This would obviously violate the fundamental freedom of the Press to disseminate information. However, it was not merely this ‘academic’ objection on grounds of constitutionality; beneath it also lay the matter of still more critical concern than it meets the eye! The real lurking danger entertained was that the shroud of secrecy was bound to pollute the natural course of investigation by the blatant use of manipulative power politics.

Through repeated disclosures, backed by the solid documentary evidence, which, on the very face of it, do not admit of diverse conclusions, The Tribune has made itself endearing to the people by meaningfully rousing their expectations.

It has genuinely proved to be providing “the right ‘input’ into public awareness that would ultimately make a difference to the quality of our democratic polity.” Happily, we now hear no more of such cliches as unwarranted ‘trial by the Press’.

I am sure, there cannot be, at least in the murky multi-crore scam of ‘selections’ made on the basis of the so-called ‘merit’ by an institution (the Commission) in the holy name of ‘Public Service’!

The ‘No, My Lord!’ line of thinking has been duly confirmed by the larger bench of the court by holding in essence that ‘transparency’ is in no way inimical “to free and fair trail under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.” Emanation of the “right signal from the court,” as The Tribune pithily puts it, “can go a long way in loosening the stranglehold of the corrupt and their nexus with power and wealth.”

Such a determined approach is bound to strengthen peoples’ resolve to fight the menace of seeping corruption in public life. The encouraging feature is that the initiative taken by the Press has hitherto generated a sort of ‘institutionalised’ momentum.

The whole thrust is timely. The momentum needs to be maintained. People abusing public offices to serve their own personal ends need to be given condign punishment.

Dr. Virendra Kumar,

Former Professor of Law,

Panjab University, Chandigarh

Arduous Task: ‘Thank you, My Lords!’ is another front-page editorial by Mr Hari Jaisingh, which keeps every reader up-to-date with the enlightened role of the judiciary, contribution by the alert media, people's right to information and the need for transparency, all of which create a proper atmosphere to fight the monster of corruption.

The key word of this editorial, relevant to the present situation, is: “The momentum must be maintained. The task ahead is not easy”.

All right thinking persons, the concerned institutions and forums in the public and private sector, including the Common Cause Forum which has spearheaded the cause before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, need to give a serious thought for not only maintaining the present momentum towards the ill-effects of this evil but to bring an early end to it in all its shapes and manifestations.

The Tribune Editor has also rightly observed that “secrecy does not and should not pay”. If this fact can be properly analysed and realised, it should call for an urgent need for the constitutional amendment to the so-called Official Secrets Act, or other government instructions relating to maintaining of secrecy in its working which are more often misused than serve the intended purpose.

To achieve these objectives, there should be a proper and immediate enactment to ensure right to information to general public and transparency in the working of the government.

The problem is not only confined to Punjab, it is a national phenomenon though it may vary in its form, scale or amplitude. It therefore needs a solution at the national level so that the momentum is not lost.