Diplomatic immunity

The rules set forth in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, agreed upon by 187 countries, clearly states that diplomatic agents including "the members of the diplomatic staff, and of the administrative and technical staff and of the service staff of the mission" enjoy "immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State." They also enjoy immunity from civil proceedings unless the case involves property or business interests unrelated to their diplomatic duties.

• Immunity means an exemption. Diplomatic Immunity allows diplomats to have safe passage and stay in foreign nations, and provides blanket protection to diplomats from lawsuits and legal prosecution in a foreign (host) nation. 
• The purpose of diplomatic privileges, immunity and exemptions, is not to benefit individuals but to ensure the efficient performance of the functions of diplomatic missions that represent States. While 'privileges' is defined as a benefit or right to do something that others have no right to do, 'immunity' is defined as the exemption from local jurisdiction. Immunity have a legal basis, but privileges are a matter of courtesy.
• Diplomatic privileges and immunity guarantee that diplomatic agents or members of their immediate family (i) may not be arrested or detained, (ii) may not have their residences entered and searched, (iii) may not be subpoenaed as witnesses, and (iv) may not be prosecuted.
• The person of a diplomatic agent is inviolable. Inviolability of the mission is unqualified. He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. The Vienna convention specifies different levels of immunity to diplomats posted in various levels of the embassy, consular or international organisations such as the UN. The purpose of the immunity was so that foreign diplomats can maintain their dignity and safety in the host nation, without any threat of attack or intimidation to their person. 
• Host countries can’t withdraw diplomatic immunity, but several have expelled diplomats for alleged interference in internal affairs and violate their laws. Even for serious crimes, the host country can generally do is expel the offender. Intimidation is a frequent recourse of authoritarian regimes, including against the families of diplomats. The doctrine of immunity represents a departure from the conventional practice of holding people responsible for their wrongful actions. 
• The concern of protecting life was more important than immunity. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunity, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunity to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. 
• A diplomat’s home country can waive his diplomatic immunity in particularly egregious cases. Immunity of a diplomat from the jurisdiction of the host country does not exempt him/her from the jurisdiction of his/her home country.
• Violations of the Vienna Convention are extremely rare because countries are usually reluctant to put their own diplomats at risk. 

Diplomatic Immunity can be a double edged sword. On the one hand, it protects the life and dignity of a diplomat in a host nation, especially in times of conflict. Many international abuses of the clause by powerful diplomats and their kin has led to substantial criticism of the Vienna Convention. Many critics and legal experts want a reworking of the treaty's clauses to make the legal tool more useful of its purpose instead of being just an escape tool in the hands of powerful criminals. 

Words are one thing, actions another.
Good words are a mask for concealment of bad deeds. 

Sincere diplomacy is no more possible than dry water or wooden iron ... LC Green

Generally, Diplomatic passports are issued to people holding diplomatic status & powers i.e. the IFS officers posted abroad in Indian Missions, or deputed by the Government of India for diplomatic duty abroad and others visiting abroad for negotiations with foreign governments. Over the years, the process has been abused and misused with many getting issued the diplomatic passport thus losing its value, like VIP status granted to as many as 6 lakhs people. Almost all elected law makers, appointed top bureaucrats etc obtain diplomatic passports for themselves & families and use them for personal foreign travel and bypass the processes at the ports of entry& exit in India and abroad..

Good manners and invisible gains

• Good manners can never be out of fashion. The rules and norms relating to manners and etiquette are time tested and are universal in nature. 
• All societies encourage inculcation and adoption of good manners and behaviour. So, good manners are there to stay. 
• We hear from generation to generation that there has been a consistent and continuous decline in the general standard of human behaviour. 
• No child today considers it to be an indication of ill mannerism when he or she, while talking to parents are simultaneously responding to text messages to not one but multiple people in multiple group chats! 
• In twenties, you could score points with elders by showing up and speaking respectfully.
• It is inappropriate behaviour if one would not listen, with total abandon to all other things except focusing on what was being said alongside perfect eye contact.
• The alternation to good manners has been possibly the consequence of the rapid pace of technological progress, the cell phone, the message texting and the ever growing social media, a reason for the decline. 
• For misbehaving by children and the loss of good behaviour to progress - technology is the reason which encapsulates that each one of us under the garb of the misleading concept of ‘multitasking’ pays no attention and heed to basic norms of courtesies. 
• If discourteous behaviour is the standard of the society why would the corporates experience a different behavioural standard both in lingua and action?
• The changing lifestyles ought naught to make us lower our standards of good behaviour. Good behaviour triumphs over all obstacles, impediments and challenges in life.
• If the new tech savvy generation believes that the decline in behaviour is synonymous with enlightenment; this view and path is perilous.
• Never talk of others what you could not talk to them. 
• Never spoke ill of a person not present.
• Real politeness is invisible.
• One way to be polite is by not touching people unless they invite it. 
• Politeness buys you time.
• Each person is an emissary and an ambassador to his family. He represents his parentage.
• The absence of pride and arrogance will dictate a person’s manners.
• The ill-mannered will spare no sarcasm to inflict wounds with long term damaging ramifications upon others. In fact, over time ill mannerism becomes part and parcel of a person’s life if it remains unchecked.
• Not having an opinion means not having an obligation. And not being obligated is one of the sweetest of life's riches.
• Good manners are planted in childhood years, but they gather strength and are cultivated over time.
• People deserve more attention than a gadget. Wherever possible turn off your mobile phone in social situations.
• Those who read voraciously, history, literature, poetry, and read a load of them, always tend to carry a very high standard of good behaviour. They can never be rude or discourteous. 
• Display of manners will always be spontaneous and never pre-meditated. 
• Good behaviour is by far more superior to good physical look and appearance.
• Good manners come around more by upbringing and not merely by principles.
• In discussing work-related issues, a clear distinction must remain that it is not a declamation contest. The purpose that it is not to win an argument but it is to solve a situation. 
• Never resort to using expletives in conversations. 
• Any act that causes anxiety is reflection of ill-mannered behaviour and any act that soothes your inner person is reflective of good manners and good upbringing. 
• Courtesy is the inseparable companion of virtue. 
• No one should forget that civility costs nothing. 
• Be mindful that courteous manners have to be matched by great talent. 
• Nobility and humility are not distant cousins but Siamese twins.
• Good behaviour is never alone; the practitioner will have many neighbours; only if one is careful to do on the hill as you would do in the hall. 
• Practice and not merely possess virtue of good manners. 
• Investment in developing good manners will never give negative yields.
• Manners that reflect personal integrity, lofty idealism, faith in the corporate values and objectives always command unqualified respect. 
• Good upbringing allows handling praise with grace. 
• Those possessed with good manners are fearless, morally, socially and intellectually. They are neat and tidy. No confusion in their work or in their mind.

When his secretary arrived late to a meeting, and blamed his watch for his tardiness, 

George Washington replied, “Then you must get another watch, or I another secretary.”  

For Washington, being on time was a way of showing respect to others, 

and he expected to be treated with the same level of respect in return.

My View:
A person with good manners generally thinks, talks and does the same the things and hence no wastage resources. He is predictable with no hypocrisy and others find easy to deal with him. Therefore he attracts people to collaborate or work with while ill mannered people sees people drift away from them. Good mannerisms costs nothing but invisible gains are many.