M A I L B A G

British model merits a fair trial

Mr Prabodh Saxena’s suggestion for the Try British model for expediting justice merits a fair trial (Perspective, April 24). He is perfectly right that many cases before the magistrates are merely ‘routine’ and totally unnecessary which consume precious time of the courts.

In pre-partition days, there used to be honorary magistrates in Punjab. Some of them also enjoyed powers under Section 30 of the old Code of Criminal Procedure. They were mostly not law graduates but men of social status. The system worked well and justice could be dispensed at the doorsteps of the people. Why can’t the state governments revert to such an efficacious system to ease burden on the judiciary?

Various reasons contribute to the delays. Criminal cases and appeals are filed in total disregard of the legal opinion given at different levels. In some cases, the investigating agencies fail to procure the attendance of the accused due to which the cases drag on.

SOM DUTT VASUDEVA, Addl. Advocate General, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla

II

I endorse the suggestion for lay magistrates. The petitions must be precise and computer-typed. Post-graduate degree holders may be authorised to draft these petty petitions. These persons, employed/unemployed, may charge nominal fee from the litigants for preparing the petitions. The litigants themselves or the unemployed persons can appear before the lay magistrates for justice.

OM PARKASH WADHWA, Gohana

Razing the bar In “Razing the bar” (Saturday Extra, April 30) the argument of R.R. Patil, Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra, that dance bars are dens of crime and anti-national activities and corrupt morals shows political double standards. It is not that Patil does not know the source of crime and moral corruption or he is living in a fool’s paradise. If Mumbai dance bars can corrupt morals and are dens of crime than what about slums, mafia, existence of red light areas everywhere, excessive use of vulgar, indecent, almost nude and obscene depiction of sex in films, so-called item songs, serials, music TV channels, advertisements and film posters? Implementation of strict measures in governance to curb corruption, enforce accountability, transparency and severe punishment for the corrupt and law breakers can only curb crime and anti-national activities. If politicians or moralists want to reform society then they should build public opinion and start from the very basic fabric of society which are family values and high moral standards. Leaders should become role models and the media can play an important role in building public opinion. Only banning dance bars in the name of moral policing and curbing crime without doing any thing about the vulgar depiction of women and exposing known dens of crime in various forms will not serve the purpose. SUSHIL KANSAL, Ambala Cantt

Belated decision

This has reference to Mr S.S. Danoa’s article on the SAD’s decision (Perspective, April 24). The decision to convert the Akali party into “everybody’s party” has come half a century too late. Had this political vision dawned on the Akalis before the events of 1996, a lot could have been saved. In the process, the sufferer has been Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat.

During the Punjabi Suba agitation period, the late Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, a Punjabi visionary, had asked my father, the late Bhai Ardaman Singh of Bagrain, to tell and persuade the Akali leadership that the Punjabi Suba was not in their interest. He told that he was developing Faridabad, and Gurgaon areas to share the economic grains with Delhi. But in the Punjabi Suba, we would have to remit the land revenue every third year. (I was present at the meeting).

In 1995, when I was made convener of a committee for Akali unity, I had made some suggestions on these lines but the old Akalis had their own fixed ideas on the issue. From now onwards, the Akali Dali is a no longer a Sikh political body.

BHAI ASHOK SINGH, Vice-President, Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh

Enduring icon

This refers to “Queen Bee, a legend called Rekha,” (Spectrum, April 24). Rekha is the stuff of fantasy. Her transformation from a plump, gauche teenager to svelte seductress has been chronicled often enough. Rekha’s growth as an actress ran parallel to her physical transformation. The pouting sex kitten disappeared soon enough, along with the extra pounds. Her career has been as much a tale of growth as it has of grit; a lot of hard work has gone into the making of this enduring icon. Rekha can hold her own even today among the Aishwarya Rais, Kareena Kapoors and Rani Mukherjees of tinsel town.

PRIXIT SHAKYA, Shimla

Not family business

Revalidation exams are essential for the medical profession. This will raise the standards and also check those who enter this profession as a family business. Regarding the poor infrastructure in rural areas, the government is not solely responsible for this. No doctor wants to go to the village.

What they want actually is money and fame. If the government is not able to provide basic facilities, it doesn’t mean we should run to foreign lands, leaving our own people suffering.

ROHIT MEHNIDIRATTA, Patiala

II

Why are doctors upset over a proposed professional ability test by the MCI and the state medical councils? This is a step in the right direction. In other departments, there are efficiency bar tests and written tests for higher grade promotions.

In the Railways there are refresher courses every third year for the next promotion.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana