Judicial Age

Citizens are beginning to feel that we are in a Judicial Age. Even simple cases which require prompt decisions are being refer...

Citizens are beginning to feel that we are in a Judicial Age. Even simple cases which require prompt decisions are being referred to the Supreme Court. This only shows the bankruptcy of our politicians and officers. The examples of this phenomenon are wideranging and numerous. The Drug Controller of India granted exclusive marketing rights of a cancer drug to a Swiss MNC. A petition has been filed by the Cancer Patients Aid Association alleging that this has created a monopoly of cancer drugs. Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has allegedly appointed teachers to primary schools by taking bribes. When a civil servant pointed this out, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him. The Supreme Court has directed the Central Vigilance Commissioner to investigate. Such instances speak about the ineffective and bad governance prevailing in the country. Governments are abdicating their responsibilities which the courts must then take up.

8212; B.S. Ganesh Bangalore

The wrong side

8226; Amnesty International India is disappointed at the decision of the president of India to reject the mercy petition of Dhananjoy Chatterjee. AI India had previously appealed to the president to commute the death sentence as the death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is violative of the right to life. AI India understands that the last execution in India took place in 1997. It is regrettable that as the majority of countries follow an abolitionist path, this decision of the president will bring to an end the ad-hoc moratorium on executions in India, leaving India on the wrong side of the justice divide.

8212; Bikram Jeet Batra Legal Officer Amnesty International India, New Delhi

Be Kandid!

8226; Apropos of 8216;Your excellency, is this really a Kalamity?8217; IE, August 7, addressing our president as 8216;President Kalam8217; instead of 8216;Kalam8217; upholds our own dignity. The media must take care to do this for the sake of national esteem. However, your reporter refers to the president as 8216;Kalam8217;. So what is your view in this regard?

8212;D. Datta Kharagpur

More the merrier

8226; On balance, it appears that the BJP has resolved wisely to pursue development along with nationalism at its Chintan Baithak held at Panaji. Many of its allies may not be willing to coexist with Hindutva. To satisfy the devout Hindu opinion, a party on the lines of Jana Sangh should be promoted by the RSS. If the new party and the BJP work in tandem, they could bring rich dividends for the Hindu movement.

8212; P. Manjula Siliguri

Dangerous security

8226; Your analysis in the editorial 8216;Complacency costs us8217; IE, August 7, is sound and accurate. During a recent visit to J038;K, I found the police standing around in groups, holding guns like sticks. Each time I passed a group in a car, I could have shot the entire group with a semi automatic weapon before a single cop could lift a gun to aim and shoot. They need better training and weapons. Why are we so willing to sacrifice lives so cheaply? Spend more money for better security.

8212;Devinder Gupta On e-mail

Corrigendum

8226; In the second item of the column 8216;Different Strokes8217; titled 8220;Change of Auditors8221; we have inadvertently mentioned that the firm of M.P. Chitale has audited Global Trust Bank in 1999-2000. In fact it was M.M.Chitale. The adverse remarks by the RBI inspection were in connection with M.M.Chitale and not the former. The two firms are not connected. The error is regretted.