Letters To The Editor

Judicious waiver8226; THE necessity of prior requirement of sanction from the competent authority for prosecuting public servants read pol...

Judicious waiver

8226; THE necessity of prior requirement of sanction from the competent authority for prosecuting public servants read politicians for bribery and corruption has been removed by the SC judgment. This would plug the escape route for corrupt politicians. It should not however be forgotten that a large number of criminals still escape due to their influence. While the Supreme Court has remained uninfluenced, the same cannot be said for the lower judiciary, considering the fact that a large number of victims approach the lower judiciary and they have no recourse to proper legal redress. Besides, the confidence in the legal system has been eroding in recent years due to high costs and delays. Nevertheless, the recent judgment of the Supreme Court will come as a tonic for the judiciary. It will shore up their morale and restore public confidence in the system.

8212; S. Narayan, Mumbai

8226; IT is heartening that our courts have set aside the need for governmental sanction to prosecute a minister, a legislator or a bureaucrat, on charges of bribery and corruption as you have commented in your leader, 8216;Sanctioning change8217; IE, December 7. Let us hope trials in long pending cases against political heavy-weights like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Parkash Singh Badal are also speeded up. The apex court verdict hints that criminal politicians may not be allowed to take advantage of their position and influence. However two things still need addressing. First, any case of crime and corruption against a politician 8212; a legislator or a minister 8212; must be conclusively decided at the earliest, say, within two years of the filing of the complaint. Second, while the masses should be educated to reject such people in elections, the court should also find a way of keeping them away from our legislative bodies.

8212; Ved Guliani, Hisar

No exceptions

n THE Supreme Court has removed the necessity to obtain permission for prosecuting public servants on corruption charges.

Predictably, the politicians have reacted and cited this as a case of judicial intervention. I see no reason why any sanction is required. If no sanction is required for a common citizen, then an MP or MLA 8212; who is only a servant of the people 8212; cannot have more rights than the common man.

8212; T.R. Ramaswami, Mumbai

Outing influx

8226; I FULLY support the sharp rebuke to the Centre on December 5 by the division bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices S.B. Sinha and P.K. Balasubramanyan for coming out with a notification in February 2006, diluting the two powerful Acts 8212; the Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunals Act and the Foreigners Act 8212; which facilitated the easy entry of Bangladeshis.

Such rampant and unhindered influx has led to tremendous problems not only for legitimate citizens but also for the nation as a whole. It has made things easy for the ISI-backed anti-nationals to enter India to terrorise and wage a war against it in addition to the socio-economic problems in border areas. Hope the central government learns a lesson from this blunder and desists from tinkering with our laws for selfish gains or to nurse a vote bank.

8212; G.R. Vora, Mumbai