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A new era of nuclear cooperation

The US Senate passing the Indo-US nuclear deal coincided with the Gandhi Jayanti - a special day to remember. A 34-year-old blockade slipped into the pages of history, heralding a new era of nuclear participation. The 123 Agreement had a rough passage in India as well as the US. It rocked the stability of the Indian government as it gave anxious moments to the US government at the Senate level. Mixed reactions continue for and against the deal both in India and the US.

The Leftists feel it is a betrayal while leading personalities, including the illustrious former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, welcomed the move as progressive. The common man, unaware of the intricacies of the deal, remains bewildered. Time only can prove what is right and what is wrong. Let us herald a new era of understanding and development.

Dr A.R.K. PILLAI, Mumbai

II

I read the letters under the caption, “India’s N-isolation has ended” (September 22). I agree with the views of G.R. Kalra and Col Kuldip Singh Grewal that more nuclear tests are a must for India to attain nuclear deterrence.

With the passage of the 123 Agreement in both Houses of the US Congress, America has cleverly bound India by the NPT and CTBT without getting its formal acceptance in black and white. The US dangled the carrot of energy security which will not be realised with only 7-10 per cent of nuclear energy in the long term.

We have been bound with America’s Hyde Act and the Atomic Energy Act in perpetuity. Even the supply of fuel reprocessing and enrichment technologies will be subject to our not testing. How would India develop its creditable nuclear deterrence if it cannot undertake any nuclear test?

P.N. SHALI, Chandigarh

Judicial reforms

Setting up of regional Benches of the Supreme Court may lead to the emergence of independent judicial power centres. Though the judiciary functions as an autonomous and independent institution without fear or favour, there have been instances when the High Courts have acted in a manner that reflected their regional inclination(s). This, in turn, gives an impression of their toeing the line of the state government.

Luckily, the Supreme Court promptly transferred cases like the Gujarat 2002 riots to other high courts for fair dispensation of justice. Moreover, with the adoption of IT, daily cause-lists are put on the SC website in advance, daily orders and judgments of the apex court are also uploaded after they are delivered.

With e-filing having come into force, applications, petitions, rejoinders and other documents can be done on the Internet. Judicial restructuring is needed to help litigants approach only up to the second court of appeal whose decision must be final.

HEMANT KUMAR, Advocate, Ambala City

II

The suggestion for zonal benches of the Supreme Court from Chief Justice of India Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, your editorial of September 18 and Mr Fali S. Nariman’s article “Regional Benches will help” (Sept 20) have geared up the campaign for bringing justice to the doorstep of the common man. The Tribune should continue the debate and sustain the tempo for the benefit of the people.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court should also set up a Bench at Rewari in the interest of the common litigants.

NARESH KUMAR CHAUHAN, Rewari

Attack on Christians

I congratulate The Tribune for doing its best to report the atrocities being perpetrated on the Christian community. The hoodlums are killing the hapless Christians in the BJP-ruled states of Orissa, Karnataka and now Uttarakhand. Their houses are being burnt and property looted. The activities of these hoodlums are a slur on the secular character of the country.

But what is most painful is the fact that the BJP leadership is silent and not chiding the chief ministers of the affected states. The Centre is also not taking effective steps to check this. How many NGOs have come forward to take the cause of the poor Christians? These people are Indians first and Christians later. Is the soul of the country so dead that nobody comes forward to save the poor people?

RAM NIWAS MALIK, Gurgaon