M A I L B A G

SC ruling on CBI chief’s posting fair

The Supreme Court ruling upholding Mr P. C. Sharma’s appointment as the CBI Director is fair. Mr Kuldip Nayar challenged his appointment. The two-judge Bench differed. The judge who wanted to strike down the appointment held, inter alia, a retired police officer could not do justice to his job because of his earlier role in the police. To fortify his view, he talked of ‘people’s perception’, Paris Principles, Opposition consent not taken and Chairman of the Commission not consulted, etc. The appointment is by an Act. The only way it could be struck down was to prove violation of the Act.

However, the Judge, who differed, examined the Act in question and found absolutely no violation. He ruled that the Bench was not supposed to pronounce on the “wisdom” but legality in the matter. The matter was referred to a larger Bench. While the Supreme Court was seized of the matter, Mr Kuldip Nayar questioned Mr Sharma’s integrity. The larger Bench gave short shrift to the questioning judgement and unanimously upheld Mr Sharma’s appointment.

KARAM CHAND,
Barrister, Chail, Shimla Hills

Ill-advised plan

Punjab’s decision to issue licenses to kill wild animals which marauded the crops is ill-advised it has no plans for their rehabilitation in the Shivalik fringe area. Today the target is Nilgai and wild boar. Tomorrow it would be monkeys and Sambar.

The government is also toying with the idea of bartering away some zoo animals including tigers with those in the zoos abroad. We should leave the zoos alone. The exchange of Chhatbir zoo’s tigers for other animals is absurd and not desirable.

H.M. SAROJ, Chandigarh

II

Over the years, animals like wild boar and blue bulls have been causing colossal damage to crops in Una district. The farmers are worried over the problem but are at a loss to know what to do. The Himachal Pradesh government should emulate the Punjab government’s example and come to their rescue.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

Courts without judges Many posts of presiding officers of fast track court in Punjab are lying vacant in the districts ever since their transfer to the regular courts. These courts were primarily created for quick and speedy disposal of cases and to clear the backlog of cases in regular courts. Keeping in view their utility, their term has further been extended for another five years recently by the Centre. The Punjab government should fill up the vacancies immediately. Otherwise, we shall be failing in our constitutional guarantee of ensuring speedy, accessible and accountable justice to its citizens. Moreover, with the departure of four judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently to other states, the strength of the judges has further been reduced to 30 as against the sanctioned strength of 40 and recommended strength of 53. These vacancies too should be filled up. HARDEEP SINGH SANDHU, PCS (retd), Chandigarh

Of EPF & PPF

The UPA Government pays 9.5 per cent interest on EPF but 8 per cent interest on PPF. It is because the Left parties want to keep their vote bank intact by keeping the workers in good humour. But PPF is nobody’s child and hence it carries less interest. It is against principles of natural justice.

India claims to be the world’s largest democracy, but it has two sets of law, one for the privileged and another for the poor. Three cheers to the Centre!

K.K. BHARDWAJ, Patiala

US tactics

The whole world is paralysed as the US moves from one aggression to another. In the name of hunting weapons of mass destruction, the US itself uses such weapons on the civilians, as in Iraq. 9/11 has become the cornerstone of US military policy. It is forcing World War III on us. If the world does not wake up now, the future of humanity will be at stake.

Dr DALJIT SINGH, Amritsar

Partisan policy

This has reference to the editorial “Why delay Nanavati report?” (May 7). The Centre is pursuing a patently partisan policy of shielding its own men and witch-hunting those in the previous NDA regime. The Prime Minister seems to lack dignified tolerance of the Opposition viewpoint. He should help end the unseemly confrontation between the government and the Opposition in the interest of democracy.

SHIV K. SHARMA, Jalandhar

No work, no pay

MPs get Rs 500 daily as allowance when Parliament is in session. I would like to know whether NDA MPs claimed this allowance despite their boycott of the session. If they have claimed it, it is a matter of shame. I would appeal to the presiding officers of Parliament to enforce ‘no work no pay’ for those boycotting the session. If public sector staff is guided by this principle, why not apply the rule for MPs too?

Dr NARESH RAJ, Patiala

Road accidents

Road accidents occur mainly because of the irresponsible, young and illiterate taxi drivers. Speed-limit governors (say up to 90 km per hour) should be fitted in such vehicles. Drivers of such vehicles are always in a hurry. Warning to owners (who are generally not drivers) should be issued to drive at low speed on the roads.

S.K. HANS, Jalandhar

II

The vehicular traffic has increased on Una’s narrow roads, thus causing serious traffic hazards in the market area and the main bazaar. Accidents are cause for worry. The administration should take suitable steps to check accidents. The traffic rules must be enforced to save precious lives.

Y.P.S. SHARMA, Una (HP)