, 2005 : THE man who fought a PIL against Indo-Mauritius tax treaty is evidently in no mood to retire. Mr Shiva Kant Jha, a former Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, and a noted Supreme Court Advocate, is back in a new avaatar. This time he has authored a wonderful book critically examining the role of judiciary in the globalised eniron and the international practices governing tax-treaty making by sovereign States. The book titled 'Judicial Role in Globalised Economy' was released by former SC Judge, Justice D P Wadhwa, at a function here in the Capital yesterday evening.

The other legal luminaries who attened and spoke on the occasion were veteran freedom fighter and former Governor of Orissa, Dr Satnarayana Reddy, famous Law Minister of Janata regime and noted SC Senior Advocate, Shanti Bhushan, former Dean of Law Faculty in Calcutta University, Mr M L Upadhyay.

The function took off with a formal release of the Book which was in turn presented by Justice Wadhwa to the nation through Dr Reddy. While praising the author for his enviable depth in domestic and international laws he observed that he would not like to share the pessimism expressed by the author in the book about the decaying state of democracy and shrinking role of Parliament and hoped that such events are a part of evolution. However, he did caution that the globalisation is increasingly affecting the day to day life of every citizen in the country and the various institutions of the country do need to deliberate and shape up the right direction for India.

Similarly, Mr Shanti Bhusan too praised Mr Jha for his masterly piece and his abilities and initiatives to fight for the public interests. He further said that the book is not only a “must read” for Indian economist but as the name suggests the book is equally important for those who are interested in fathoming the fall-outs of the globalisation phenomenon.

While delivering the keynote address Mr Jha said that the book is nothing but the anthology of his experience as a literature student then as a government servant and finally as a advocate and overall as a common man.

Professor Arun Kumar from JNU shared his thoughts about India’s contribution to world economy and said since only 1.5 per cent of world GDP is contributed by India and 23.6 per cent by the USA, so it is the United States who dominates the world policies. At the same time Prof. Kumar pointed out that how the Western countries manipulate everything, so that they get the cream from every thing and the developing countries are left with polluted residues.